Never Scramble for CEUs Again

50+ NCTRC Pre-Approved Hours.
Online. Anytime. One annual investment.

• 2 new hours added monthly.

Trusted by Recreational Therapists for 20+ Years.

March 2026 Issue

Rec Therapy Today — TRUSTED by Rec Therapists Everywhere

Why Recreational Therapists Choose Elite

Recreational therapists tell us they want CEUs that are:

• Relevant to their role

• Easy to access

• Affordable

• Approved and trustworthy

That’s exactly what the Elite CEU Membership delivers.

It’s not about checking a box—it’s about supporting your growth, confidence, and professionalism as an RT.

Your Career Could Inspire the Next Generation

Help Us Show the World the Power of Recreational Therapy

What if your career story helped a student choose recreational therapy?

What if your setting, your interventions, your journey — became the example someone else needed to see?

This year, we are creating a new book:

Career Opportunities in Recreational Therapy

And we want YOU to be part of it.

Recreational therapy is one of the most diverse and meaningful professions in healthcare — but many people don’t fully understand the range of opportunities within our field.

We work in:

Hospitals
Behavioral health
Skilled nursing
Pediatrics
Veterans services
Community recreation
Corrections
Schools
Adaptive sports
And so much more

Every setting tells a different story.

Every RT career path matters.

This book will highlight real professionals, real settings, and real impact. It will serve as a resource for students, educators, and professionals exploring new directions.

And your experience could make a difference.

Why Participate?

• Showcase your setting and specialty
• Inspire students and future CTRSs
• Elevate awareness of recreational therapy
• Strengthen professional identity across our field
• Leave your mark on the profession

You don’t need to be “famous.”
You don’t need decades of experience.

You just need your story.

Submit Your Information

We’ve created a simple survey where you can share:

Your setting
Population served
Types of interventions
Advice for new professionals
Where you see the future of RT

It only takes a few minutes — but your contribution could impact the profession for years.

👉 Submit here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3T3W9NP

Let’s show the world what recreational therapists really do.

Because the future of our profession isn’t built by one voice.

It’s built by all of us.

🌟 Speaker Spotlight: Mitzi Hartwell, CTRS 🌟

Mitzi spoke at our RT in HEART teleconference in February 2026.

When it comes to blending intention, adventure, and clinical skill, Mitzi Hartwell stands out as a powerful voice in recreational therapy.

Mitzi’s practice spans multiple settings, including:

• Public and private schools

• Community-based programs

• In-home therapeutic services

• Corporate wellness and team development

• Hospital-based recreation therapy

• Therapeutic and DJJ-involved youth settings

She specializes in adventure-based, process-driven recreational therapy designed to build emotional regulation, leadership, resilience, and self-awareness across systems.

“I Didn’t Choose Recreational Therapy Because It Was Safe — I Chose It Because It Was Powerful.”

Mitzi shares:

“Recreational therapy was the only modality that ever truly made sense to me.
People change through experience — not lectures. Through movement. Through play. Through process. Through challenge.”

Her belief is simple but bold: growth happens organically when clients are given meaningful, structured experiences without shame, stigma, or defensiveness.

To Mitzi, this profession is limitless. The only boundaries are creativity, belief in the process, and belief in yourself.

From Hospital RT to Multi-County Program Builder

While working as a recreation therapist in a hospital in Southeast Georgia, Mitzi saw a job posting for an adventure-based counselor position in a school serving students with behavioral issues.

The pay was lower than her hospital role.
Most would have walked away.

Instead, she created a contract model — keeping her hospital position while launching adventure-based services in the school system.

That single decision led to:

• Renewed contracts across multiple school systems

• Expansion into approximately six school systems in Southeast Georgia

• Growth into three counties

• Development of community-based therapeutic recreation services

Her model proved effective — establishing measurable outcomes and proof of concept across systems.

