Recreational Therapy Month

February 2026

RT Month 2026

Waves of Connection:

Turning the Tide on Loneliness Through Recreational Therapy

Please join ATRA in emphasizing Recreational Therapy’s essential role in promoting social connectedness during RT Month 2026! Let’s celebrate the unique expertise that makes Recreational Therapy such a powerful resource for social health in our communities and healthcare systems. ATRA is here to empower you during #RTMonth2026 with advocacy resources, opportunities, merch, and giveaways!

Together we can amplify the message that Recreational Therapists are leaders in social connectedness and the preferred provider for activity-based social and relational interventions aimed at reducing loneliness.

the purpose

Why We Celebrate

Recreational Therapy Month serves to spotlight the essential role that Recreational Therapy plays in enhancing wellness, promoting healing, and fostering inclusion in healthcare settings and our communities. This month, we celebrate and recognize the expertise, commitment, and positive impact of Recreational Therapists. Together, we can elevate the understanding of Recreational Therapy as a vital therapeutic service and make meaningful strides toward our shared vision: A world where every person has access to Recreational Therapy.

Learn About RT

the power of rt

Share Your Waves of Connection Moment

We know that you've seen recreational therapy change lives. Recreational Therapists know better than anyone that our services are vital in turning the tide on loneliness—we’re architects of meaningful connection! Join ATRA in showcasing the power of Recreational Therapy to create #WavesOfConnection by sharing a moment when you witnessed recreational therapy help someone feel less alone. ATRA will feature your entries on social media throughout RT Month and beyond! It's your time to shine.

Share Now

rt month merch

Merch That Makes a Difference!

Celebrate with RT Month merch that makes a difference for your fellow Recreational Therapists! All proceeds help fund the Martha Judge Scholarship for first-time ATRA conference attendees. Order your merch by January 10th for delivery by February 1st!

Shop on Bonfire

RT MONTH ADVOCACY

Explore the RT Month Professional Advocacy Kit

Fresh resources for #RTMonth2026! Select from a variety of complimentary professional advocacy assets to promote the important work you do each day as a Recreational Therapist. Let everyone in your workplace and community know that recreational therapists are leaders in social connectedness!

  • Social Media Graphic 1

    "Proud to be a Recreational Therapist" 


    Show your RT pride and let everyone in your social network know that Recreational Therapists are leaders in social connectedness with this eye-catching RT Month social media graphic. Download and share anywhere you'd like. Tag @ATRAinAction so we can show you some love!

    Download Graphic

  • Social Media Graphic 2

    "Proud to be a Leader in Social Connectedness"

    Show your RT pride and let everyone in your social network know that Recreational Therapists are leaders in social connectedness with this eye-catching RT Month social media graphic. Download and share anywhere you'd like. Tag @ATRAinAction so we can show you some love!

    Download Graphic

  • Social Media Graphic 3

    "RT Definition"


    Let your social network know that Recreational Therapists are experts in cultivating waves of connection, belonging, meaning, purpose, discovery, joy, and flow. Download and share anywhere you'd like. Tag @ATRAinAction so we can show you some love!

    Download Graphic

  • Social Connectedness Brochure

    Print, fold, and share! Or send digitally. Use this informative tri-fold brochure to spread the word that Recreational Therapists are leaders in social connectedness and the preferred provider for activity-based social and relational interventions aimed at reducing loneliness.

    Download Brochure

  • Social Connectedness Infographic

    Download or print this social connectedness infographic to advocate for the important work you do as a Recreational Therapist! Perfect for attaching to a department-wide email, pinning to a bulletin board, or sliding into a grant proposal. 

    Download Infographic

  • RT Month 2026 Poster Pack

    Spread the word that Recreational Therapists are experts in cultivating waves of connection, belonging, meaning, purpose, discovery, joy, and flow with these high-resolution PDF posters. Perfect for printing or sending digitally. Make your unique expertise visible in your workplace and/or community and let those in your care know that they belong.

    Download Posters

  • Advocacy Email Script

    ATRA has prepared a short, customizable email script to help jumpstart your RT Month advocacy. Edit as desired to create your unique and powerful message. Considering sending to your workplace leadership and attaching multiple resources!

    Download Script

  • ATRA's Position Statement on Social Prescribing

    Download and share ATRA's official Position Statement on Social Prescribing!  

    Download Statement

  • Surgeon General's Special Advisory

    In 2023, the Surgeon General released a landmark Advisory that identified loneliness and social isolation as urgent public health concerns in the United States. Recreational therapists are uniquely qualified to play a critical role in addressing loneliness and social disconnection in our communities and healthcare systems. 

    View Advisory

  • RT Recipe for Belonging Activity

    Have fun with this playful RT Month activity! Write your own RT Recipe for Belonging, Mattering & Social Connection using the provided activity template! Perfect for use with clients, team building with coworkers, RT student enrichment, and personal use. Get creative! Nobody knows the ingredients for connection better than RTs!

    Download Template

ATRA member benefit!

Personalized RT Month Promo Assets

Take your RT Month advocacy to the next level with professionally designed promotional assets! ATRA is thrilled to provide members with FREE personalized RT Month 2026 posters and social media graphics. Request your assets starting January 1st, 2026!

