2025 National Academy of Recreational Therapists
National Academy of Recreational Therapists
2025 Award Recipients
Academies are honorific societies composed of the most accomplished leaders of a profession. Individuals elected to inclusion in an Academy have continuing dialogue regarding the critical issues facing their field and provide expertise and counsel on how best to address these issues in order to advance their profession.
The National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) is a national academy that pursues activities to support and advance the recreational therapy profession by recognition, Educa- tion, research, scholarly activity, advocacy and the provision of advice to decision makers.
Membership in NART is by invitation. Candidates must be nominated by a NART Fellow and must (a) hold national certification as a CTRS® or have been formerly certified as a CTRS® before retirement; (b) hold a state license, registration or certification in compliance with state regulations; (c) demonstrate competence through professional activities over a minimum of 10 years; (d) demonstrate a minimum of two of the following: quality as well as quantity of contributions to the literature of the profession, recognition of leadership and extensive par- ticipation in professional associations and organizations, and/or acknowledged outstanding performance as a teacher, leader, administrator, practitioner, or researcher in the field of recre- ational therapy; and (e) indicate a willingness to further the goals of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists and participate in its affairs.
NART is pleased to introduce The 2025 Future Scholar:
Congratulations to Lauren Bade, MS, TRS, CTRS, the 2025 NART Future Scholar. Lauren is an August 2025 graduate of the MS in Recreational Therapy (RT) program at the University of Utah. She also holds a BS in Therapeutic Recreation and Management from Brigham Young University. Lauren’s experience in RT includes work with individuals across the lifespan in both clinical settings and community-based programs. During her graduate studies, Lauren served as a Teaching Assistant for several undergraduate RT courses and as a Research Assistant on a study examining the efficacy of robotic pet interventions for older adults of differing cognitive abilities. For her MS project, Lauren developed a series of educational training videos on various assessments with relevance for RT practice and packaged them as a series called the RT Playbook. She evaluated the videos by surveying Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists for their feedback.
The purpose of NART’s Future Scholar Program is to provide currently enrolled master’s degree students who are interested in pursuing a doctorate in an area related to therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy with the intention of entering academia as a faculty member in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy the opportunity to meet and be mentored by scholars in the profession. The selected applicants attend the ATRA Annual Conference and receive a stipend to help cover the conference cost.
For more information about NART visit our website at: https://www.nart.academy/
Therapeutic Recreation Journal Annual in Therapeutic Recreation 2025 Marcia Carter Scholarly Manuscript
Sponsored by Sagamore-Venture and
the National Academy of Recreational Therapists
The Therapeutic Recreation Journal-Annual in Therapeutic Recreation Marcia Carter Best Paper Award is a peer-review award that recognizes one manuscript annually from the Therapeutic Recreation Journal–Annual in Therapeutic Recreation (Volume 58, Numbers 3 and 4 [2024] and Volume 59, Numbers 1 and 2 [2025]) The award considers originality, significance of the research, methodology rigor, and quality and impact of the manuscript. The selected manuscript exhibits outstanding literary contribution to the profession of therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy as demonstrated by the following:
• Exhibits exemplary contribution to the knowledge base, theoretical foundation, and or best practices through research, theory, or evidence-based practice
• Exhibits exemplary adherence to research and writing protocols appropriate to the nature of the manuscript and editorial and submission policies of TRJ and the Annual
• Presents innovative model, practice, and/or resolution of need or issue that advances quality of recreational therapy interventions and services
• Presents justification, rationale, evidence from research, and/or practice that advances recreational therapy outcomes providing evidence for the profession’s contribution to health, quality of life and interprofessional outcomes.
• Facilitates advancement of the APIE-D process through improved accountability and efficacy
• Enhances the theoretical foundation of therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy practices
The 2025 Marcia Carter Scholarly Manuscript Award Winner
The 2025 award is presented to Lori Koplin, Nova Community Center and Special Populations division Coordinator for the City of Ormond Beach, Florida, and Tania Santiago Perez, interim chair and associate teaching professor in the Department of counseling, Recreation and School Psychology, Florida International University (FIU), Miami, Florida for their manuscript “Pickle Squad Intervention Protocol for Adolescents and Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)” that appeared in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 58 (3), 2024, pp. 292=315. Lori Koplin MS. CTRS, SPRP, CYSA, CARSS, developed Pickle Squad as part of her graduate project at FIU.
Congratulations to the 2025 finalist:
Jacqueline L. Dyke, Jasmine Townsend, Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Brandi Crowe, and Lisa Loar (2024). A Systematic Review and Critique of Recreational Therapy-Specific Literature Regarding Substance Use Disorders. [Special Issue ATRA Annual]. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 58(4), 365-393.
Goals of NART
Establish a network of recognized scholars and outstanding practitioners who have significantly contributed to the advancement of recreational therapy
Advance the public awareness and understanding of the recreational therapy profession by conducting and advancing research and scholarly activities to improve recreational therapy practice, patient/consumer outcomes and education for safe and effective recreational therapy practice
Promote adoption and consistent application of evidence-based professional standards and guidelines for the delivery of safe and effective recreational therapy practice
Support conducting research and scholarly activities to advance and improve delivery pf recreational therapy services in the treatment, rehabilitation and education of individuals in need of recreational therapy
Recognize best practices and promoting research and scholarly activities to enhance educational opportunities