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Where Communities Thrive: CEHD Celebrates National Parks and Recreation Month
July 22, 2026
By Kiersten Caputy
Every July, National Parks and Recreation Month recognizes the parks, trails, gardens, recreation programs, and professionals that enrich communities across the country. Whether creating spaces for families to gather, preserving natural resources, or inspiring healthier lifestyles, parks play a vital role in improving quality of life.
At George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the Recreation Management Program is preparing the next generation of professionals who will shape those experiences. Through research, experiential learning, and meaningful community partnerships, faculty, students, and alumni are helping build healthier, more connected communities throughout Virginia and beyond.
For Sammie Powers, associate professor of Recreation Management, the impact of parks extends far beyond recreation. “Research shows that local parks and recreation provide spaces for people to be physically active, connect with others in their community, and improve their mental health,” Powers said. “In a society that is increasingly disconnected and where loneliness is high, parks and recreation are spaces of connection, places where communities can come together and thrive.”
Powers’ research examines how parks, recreation organizations, and conservation efforts can better serve communities by fostering belonging, collaboration, and equitable engagement. Her work has shown that welcoming, inclusive public spaces strengthen community trust, encourage environmental stewardship, and improve overall well-being.
She brings those findings directly into the classroom, helping students understand that research is most powerful when it informs practice. “My goal is to help students understand that research and practice go hand in hand,” she said. “Rather than simply learning about research, I teach with real world examples, case studies, and management scenarios that enable students to practice analyzing data and interpreting evidence to inform decision making.”
That philosophy comes to life through CEHD’s emphasis on experiential learning.
For Recreation Management student Thomas Bardroff, who serves as an Atrium Horticulturist at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, every day offers an opportunity to combine leadership, horticulture, and community engagement. “I wear many hats in my role as a horticulturist, so every day is a little different,” Bardroff said.
He oversees seasonal staff and volunteers while managing multiple garden spaces, including the Atrium event venue and the Volgenau Conservatory. Seeing visitors enjoy spaces that he and his team have cultivated has become one of the most rewarding parts of his experience. “I’ve really enjoyed being able to see my work grow from small plants in the greenhouse to fully designed in the garden for public enjoyment,” he said.
For Bardroff, botanical gardens and parks provide something communities increasingly need. “I believe gardens and parks can serve as a sort of respite from the everyday grind that life can bring,” he said. “Whatever the reasoning may be, parks and gardens become keystones for their respective community.”
His experiences at George Mason have reinforced his long-term goal of becoming a botanical garden curator or park manager, while giving him confidence to lead others. “I think the overall experience has been great and given me the confidence to recognize that I can achieve my goals,” he said.
For recent graduate Zetta Blue Roberts, BS Recreation Management ’25, that journey has already come full circle. Today, Roberts serves as a Park Specialist at Algonkian Regional Park with NOVA Parks, where she oversees operations that include Volcano Island Waterpark, staff development, aquatics, and visitor experiences.
After spending more than six years with NOVA Parks, Roberts says her current role has challenged her in exciting new ways. “Aquatics has been an unexpected love,” she said. “I’ve learned how to operate a waterpark facility, train lifeguards, hire more than 90 employees, and understand the maintenance and pump room operations of the pool. It has been more fun than I ever expected.”
The most rewarding part of her work, however, is investing in people. “The most rewarding part has been watching new lifeguards grow into confident and capable guards throughout the season,” Roberts said.
Her own career began in an entry-level seasonal position, a path she encourages current students to embrace. “Just because you start in a smaller role doesn’t mean you’ll end there,” Roberts said. “Every successful person I know in recreation started in an entry-level position somewhere in the field.”
Looking across the experiences of Powers, Bardroff, and Roberts, it is clear that parks are more than destinations. They are places where people find belonging, build relationships, discover careers, and strengthen communities.
That mission continues to inspire CEHD’s Recreation Management Program as it prepares future leaders to address emerging challenges, build collaborative partnerships, and create welcoming spaces where everyone can thrive.
As National Parks and Recreation Month reminds us, the value of parks is measured not only in acres protected or trails maintained, but in the lives they enrich every day.