Power Tools for Youth

Mitzi later created Power Tools for Youth, a structured recreational therapy framework focused on:

• Skill development

• Emotional regulation

• Self-awareness

• Leadership through experiential learning

The model expanded into:

• Eight counties across Southeast Georgia and North Florida

• Later into Virginia

• Reaching approximately twelve different school systems

Mitzi has watched students who were written off discover leadership.
She has seen “behavior problems” become mentors.

That is the power of process.

What People Don’t See

Mitzi addresses a common misconception:

“People often think we ‘just play games.’
What they don’t see is the clinical layering underneath every activity.”

Behind each challenge, RTs are assessing:

• Emotional regulation

• Communication patterns

• Group dynamics

• Executive functioning

• Coping skills

• Trauma responses

• Social cognition

Every activity has purpose.
Every debrief has intention.
Every challenge builds transferable life skills.

“We don’t just facilitate play — we engineer growth through it.”

Connect with Mitzi

🌐 Website: www.theresolvecenterva.com
📘 Facebook: The Resolve Center
📍 Cave Spring, Virginia

Mitzi Hartwell reminds us why we do this work.
Recreational therapy meets people where they are — and builds who they can become.

Thank you, Mitzi, for bringing your passion and innovation to our RT in HeaRT community. 💙

Infographics for the Month

What If Stress Management Has Been Recreational Therapy All Along?

Take a moment and think about common stress management advice given in traditional talk therapy.

Exercise regularly.
Practice yoga.
Spend time with friends.
Engage in hobbies.
Garden.
Play with pets.
Practice relaxation.
Do something enjoyable.

Sound familiar?

It should.

Because much of what is recommended in talk therapy for stress management is, at its core, recreation.

Recreational therapy has always understood something powerful:

Healing doesn’t happen through conversation alone.
It happens through engagement.

When clients go for a walk, join a group activity, create art, laugh during a game, stretch in yoga, or spend time outdoors — they are not “just doing activities.”

They are regulating their nervous systems.
They are improving mood chemistry.
They are strengthening social bonds.
They are rebuilding confidence.
They are reclaiming identity beyond illness.

In traditional therapy, a clinician might say, “Try journaling,” “Call a friend,” or “Practice mindfulness.”

In recreational therapy, we facilitate the lived experience of those skills.

We structure it.
We adapt it.
We process it.
We make it accessible.

That’s the difference.

Stress management isn’t only about reducing stress. It’s about building capacity — emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively.

And recreation builds capacity.

When someone learns to tolerate frustration during a game, that’s affect regulation.

When someone reconnects with peers in group, that’s interpersonal strengthening.

When someone finds joy again in music, gardening, or sports, that’s restoration.

The next time someone says recreational therapy is “just activities,” remember this:

Many of the coping strategies taught in traditional therapy are recreational in nature.

We don’t just talk about stress management.

We activate it.

We embody it.

We practice it in real time.

And that’s why recreational therapy belongs at the center of holistic care.

Because sometimes the most powerful therapy doesn’t look like therapy.

It looks like living.

Humor for the Month

Professional growth doesn’t have to be confusing. We make it simple.

Inspiration for the Month

Holidays and Observations

• March 17, 2026 (Tuesday) – St. Patrick’s Day (widely celebrated, not a federal holiday)

• March 8, 2026 (Sunday) – Daylight Saving Time Begins (clocks move forward 1 hour)

⚠️ There are no official U.S. federal government holidays in March 2026.

📅 Weekly Observances (March 2026)

• March 1–7 – National Sleep Awareness Week

• March 2–6 – National School Breakfast Week

• March 15–21 – National Poison Prevention Week

🏥 Health & Awareness Month Observances

• National Nutrition Month

• National Social Work Month

• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

• Brain Injury Awareness Month

• Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

• Women’s History Month

• National Reading Month

🎉 Notable Daily Observances

• March 1 (Sunday) – Self-Injury Awareness Day

• March 2 (Monday) – Read Across America Day

• March 3 (Tuesday) – World Wildlife Day

• March 8 (Sunday) – International Women’s Day

• March 14 (Saturday) – Pi Day

• March 20 (Friday) – First Day of Spring (Vernal Equinox)

