Community Resources
Spotlight
Centers and Institutes
Center for Sport Policy and Conduct
Great Lakes Park Training Institute
Hilltop Gardens & Nature Center
Institute for Outdoor Leadership and Education
National Center on Accessibility
Philanthropy and Americans Outdoors
Bradford Woods
Indiana University's nationally recognized Outdoor Education Center, Bradford Woods, is administered by the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies. Over 25,000 participants utilize the 2,500 acre property each year for environmental awareness and education, camping experiences, professional and personal development, continuing education, research, workshops, conferences and retreats. Universally designed programming and accessible facilities allow for a full spectrum of populations and experiences.
Center for Sport Policy and Conduct
The Center for Sport Policy and Conduct provides a platform for researchers in sport management to investigate issues and concerns while also providing the opportunity for implementing positive changes in the community.
Eppley Institute
From the Eppley Institute beginnings in 1946, Indiana University has provided technical assistance in parks, recreation and public lands throughout the nation and world creating a reputation for excellence that has no comparison. The Eppley Institute for Parks & Public Lands at Indiana University is the unique outreach division of the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies Department and is named after Garrett Eppley who was the department chair for almost 20 years. The Institute, Department and Indiana University have created unique, long standing and unqualified expertise in the recreation and park professions.
As an outreach arm of Indiana University, the Eppley Institute for Parks & Public Lands is currently working on research or technical assistance programs in cities in Alaska, Washington, D.C., Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota and for the National Park Service with total annual contracts exceeding $1.8 million. With over 200 years of combined experience in the Eppley Institute alone, this program is exceptional. The Institute’s efforts are driven by service to the profession, state, region and nation in parks, recreation and public lands. The Eppley Institute mission to partner with recreation, park, and public land organizations to enhance access, choice, and quality of natural, cultural, and recreational experiences, has made it widely regarded as the best, unbiased and clearly cost effective assistance available.
Executive Development Program
For 39 years the Indiana University Executive Development Program has helped park and recreation professionals at the local, state and national level who are in front line, management, and leadership positions build and strengthen the fundamental skills needed to manage and lead in a public and non-profit setting.
IU EDP is organized around a two year curriculum focusing on leadership and management skill development. To continually offer cutting edge education opportunities, the curriculum is reviewed annually by the IU EDP board of Trustees who are past program graduates. New for 2007, past graduates of the 2 year Executive Development Program may return as EDP Alumni Program Students.
Great Lakes Park Training Institute
The Great Lakes Park Training Institute has offered park technicians, naturalists, interpreters and managers training since 1946. Currently managed by the Eppley Institute for Parks & Public Lands at Indiana University, this Institute is an opportunity for recreation and park staff representing municipal, county, state, regional, and national levels to meet and exchange ideas, concerns, problems, and solutions. Included are park and recreation managers, recreation leaders, horticulturists, planners, naturalists, maintenance technicians, outdoor educators, land and facility managers, and others providing leisure services.
Hilltop Gardens and Nature Center
One of the oldest children's gardens in the United States, Hilltop Gardens and Nature Center contains 75 children's trees and vegetable plots plus a herbaceous perennial garden, fruit trees, herb garden, special display plantings, and test gardens. As part of the department, Hilltop is a laboratory for Indiana University students in outdoor education, resource management, horticulture and science education.
Institute for Outdoor Leadership and Education
The Institute for Outdoor Leadership and Education promotes and provides quality programming in a global society through a commitment to the professional development of outdoor educators and instructors.
National Center on Accessibility
The National Center on Accessibility is a national leader in the movement to include people with disabilities in recreation, parks and tourism. Through its comprehensive services of research, technical assistance and education, NCA focuses on Universal Design and practical accessibility solutions that create inclusive recreation opportunities for people of all abilities. The NCA is a program of Indiana University's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies, School of HPER in cooperation with the National Park Service Accessibility Management Program.
Philanthropy and American Outdoors
The Philanthropy and American Outdoors center provides programs such as workshops, strategic planning, consultations, research and curriculum to assist not-for-profit foundations and public benefit organizations in the parks, natural resources, recreation and leisure service fields.
