Training
The NWTRPA offers training and program support to NWT recreation leaders and land-based programmers.
Visit our Events page to see our scheduled upcoming trainings in your community!
Elders in Motion
Elders in Motion is a training and mentorship program that improves the access and quality of recreation programs for older adults. Community leaders enhance their knowledge, skills, and confidence in organizing and leading safe, engaging, and culturally appropriate recreation programs for older adults.
Current available trainings are: Active Living Exercise Program, Balls and Balance Workshop, Fitness Falls Prevention, Gaining Strength in Long Term Care, and Intergenerational Programming Workshop.
Foundations of Northern Youth Recreation Leadership
FNYRL is a one-day, made-in-the-North training program designed for front-line recreation staff and emerging youth leaders. FNYRL builds practical skills in leadership, child development, inclusion, risk management, and culturally grounded programming. The training is interactive, accessible, and tailored to the realities of northern communities. Participants leave with increased confidence and a Field Essentials Handbook to support planning and program delivery. NWTRPA staff travel to communities across the NWT to deliver the training.
Recreation North
The Recreation North Training Program is designed for anyone living in the Yukon, NWT, or Nunavut, who works or would like to work or volunteer in recreation. This fully online program (with the occasional option of in-person delivery) is flexible and allows participants to work toward a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership and/or a Certificate in Northern Recreation Management.
Recreation for Mental Health
This half-day workshop explores how recreation can support emotional well-being, resilience, and connection. Participants learn how inclusive, safe, and engaging programs can reduce stress, build confidence, and strengthen community belonging. Sessions highlight practical strategies leaders can use to create positive recreation environments, recognize when someone may be struggling, and respond appropriately. It reinforces that recreation leaders are not therapists, but can play an important role in promoting mental wellness.
NWTRPA Annual Conference
Established in 1989, the NWTRPA Conference is a multi-day educational event for recreation professionals, on the land leaders, educators, Elders, health care workers, youth centre workers, and volunteers from across the NWT. The conference provides an opportunity to examine trends and issues affecting the recreation sector and offer training. The NWTRPA’s Annual General Meeting is held during the conference, allowing recreation leaders from across the territory to participate.