• March 21 (Saturday) – World Down Syndrome Day

• March 22 (Sunday) – World Water Day

Rec Therapy Today — CEU Reminders:

Your CEU Guide: T.R. Turtle

Activity Ideas for the Month

Seeds of Growth: Plant & Reflect

Supplies Needed:
Small pots or cups, potting soil, seeds (flowers or herbs), markers, labels, watering can

Instructions:
Provide each participant with a small pot and soil. Have them plant a seed. Ask them to write one personal goal on a label and place it on the pot. Facilitate a discussion about how growth takes time, care, patience, and consistency. Encourage participants to water and monitor their plant weekly.

Benefits:

Social: Encourages sharing goals and supporting one another.
Interpersonal: Builds connection through group discussion and shared experience.
Affect Regulation: Promotes hope, patience, and emotional investment in growth.
Intellectual: Teaches responsibility and cause-and-effect relationships.
Physical (Fine Motor): Scooping soil, placing seeds, labeling pots.
Other Benefits: Enhances self-efficacy and future-oriented thinking.

Shamrock Strengths Collage

Supplies Needed:
Green construction paper, scissors, glue, magazines, markers

Instructions:
Provide large shamrock shapes for participants to decorate. Ask them to write one personal strength on each leaf. Encourage creativity using magazine images, drawings, or symbols. Invite participants to share their shamrock with the group.

Benefits:

Social: Encourages positive peer feedback.
Interpersonal: Builds confidence through affirmation.
Affect Regulation: Increases positive emotions and self-worth.
Intellectual: Promotes self-reflection and insight.
Physical (Fine Motor): Cutting, gluing, drawing.
Other Benefits: Supports strengths-based and resilience-focused thinking.

March Movement Challenge

Supplies Needed:
Cards with movement prompts (march in place, stretch, balance pose, light dance), music

Instructions:
Place movement prompts in a basket or container. Participants take turns selecting a card. The group performs the movement together for a short time. Facilitate a brief discussion afterward about how movement impacts mood and energy.

Benefits:

Social: Builds unity through shared activity.
Interpersonal: Encourages cooperation and encouragement.
Affect Regulation: Releases tension and improves mood.
Intellectual: Strengthens ability to follow directions and sequence tasks.
Physical (Gross Motor): Improves balance, coordination, stamina, and body awareness.
Other Benefits: Boosts energy and reduces stress.

Spring Cleaning Thought Reframe

Supplies Needed:
Paper, pens, small trash can or shredder

Instructions:
Invite participants to write a negative thought they struggle with. Facilitate discussion about reframing the thought into a healthier, more balanced perspective. Have participants tear up or discard the negative thought and rewrite the new thought on a fresh sheet of paper.

Benefits:

Social: Normalizes shared struggles through discussion.
Interpersonal: Encourages empathy and validation.
Affect Regulation: Reduces rumination and emotional distress.
Intellectual: Strengthens cognitive restructuring skills.
Physical (Fine Motor): Writing and tearing paper.
Other Benefits: Builds growth mindset and coping strategies.

Lucky Gratitude Jar

Supplies Needed:
Jar or container, slips of paper, pens

Instructions:
Ask participants to write several things they are grateful for and place the slips in the jar. Participants may take turns drawing and reading slips aloud. Facilitate discussion on how gratitude impacts emotional wellness.

Benefits:

Social: Encourages positive sharing.
Interpersonal: Strengthens bonds through appreciation.
Affect Regulation: Increases positive affect and resilience.
Intellectual: Enhances perspective-taking and cognitive flexibility.
Physical (Fine Motor): Writing and folding paper.
Other Benefits: Supports optimism and mood stabilization.

Spring Sensory Relaxation

Supplies Needed:
Nature sounds, calming music, optional scent such as lavender, guided imagery script

Instructions:
Guide participants through a spring-themed relaxation exercise. Encourage deep breathing and sensory awareness. Afterward, facilitate reflection on how relaxation techniques can help manage stress.

