The Eppley Institute continues to lead innovative training and workforce development initiatives for park and public land agencies with the development of its newest capability enhancement application. This new system begins with Eppley’s expert analysis of agency training systems to identify current practice and future needs, then leads agencies through the optimal implementation and use of a learning management system (LMS) used to assign and track training to staff and volunteers. Offering agencies more than an “off the shelf” LMS, the goal is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of training systems by helping agencies be intentional and strategic about staff development and learning.

Carmel Clay (IN) Parks and Recreation has spent the last 6 months piloting the program with Eppley staff guidance and training and is offering valuable feedback to help refine the process. In addition, 12 agencies sent representatives to listening sessions at the National Recreation and Parks Association annual conference in Baltimore in September. These sessions, facilitated by Eppley’s Executive Director Steve Wolter and Senior Program Managers Gina Depper and Christy McCormick, were meant to help enlighten Eppley on current training practices, needs, and shortcomings in agencies across the nation to further inform the development of this important new initiative.

The basic package of services will include analysis, training, and implementation of the LMS; access to Eppley’s vast catalog of online training courses; the ability to upload each agency’s custom training content; and technical support. Premium services will include creation of custom training content and full training gap analyses. As these processes and products are honed, Eppley will be seeking additional agencies to beta test and give further feedback before a public launch in the fall of 2020.