Programs

National Playground Safety Institute

The National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI), is a 15-hour comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods, offered by the National Recreation and Park Association. Attendees have the option to sit for the Certified Playground Safety Inspector exam scheduled at the culmination of the certification course. NPSI promotes children's rights to play and promotes nationally the importance play has in a child's development, NPSI provides the most current comprehensive training program on public playground safety anywhere, NPSI provides input to help develop responsible public policy for the guaranteed safety of our children while at the same time advocating sound fiscal responsibility to provide resources for the on-going maintenance and support of the policy.Click here for more details on this NRPA training program.

Vermont first hosted a NPSI course in 2002 as a result of the work of the Vermont Playground Advisory Committee, which was established by the Department of SRS in response to concerns about playground safety in Vermont. Representatives from the Department of Education; Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; Department of Health; Vermont Recreation and Parks Association; child care centers and insurance providers worked together to host the first training. After 85 people attended the course, the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association made a commitment to host the training every three years so that people can re-certify right here in Vermont. VRPA hosted its second NPSI in 2005 and plan to host our next one in the Spring of 2008. Our next course is scheduled on April 30-May 2, 2008 in Montpelier.

Registration materials for the Spring 2008 NPSI in Vermont click here.