Benefits:

Social: Creates a shared calming experience.
Interpersonal: Builds trust within the group setting.
Affect Regulation: Reduces anxiety and promotes emotional regulation.
Intellectual: Improves focus and mindfulness.
Physical: Supports nervous system regulation and controlled breathing.
Other Benefits: Strengthens coping and self-soothing skills.

Featured Article of the Month

Luck Isn’t Magic — It’s Preparation: How Recreational Therapists Create Their Own Opportunities

By Danny W. Pettry II, M.Ed., M.S., LPC, NCC, CTRS-BH

“Luck favors the prepared.”

We often hear people say someone was “just lucky.” Lucky to get the promotion. Lucky to land the job. Lucky to build a successful program.

But peak performance research tells a different story.

Luck is rarely random.

It is preparation meeting opportunity.

In recreational therapy, the professionals who appear “lucky” are often the ones who consistently sharpen their skills, practice deliberately, and position themselves for growth.

Peak Performance Is Built, Not Bestowed

Peak performers don’t rely on talent alone. They rely on:

• Continuous learning

• Feedback and reflection

• Intentional skill development

• Stretch goals outside their comfort zone

They practice on purpose.

This concept, known as deliberate practice, means focusing on specific skills, seeking correction, and repeating until improvement occurs. It’s not casual repetition. It’s structured growth.

Increasing the Odds in Your Career

You cannot control every opportunity.
You can control your preparation.

When you:

• Earn CEUs consistently

• Strengthen communication on the treatment team

• Improve documentation and measurable outcomes

• Develop leadership skills

• Build professional relationships

You increase your odds.

Opportunities tend to find those who are ready.

Just like planting seeds in March, growth doesn’t happen overnight. But steady preparation compounds over time. Small improvements become noticeable progress. Progress becomes momentum.

And momentum looks a lot like luck.

This month, ask yourself:

What skill, if improved, would increase my professional “odds” the most?

Because in recreational therapy — and in life —
luck favors the prepared.

Rec Therapist of the Month

Margo Evans, CTRS

The Reason They Get Out of Bed: Meet Margo Evans, CTRS

This month, we are proud to spotlight a recreation therapist whose heart for service shines through every word she shares.

Meet Margo Evans, CTRS from Bountiful, Utah.

Margo began her journey as an aide at South Davis Community Hospital — the same organization where she still works today. It was there that she met Janice, the head of the recreation department. Watching residents smile and laugh during activities changed everything.

“That moment confirmed this was the right path for me.”

With mentorship, encouragement, and passion, Margo pursued her education and has never looked back.

🎓 Education & Credentials

Associate of Science, Dixie College, St. George, Utah (1993)
B.S. Therapeutic Recreation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (1999)

Therapeutic Recreation Technician (TRT) – 1994
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (TRS) – 1999
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) – 1999

Professional Member of the Utah Therapeutic Recreation Association (UTRA) since 1994.

🏥 A Therapist Across the Lifespan

Margo provides services for:

Infants
Children
Teenagers
Young Adults
Adults
Seniors

She works with pediatric patients in an LTAC unit for infants, as well as adults who require skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and trach/ventilator services.

Her interventions include sensory stimulation tools, music collaboration, pet therapy, interactive games, trivia, arts and crafts, adaptable exercise, and spiritual support — always with a focus on whole-person wellness.

💬 Why She Loves Recreational Therapy

“What I enjoy most about being a recreation therapist is seeing patients smile and laugh. I believe life shouldn’t end just because someone lives in a care facility.”

Margo believes quality of life matters — at every age and ability level. She works to ensure patients’ needs are met while supporting families along the way.

That mindset reflects the powerful quote she lives by:

“Physical therapy gives you the strength to get out of bed, occupational therapy teaches you how to get out of bed, and recreational therapy gives you a reason to get out of bed.”

Her goal?

To be the reason someone feels motivated to get out of bed each day.

