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National Therapeutic Recreation Week
July 12-18, 2009

The National Therapeutic Recreation Society established National Therapeutic Recreation Week in 1984. This special week has been celebrated during the second week of July annually since then. As stated by NTRS, “the purpose of National Therapeutic Recreation Week is to enhance public awareness of therapeutic recreation programs and services, and expand recreation and leisure opportunities for individuals with disabilities.” NTRS states that, “therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education, and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence, and quality of life.”  The following are some great ideas to help you celebrate! If you have any ideas that you would like to share please contact Kim Grandal.

NTRS has downloadable samples such as a press release, letter to the governor and proclamation.

ArniesTRSong Download the TR week samples here.

NTRS 31 Ideas to celebrate

NCTRC 101 Ways of Publicizing and Promoting Recreation Therapy

NCTRC TR Week Flyer

Gifts for Recreation Therapists and Professionals
*Visit the Recreation Therapy Store for great t-shirts, mugs and gifts

*Products from EPromos

*FREE online greeting cards

*Other ideas: Buy inexpensive fragrant candles, candies, flowers, lotions, soaps, etc.

*Give certificates to all Therapeutic Recreation personnel


Articles and Videos

Article: Celebrate National Therapeutic Recreation Week and promote Therapeutic Recreation Year Round

Article: Article GainingProfessional Respect

Article: Top 10 Questions About the CTRS

Video by NTRS: The Benefits are Endless

Video: I am a Recreational Therapist

 


Get Inspired

*Download Magical Spellbinding Quotes compiled by Danny Pettry-it’s free!

*Download Anne Stewart’s Tips for Helping-this is free too!

*Simple Truths has great inspirational books for you or your staff. Gather the Therapeutic Recreation Department each day to watch these movies

*Inspirational stories/poems

*Quotes about leisure

*More quotes about leisure

*Get out the popcorn and watch some great movies about quality of life.

*Range of Motion starring Rebecca DeMornay

*Patch Adams starring Robin Williams

*When You Remember Me starring Fred Savage   (have a box of tissues nearby)

* Treat yourself or staff to a magazine subscription


Join a professional organization

*Amercian Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)

*National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

*National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS)

*State by state list


Get Certified

*Check out the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification


Educate, Educate, Educate

*Create storyboard tri-folds. Paste on pictures, news clips, articles, and poems, such as

    *Purpose of Therapeutic Activities

    *Benefits of Therapeutic Activities

*Host Therapeutic Recreation Fair

*Hold a panel discussion. Have several Therapeutic Recreation staff on the panel to answer questions and discuss the benefits of therapeutic recreation. Invite staff, family, clients/patients/residents, etc.

*Fun Activity training games     

    *More Than Just Bingo, AKA  Leisure Bingo

    *Tic Tac Techniques

    *Recreation Jeopardy

    *Activity Word Puzzle Raffle (new free download)


Promote, Promote, Promote

*Write a press release-Read: An ImPRESSIVE Press Release

*Announce in facility newsletter

*Let department heads and corporate headquarters know

*Your state Therapeutic Recreation organization can write an article or letter regarding TR Week and either send it to facility administrators or have it published in the state administrator organization newsletter.

*Mail letters to family members

*Put up flyers and posters

*Decorate a bulletin board

*Make photo albums and scrapbooks and put on display in common areas of the facility or agency

*Ask residents/patients/clients what they like about the Therapeutic Recreation program and post their comments in the newsletter or on a bulletin board

*Get a proclamation. Contact your state officials and ask that a proclamation be issued. Download NTRS's TR week samples here.

* Make sure your state Therapeutic Recreation Association is listed on important local websites

*Display your digital photos in a digital photo frame in a prominent location like the front desk in the lobby. A picture is worth a thousand words!

*Create a mini-movie using photos and/or a video of patients/clients/residents engaging in therapeutic recreational activities. You probably have windows Movie Maker on your computer and don’t even know it. It’s time consuming, but easy to use. Click here to learn more about Windows Movie Maker. Have your videos and/or movies on display in various locations or at scheduled events/in-services. FYI: Movies made on Windows Movie Maker can only be burned onto a CD. If you want to burn your movie onto DVD, it must be converted to be converted to a MPG2, a DVD format. Ask a professional for help with that.

*Post your movie on You-Tube to heighten awareness of our profession! Be sure to get photo consents!


Promote Teamwork

Develop a theme for the Therapeutic Recreation Department and have T-shirts made from a local printing company. Have the Therapeutic Recreation staff wear their shirts all week or on a designated day. This really promotes unity and the staff  love it. Some themes I’ve used in the past include:

*Therapeutic Recreation : More Than Just Bingo

*Therapeutic Recreation: The Other Best Medicine

*Therapeutic Recreation: Re-Creating, Mind, Body and Spirit

Be creative. Better yet, turn it into a contest. Ask residents, staff, etc. to develop a theme and the winner receives a free t-shirt! You can also buy themed shirts from the gifts section mentioned above.


Other Fun Stuff

*Host a breakfast, luncheon, or dinner for the Therapeutic Recreation Department

*Bring TR staff out for a meal

*Have a surprise party

*Have a Guess Who Baby Picture Contest

*Have a Who’s Who in the TR department Contest

*TR Song by Arnie Idelson


A Gift From Danny Pettry

Dear Recreational Therapist,

Are you ready for TR Week? (July 12th to 18th)?

You’ve got access to download an electronic (e)-book.

It’s my gift to you for TR Week!

It’s an easy way to promote TR!

It’s called: Promote the Awareness of Therapeutic Recreation.

It includes:

  • ways to promote your profession
  • handouts that you can easily print and distribute
  • crossword puzzle that you can print
  • word search puzzle that you can print

Go to this link to download your copy today:

http://www.dannypettry.com/main/page_dannys_contest.html

You can print it and email it to other people.

Help get spread this document to every recreational therapist who you know.


 
 

 

 


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