Overview   

The Conference Virtual Package offers a curated, on-demand learning experience featuring six foundational sessions from the 2026 NIRSA + IDEA® World Conference & Expo. These sessions will 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 Ideas in Motion virtual style roundtable 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 will gain access to all virtual package content on APRIL 16, 2026, and will 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.

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 will be 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. 

Will CEUs be available? 

Yes, there will be CEUs. Any certification credits will be listed within each session once published. 

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 will gain 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 

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.

From Championship to Crisis: How Smart Risk Management Protects Your Students, Facility & Institution

Juliana Scheidhauer

Campus recreation professionals are trusted to provide safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces that serve thousands of students daily. But when a treadmill fails, a layout creates blind spots, or maintenance is deferred, the impact is more than a broken machine. It can result in student injury, lost trust, and costly liability for the institution. This session equips campus recreation leaders with tools to proactively identify facility risks, align preventive maintenance with institutional priorities, and communicate the true value of risk management to university administrators and donors. Through real world examples and campus-specific case studies, attendees will learn how to balance student wellness, program growth, and financial responsibility, turning potential crises into opportunities for leadership. Participants will leave with practical strategies to reduce risk, advocate for resources, and demonstrate stewardship in a way that resonates with institutional stakeholders.

Rewrite the Route: The Power of Mentors and Metrics for Early Career Professionals

Kathleen Langley

Early Career Professionals are often told there is a “traditional route” to success in collegiate recreation—GA → Coordinator → Assistant Director → Director. But today, our field has expanded. Professionals are thriving through non-linear paths, cross-departmental roles, committee leadership, entrepreneurship, wellness collaborations, and institutional partnerships. This session will explore how Early Career Professionals can intentionally shape their own careers by leveraging relationships, mentorship, and program advocacy skills.