Welcome to the Illinois Association of Park Districts’ Online Board Member Education Series!

The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), has been serving park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation, and special recreation agencies since 1928. IAPD is the oldest and most successful statewide association of its kind in the nation. As a grassroots organization, IAPD's voice for parks, recreation, and conservation is strong and respected throughout Illinois and the United States. We are excited to present to you our first online education class for board members!

The Illinois Association of Park Districts, in conjunction with Sagamore Publishing LLC, has developed this online course series targeted specifically to aid in the development of park board members. The online course series was designed to be helpful for aspiring board members, as well as veterans. The board member role is an important function that is critical to the success of park districts throughout the state.

Using technology-based distant learning tools and knowledge from professionals in the field, this course will enable you to become a more efficient board member. Online certification courses are an effective and convenient method to learn on your own time and at your own pace. Online education can be as efficient as traditional instructor-led training, but with the added benefit that you can read, learn, study, and test your knowledge at your own speed!

The first course in this series is entitled Rewards and Challenges of Boardmanship. The course consists of seven modules. Each module includes a summary of important articles for each topic area. In addition, the modules include links to full articles to add to your library of resources. You are permitted to take the exam as an open-book test; however, you are strongly encouraged to read and comprehend the material fully before attempting to take the final exam.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. The Illinois Association of Park Districts and Sagamore Publishing LLC will assist you throughout the process.

Introduction by Peter Murphy

Currently available courses

The following courses are currently being offered by IAPD. Click on a course to proceed. If you would like more information on a course, please contact the IAPD at (217) 523-4554 or www.ilparks.org.

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• Course #1: Rewards and Challenges of BoardmanshipRewards and Challenges of Boardmanship is a self-paced course that provides you with an introduction to the roles and responsibilities of board members.