Request Assets

AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE

Your Advocacy Matters!

No Act of RT Month Advocacy is too small to make a difference. Let us know how you're using our Professional Advocacy Kit so we can celebrate your important advocacy efforts with you!

send a strong message

Advocate with ATRA's Blog

ATRA's blog, Purposeful Fun, is a powerful professional advocacy tool. Read and share the featured blog posts below during RT Month 2026 to help highlight your unique expertise in treating loneliness. Let your workplace and community know that Recreational Therapists are leaders in social connectedness and the preferred provider for activity-based social and relational interventions aimed at reducing loneliness.

RT & Social Prescribing

Although social prescribing is a relatively new term, its principles closely mirror the longstanding practices of RT, making it a profession ideally positioned to lead and enhance these efforts.

Read on LinkedIn

Addressing Isolation & Loneliness

RT, which focuses on building social connections and creating socially inclusive environments, and is ideally positioned to address social isolation and loneliness.

Read on LinkedIn

Connecting the Socially Disconnected

Once viewed as an emotional ideal and at times a soft science, connection is now recognized as a powerful determinant of health and well-being. RTs are uniquely qualified to lead national solutions.

Read on LinkedIn

RT Month 2026 Giveaways

1. ATRA Loneliness Summit Refund Raffle!

Participation Deadline: Monday, January 5th, 2026


In celebration of our 2026 RT Month Theme announcement, we're refunding AYP Loneliness Summit registration for one lucky registrant! Earn 1.4 CEUs for free! Register now for your chance to win a full refund:


Register for the Loneliness Summit and learn more HERE. One winner will be selected by random drawing and informed by ATRA via email.


2. Win a FREE ATRA Membership!

PARTICIPATION DEADLINE: Sunday, February 8, 2026


The benefits of ATRA membership are endless! Participate in our #WavesOfConnection Social Media Challenge for a chance to win free ATRA membership for one year! Current ATRA membership is not required.


Participation details are as follows:


ATRA will start the Wave of Connection by posting on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at 7:00PM Eastern on Friday, February 6th.


  • Comment on ATRA's original post with the following information (see example below): 
  • Write “Challenge Accepted”
  • Specify whether you are an RT professional or student
  • Finish the sentence "RTs create #WavesOfConnection by..."
  • Tag THREE recreational therapists that you nominate to continue the Wave of Connection!


Comment Formatting Example:


Challenge accepted! I’m an RT professional. RTs create #WavesOfConnection by building meaningful therapeutic environments that nourish social exploration. I nominate @NAME, @NAME, and @NAME to continue the Wave of Connection!


We will award two professional and two student winners through random drawing. Participate in the challenge by Sunday, February 8th for a chance to win! PLEASE NOTE:  Challenge winners must be following ATRA on the platform they participated on (Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn) to be eligible to win. Participation on more than one platform and multiple unique entries are allowed. Winners will be notified by direct message from ATRA on the platform(s) they participated on.


3. Win a FREE ATRA Intensive or Annual CEU Subscription!

PARTICIPATION DEADLINE: Sunday, February 15, 2026


ATRA has many high quality educational offerings! CEU-seeking participants are invited to submit a #WavesOfConnection Moment for a chance to win a free ATRA Intensive or Annual CEU Subscription. Please complete the following activity for a chance to win:


  • Submit a Waves of Connection Moment using this Google Form by 2/15/26.
  • To be entered in the drawing, please select "I'm seeking CEUs, please enter my name in the drawing for RT Month Giveaway #3" when completing the form.
  • ATRA membership is not required.


Two CEU-seeking winners (one member and one non-member) will be selected by random drawing and contacted by ATRA via email. Winners may choose either an ATRA Intensive or Annual CEU Subscription. Please ensure that your entries adhere to all applicable privacy regulations. ATRA may share the content of your entries during RT Month celebrations and beyond on our website and social media platforms.


4. Win FREE ATRA SoCal Registration!

PARTICIPATION DEADLINE: Sunday, February 22, 2026


We would love for you to join us in Brea, California for ATRA SoCal (October 17 - 19, 2026)! Our annual conference is the largest gathering of recreational therapists in the nation! Please complete at least two of the following activities by Sunday, February 22, 2026 for your chance to win:


  • RT Recipe for Belonging, Mattering, and Social Connection
  • ATRA membership is not required.
  • Download the activity template HERE or create your own recipe card!
  • Please submit a copy of your completed RT Recipe using this Google Form.


  • Request Personalized RT Month Promotional Assets
  • One entry maximum.
  • ATRA membership is required.*
  • ATRA members may submit their request for Personalized Promotional Assets using this Google Form.


  • Complete an Act of RT Month Advocacy using assets from ATRA's Professional Advocacy Kit
  • ATRA membership is not required.
  • Please document your Act of Advocacy using this Google Form.


Two professional (one member and one non-member) and two student (one member and one non-member) winners will be selected by random drawing and notified by ATRA via email. Please ensure that your entries adhere to all applicable privacy regulations. ATRA may share the content of your entries during RT Month celebrations and beyond on our website and social media platforms.

Follow ATRA