These Ideas in Motion sessions bring students together with NIRSA’s Member Network Student Leadership Team to discuss engagement, leadership development, and opportunities within the Association. Join live to share experiences and connect with peers from across the country. It’s a supportive space for students to grow their network and voice.

These Ideas in Motion discussions support professionals managing adventure programs, trips, gear rental, climbing spaces, and outdoor education. Join live to explore risk management, staffing, programming ideas, and other initiatives. Connect with others committed to growing the impact of outdoor recreation on campus.

These Ideas in Motion discussions focus on planning, designing, and renovating recreation spaces that meet evolving student and campus needs. Connect with colleagues navigating similar projects, design questions, and long-term facility considerations. Share insights, ask questions, and gain new perspectives to support your next design phase.

Designed for professionals in their first years in the field, this Ideas in Motion roundtable explores workplace growth, skill-building, and navigating campus recreation roles. Join live to ask questions, exchange experiences, and strengthen your confidence. Connect with peers who are learning and growing alongside you.

Designed for professionals in their first years in the field, this Ideas in Motion roundtable explores workplace growth, skill-building, and navigating campus recreation roles. Join live to ask questions, exchange experiences, and strengthen your confidence. Connect with peers who are learning and growing alongside you.

These Ideas in Motion sessions are designed for professionals managing teams, programs, or facility areas while navigating strategic responsibilities. Join live to exchange leadership strategies, support one another, and grow your management toolkit. Engage with peers who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of mid-level roles.

These Ideas in Motion sessions support professionals who recruit, train, mentor, and manage student employees. Connect with peers to explore training models, leadership pathways, and ways to enhance student success. Bring your questions and share what’s working in your student development ecosystem.

This Ideas in Motion session may focus on pool operations, safety, lifeguarding, certifications, and aquatics programming. Join live to troubleshoot challenges, explore new ideas, and connect with other aquatics leaders. Gain insights that help you keep your aquatic spaces safe, engaging, and well-managed.

This session invites NIRSA senior leaders to engage in bold, strategic dialogue about the future of collegiate recreation. Through idea exchanges and peer-driven conversations, we'll explore emerging trends, reimagine challenges as opportunities, and spark actionable insights. Join the conversation to connect with fellow leaders.

Overview   

The Conference Virtual Package offers a curated, on-demand learning experience featuring four foundational sessions from the 2026 NIRSA + IDEA® World Conference & Expo. These sessions focus on essential areas of campus and community recreation—including outdoor recreation, fitness, and adaptive programs—and will be released a few weeks after the in-person event. Participants will also be invited to join an exclusive discussion channel to continue conversations and connect with peers across the field.

Automatically Included 

The following in-person conference registrants receive complimentary access and will be automatically enrolled—no separate registration required:

• Early Bird in-person registrants (all membership types) 
• All in-person student registrants, regardless of when they register 

Automatic enrollment notifications will be emailed once the package is available. 

Available for Purchase 

Individuals who did not register for the in-person conference by the Early Bird deadline (except students, who are included automatically) or who are not attending the conference may register and purchase access using the button on this page. 

Access Duration 

Participants gained access to all virtual package content on APRIL 17, 2026, and will have access for 6 months after the launch date. 

After this 6-month period, the sessions will be added to NIRSA Learning as individual webinars, available free of charge to NIRSA Institutional Members.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Do Early Bird attendees need to register separately? 

No. Early Bird in-person registrants are automatically enrolled. 

Do in-person student attendees get free access? 

Yes. All in-person student registrants receive complimentary access regardless of registration date. 

How do I register if I didn’t attend the conference or missed Early Bird? 

Use the registration button on this page to purchase access. 

When will the recordings be available? 

The virtual package was released in April 2026, a few weeks after the in-person conference. 

How long will access last? 

Participants will have access for 6 months. After that, the sessions become individual webinars free to NIRSA Institutional Members. 

Registrants Who Are Automatically Included 

The following in-person conference registrants receive complimentary access and will be automatically enrolled—no separate registration required:  

• Early Bird in-person registrants (all membership types) 
• All in-person student registrants, regardless of when they register 

Automatic enrollment notifications will be emailed once the package is available. 

Available for Purchase 

Individuals who did not register for the in-person conference by the Early Bird deadline (except students, who are included automatically) or who are not attending the conference may register and purchase access using the button on this page. 

Access Duration 

Participants gained access to all virtual package content on April 16, 2026 and have access for 6 months after the launch date. 

After this 6-month period, the six sessions will be added to NIRSA Learning as individual webinars, available free of charge to NIRSA Institutional Members.

Pricing 

We had a change in the lineup since April 28! View the list of sessions you'll gain access to:

Exploring Inclusion of College Students with IDD within Campus Recreation at the Organizational Level

Lindsey Oakes

There are approximately 8 million Americans who have an intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD), and the number of these individuals attending U.S. colleges has significantly increased in the past five years. This increase is largely due to 340 and counting inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs at universities and colleges across the U.S. that are designed to create and expand inclusive higher education experiences for individuals with IDD. This session will describe the methods, results, and practical implications of a NIRSA-funded research study that aimed to better understand the attitudes and perspectives of campus recreation staff, as well as the presence or absence of best practices for inclusive service delivery that shape the overall cultural context of campus recreation departments in regard to disability inclusion.

Outdoor Recreation: Alternative Spring Break Connecting Students to Nature While Giving Back

Alicia Ramsdell

This session is designed for small programs or people who are introducing outdoor programs into their recreational offerings. The goal is to help people broaden their scope of programming while keeping their spending to a minimum with a program that will have high impacts on the student experience.

Leveling the Playing Field: Bringing Adapted Sports to Campus Recreation

Rebecca Wehler, Lindsay Hammond

Join us for a dynamic session that reimagines what campus recreation can be. Discover how universities can create inclusive opportunities through adapted sports where students with and without disabilities compete, connect, and thrive side by side. This session goes beyond theory and offers practical strategies for weaving adapted sports into existing recreation programs. We will highlight proven best practices and real success stories that demonstrate the transformative power of inclusive play. Special guest Dan Markel, the 2020 Pennsylvania Muscular Dystrophy Association Ambassador, will share his powerful firsthand perspective on what adapted sports mean for students living with disabilities in the collegiate environment. Participants will walk away with actionable tools for planning and implementing adapted sport programs that ensure all students, regardless of ability, can fully participate and benefit. You will not just hear about adapted sports,you will experience them yourself through interactive activities that introduce the rules, adaptations, and excitement of several different sports. Get ready to gain fresh insights, new skills, and a deeper appreciation for the joy and impact of inclusive recreation. 

Maximizing Impact: Leveraging Group Exercise Programs as an Engagement and Revenue Strategy

Makayla Ferguson

The purpose of this session is to explore how campus recreation programs and departments can enhance revenue and campus engagement by offering private group exercise (group fitness) opportunities in tandem with weekly scheduled classes. Many recreation departments face the challenge of balancing limited resources and participation in specialized programs with growing demands for diverse programming. A private group exercise program introduces a sustainable way to:
• Generate additional revenue to support departmental initiatives.
• Offer additional teaching opportunities for instructors.
• Provide structured professional development opportunities for instructors.
• Create new spaces for engagement with student organizations, academic departments, and other campus groups.

This session will discuss practical frameworks for implementation, including request processes, instructor management, pricing and payment considerations, and scheduling logistics. Successes and challenges of managing this program will also be highlighted. Attendees will leave with tools and strategies to implement similar models to their own recreation departments, regardless of program size and resources.