FORT RILEY, Kan. -- Kansas Recreation and Park Association professionals from the state of Kansas held their annual conference and trade show Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Manhattan, Kansas. The association is a non-profit organization representing the parks, recreation and leisure industry in Kansas.
As part of the conference, attendees had the opportunity to come to Fort Riley Feb. 2 and tour recreation facilities with a driving tour and stops at the Warrior Zone and Whitside Fitness Center. The group also saw how "Big Red One" Soldiers train with a hands-on demonstration at the Fort Riley Training Support Center.
At the TSC, the tour group received a welcome from Col. John D. Lawrence, Fort Riley garrison commander. He explained how Fort Riley has resources and facilities just like the KRPA members have in their towns. He also talked about how Soldiers training at Fort Riley use a combination of live, virtual and constructive resources to provide the best training for wartime readiness.
The tour split into two groups and one group spent time in the engagement skills trainer while the other group received a briefing on equipment and training aids used to train Soldiers such as Wireless Integrated Training System or WITS, Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System or MILES and Homestation Instrumentation Training System or HITS.
"Many, if not all of the recreation professionals who attended the tour had no idea what MWR or life on an Army post looks like," said Scott Scherberger, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, chief of community recreation division. "This was a chance for us to showcase what recreation opportunities exist for our community and understand its importance to supporting readiness. Additionally, with the stop at the TSC, it gave them a hands on experience to learn how our Soldiers train for deployment in a virtual environment which reduces costs. I believe it was a great learning opportunity.
In the engagement skills trainer there was an opportunity to use the weapons training platform. It is a simulation where bullets are not used. There are weapons, lasers and a scenario projected on a screen. The group was allowed to compete for best shooter. Whitney Gillman from Baldwin City Recreation Commission, sports coordinator took the title of top shooter.
When asked what her favorite part of the tour was, she said "Definitely the shooting. It was a lot of fun -- especially being able to win it was really cool. I enjoyed it."
Besides the fun Gillman had shooting, she said Baldwin City is hoping to get a community center built. What she saw on the tour provided information she can take back and consider incorporating into plans for their city's facility.
The final stop was Whitside Fitness Center. Scherberger presented information about the features and capabilities of the center. He said when Whitside opened, staff of DFMWR thought the amount of visits would remain the same, but attendance increased.
"We just thought that people would kind of spread out and use this facility," Scherberger said. "That wasn't the case. Participation actually increased."
Kelby Helwig, senior park manager with Johnson County Park and Recreation district, said the conference had a record turnout this year and he is sure the tour of Fort Riley helped with that.
"They greeted us with open arms," Helwig said. "It definitely showed us how they are using their dollars to have these types of facilities … I am super impressed with this whole operation. It's pretty amazing."
He said parks and recreation are important to quality of life and that means different things to people.
"I would say most importantly quality of life is those intangible things mind, body and spirit," Helwig said. "So when you are connected with the outdoors, fitness and learning how to be healthy you feel better. When kids are introduced to those activities, it socializes them and gets them ready for the real world. Much of that starts with recreation."
"This tour provided the opportunity to inform and build relationships with recreation professionals statewide," Scherberger said. "It was important for us to establish new relationships with fellow professionals in the field of recreation throughout the region and state to expand our network -- I believe we were successful in doing that.
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