7th Annual
April 4-6, 2025
TIMBER POINTE OUTDOOR CENTER
20 Timber Pointe Lane | Hudson, IL 61748
ABOUT THE EVENT
Illinois State University, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and Indiana University will be hosting the 7th Annual Great Lakes Recreational Therapy Student Conference. The conference will be held in Hudson, IL at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center on April 4th-6th, 2025!
CALL FOR SPEAKERS
We are expecting around 125 students from 8-10 universities. The Great Lakes RT Board is reaching out to local recreational therapists & students to speak on behalf of their experiences in the recreational therapy field. Students can make valuable connections and create community with experienced RT professionals. You can help make this conference a success! All submissions are due January 31, 2025. Specifically, we are interested in presentations that center on the following topics, but are open to all possible presentations:
Possible Conference Session Topics
- New interventions
-Evidence-based practice
- Legal Issues relating to RT
- Conducting assessments
- Building therapeutic relationships
- Working with allied health partners
- Professional development
- Information on various settings and populations
- Internships
- NCTRC exam tips
- Career development
Intervention Topics
- Sensory integration
- Meditative & mindfulness
-Social skills
- Sports & fitness
- Outdoors & nature-based
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Expressive arts
- Leisure education
After acceptance of your presentation, all presenters (up to two discounted speakers per session) will receive a 50% discount on the early-bird conference registration fee. All speakers staying for meals and/or sessions must register for the conference.
BACK THIS YEAR! Student Poster Session
There is no required poster format as the session is intended to share posters students have already created/presented at their home university or in preparation for an upcoming event. Poster session participants are not eligible for the reduced conference rate. Bring your printed poster ready to display. Please note a student MUST be FIRST author to submit a poster, faculty involvement is not required.
SUBMIT SESSION PROPOSALS AND STUDENT POSTERS HERE
All submissions are due JANUARY 31, 2025 by 11:59pm.
REGISTRATION COSTS
Early Bird Registration (ends 3/1/25): $115
Full Registration (begins 3/2/25): $130
Speakers (up to two, discounted at 50% off)
INCLUDES: CONFERENCE REGISTRATION, 2 NIGHTS LODGING, 5 MEALS, AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CANOEING & PADDLE BOARDING ON THE LAKE, ARCHERY, GOATS, AND ACCESSIBLE ZIP LINE DEMONSTRATION
(Some activities are weather permitting)
To register for the conference, scan
the QR code below, or click to the right to fill out your registration form:
SPONSORSHIP, INTERNSHIP/JOB FAIR AND VENDORS
The Great Lakes Recreational Therapy Student Conference is the premiere recreational therapy conference for students. Over the last 5+ years, it has grown to be a two-night, two-day conference with over 100 undergraduate and graduate students from colleges nationwide. The student-centered conference aims to foster learning, networking, and skill development among students and professionals in the field.
Click the button on the right to view a PDF of our sponsorship, vendor, and internship/ job fair opportunities at the conference!