🌱 Advice for New Recreational Therapists

Margo encourages new professionals to:

Actively listen.
Be creative and adaptable.
Collaborate with the healthcare team.
Build strong relationships with patients and families.

“Stay open-minded, patient, and passionate. Your enthusiasm can truly enhance their quality of life.”

🔮 The Future of Recreational Therapy

Margo sees exciting growth ahead — including virtual reality, adaptive technology, digital engagement tools, and a stronger emphasis on personalized, holistic care.

She believes recreational therapy will continue expanding its role in promoting independence, recovery, and emotional wellness for all populations.

❤️ A Mentor Who Made a Difference

Margo credits Sandra Negley, Professor of Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Utah, as someone who deeply influenced her career.

Her passion and pioneering spirit helped shape Margo into the therapist she is today.

💙 Why She Enjoys Rec Therapy Today

“The different CEU opportunities! I really appreciate the articles, information, and images. Everything is very helpful and informative.”

Thank you, Margo, for your dedication, compassion, and lifelong commitment to recreational therapy. You are truly making a difference — one smile at a time.

Book of the Month 

The Luck Factor

The Luck Factor — The Science Behind Why Some People Create More Opportunity

What if luck isn’t random?

In The Luck Factor, psychologist Richard Wiseman shares research from years of studying people who describe themselves as either “lucky” or “unlucky.” What he discovered was eye-opening.

Lucky people aren’t more talented.
They aren’t more intelligent.
They don’t have better circumstances.

They simply think and behave differently.

In The Luck Factor, Wiseman identifies practical habits that increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. These habits are learnable and repeatable.

That’s why recreational therapists may especially appreciate this book.

Our entire profession is built on helping people increase their odds — whether it’s improving coping skills, strengthening social abilities, building confidence, or promoting independence. We don’t rely on chance. We build opportunity through intentional intervention.

Wiseman’s research reinforces what we already practice:

Mindset influences outcomes.
Preparation increases opportunity.
Resilience transforms setbacks into growth.

Three Takeaways Recreational Therapists Can Apply Immediately

Stay Open to Opportunity

Lucky people expand their social networks and try new experiences. For RTs, this means collaborating with other disciplines, trying new program ideas, and staying open to creative interventions. Innovation often begins with curiosity.

Expect Positive Outcomes

Research shows that positive expectations shape behavior. When RTs model hope and belief in improvement, clients often rise to that expectation. Optimism becomes therapeutic.

Reframe “Bad Luck”

Lucky people turn setbacks into learning opportunities. Recreational therapists do this daily by helping clients process failures, adjust goals, and try again. Growth mindset isn’t abstract — it’s clinical practice.

March is often associated with luck.

But perhaps the real message is this:

Luck is not about chance.
It’s about habits.
It’s about awareness.
It’s about preparation meeting opportunity.

And that’s something recreational therapists understand very well.

Game of the Month

Spots – Roll Big, Push Your Luck, and Try Not to Bust!

This month’s featured game is Spots from CMYK — a fast-paced, push-your-luck dice game filled with colorful dogs and just enough suspense to keep everyone engaged.

In Spots, players roll dice and try to place them on their dog cards without exceeding the number of spots available. Roll carefully. Push your luck. Fill your dogs. But if you roll too many spots… you bust.

Simple rules. Quick rounds. High engagement.

And yes — there are adorable dogs involved.

Why Recreational Therapists Will Appreciate This Game

Spots is easy to learn, quick to facilitate, and adaptable across age groups. It works well in acute care, residential, outpatient, and community settings.

It’s engaging without being overly complex.
It encourages risk-taking in a safe way.
It naturally creates moments for emotional regulation coaching.

Most importantly, it mirrors real-life decision-making:
Do I play it safe? Or do I take a chance?

That’s therapeutic gold.

How This Game Can Be Used as an RT Intervention

Decision-Making & Impulse Control Group

Facilitate discussion around risk versus reward. Pause between turns to process: “What made you decide to roll again?” Connect choices in the game to real-life decision patterns.

Frustration Tolerance Practice

When players bust, process the experience. Normalize disappointment. Practice breathing skills. Encourage positive self-talk.

Social Interaction & Turn-Taking

Use the game to reinforce patience, encouragement, and appropriate competition.

Processing Group Add-On

After gameplay, ask participants to reflect:
• When did you feel tempted to take a risk?
• How did you handle frustration?
• Did your strategy change over time?

Therapeutic Outcomes

Interpersonal Skills

Promotes turn-taking, sportsmanship, encouragement of peers, and communication.

Affect Regulation & Frustration Tolerance

Provides safe exposure to disappointment and risk. Allows real-time coaching on emotional regulation strategies.

Intellectual Skills

Strengthens probability awareness, planning, strategy development, impulse control, and flexible thinking.

Fine Motor Skills

Requires dice handling, placement precision, and coordinated hand movements.

Other Outcomes

Builds resilience, supports risk assessment skills, encourages adaptive coping, and increases engagement through fun, light competition.

March is the perfect month for a push-your-luck game.

Because sometimes growth — and maybe even luck — comes from knowing when to roll… and when to stop.

Danny Pettry’s Corner

When One Door Closes… Your Skills Still Open Others

This year brought a major change in my professional life.

The Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) and school for teens where I worked closed its doors. I had the privilege of serving children and adolescents there from 2002 until 2025. For over two decades, that unit wasn’t just my workplace — it was part of my identity.

Change like that can feel unsettling.

I’m grateful to still have a position with our main hospital, which oversaw the PRTF and school. In January, I worked on the Chronically Mentally Ill (CMI) unit. In February, I transitioned to acute-care adults.

It’s been a different pace. A different rhythm. A different energy.

And you know what?

It’s been good.

The last time I worked with adults was in the summer of 2002, during my internship at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. Half of my internship was in acute care with adults, and half was in a skilled nursing facility.

That was 24 years ago.

Stepping back into adult services felt a little intimidating at first — but also familiar.

It’s like riding a bike.

The skills come back.

The fundamentals of recreational therapy don’t disappear. Active listening. Group facilitation. Documentation. Building rapport. Supporting emotion regulation. Encouraging participation. Creating safe space.

Whether you’re working with teens, adults, older adults, or individuals across the lifespan — the core of what we do remains the same.

We connect.
We empower.
We give people a reason to engage in life.

This transition has reminded me of something important:

Your skills are transferable.
Your experience matters.
Your foundation is stronger than you think.

If you’re facing change — whether it’s a new setting, a new population, a new role, or uncertainty about the future — remember this:

You are more adaptable than you realize.

Growth doesn’t mean starting over.
Sometimes it just means applying your strengths in a new environment.

And just like riding a bike…
Once you’ve learned the balance, you don’t forget it.

Keep moving forward.

— Danny

Fun Pages for All Ages 

Images from istock photo

🌱 FREE Seeds for Recreational Therapists

Spring is almost here.

And with it comes a simple reminder:

Growth takes intention.

This March, Rec Therapy Today® is giving away FREE seed packets to recreational therapists across the country.

Why seeds?

Because what we do as RTs is all about growth.

We plant seeds of confidence.
We plant seeds of coping skills.
We plant seeds of connection.
We plant seeds of hope.

And just like in a garden, growth doesn’t happen overnight. It takes preparation. Patience. Consistency.

If you’d like to receive a packet of seeds, simply complete our short form and tell us:

• How many CEUs you need in 2026
• What area you’d like to grow in professionally
• What population you serve

That’s it.

No complicated steps.

Just a small symbol of growth — from us to you.

🌷 After completing the form, you’ll also see options to help you grow your CEUs this year — whether you need a few hours or full renewal coverage.

Let’s make 2026 a year of intentional growth.

Because in recreational therapy — and in life — what you plant today shapes what blooms tomorrow.

Never Scramble for CEUs Again

50+ NCTRC Pre-Approved Hours.
Online. Anytime. One annual investment.

• 2 new hours added monthly.

Trusted by Recreational Therapists for 20+ Years.