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Award Nominations |
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Nomination Deadline is January 31, 2025. |
The American Camp Association, Illinois is a membership and volunteer-driven organization. As a small organization, we thrive and move forward because of the collaboration of committed & active volunteers, members, and staff. The volunteers and staff of ACA Illinois partner each year to make a truly transformative impact on our state, camps, and the world. Annually, this group of remarkable individuals recognize members, friends of ACA Illinois and others for their contributions and leadership through the camp experience.
Questions about the nomination process can be directed to Colette Marquardt, Chief Executive Officer, at colette@acail.org.
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Nominations Deadline is January 31, 2025.
Did you know you can nominate yourself for one of our ACA Illinois awards? You can also nominate others! Nominations are accepted for the Emerging Professional Award, the Honor Award, the Gordie E Kaplan Program Excellence Award, and the Marcy and Bob Brower Award for Innovative and Intentional Professional Development.
Please note: The Nominations Committee chooses all other award recipients.
Please find the ACA Illinois Recognition Awards, criteria below, and nominations & selection process below. With the exception of the Special Recognition Award, a person or group cannot receive the same award more than once. The Special Recognition Award is specific to project, purpose, or type of service, therefore each Special Recognition Award is unique and the award can be presented to the same person more than once, so long as it is presented for different acknowledgement and reasoning.
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is one of the two most prestigious awards given by ACA Illinois. Presented to individuals who demonstrate significant, long term, and impactful leadership and service to the American Camp Association, Illinois and the camp profession.
To qualify, the individual must have demonstrated the following:
- Outstanding service to the organization through participation in programs, events, and the work of the section; devotion of time above and beyond the normal volunteer commitment; and ongoing, active volunteer service;
- Leadership on the Board of Directors, committee(s), and/or task forces and/or a staff role for ACA Illinois;
- Participation as a leader and representative of ACA Illinois to ACA, Inc through committee, board, and/or task forces (in a role of representing the interests of ACA Illinois);
- Be a current ACA member or former member now retired from active participation; and
- Has participated in these various acts of service for ten years or more.
This award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Nominating Committee. Nominations for this award are restricted to the ACA Illinois Board of Directors and staff.
Emerging Professional Award
The Emerging Professional Award is given by ACA Illinois to honor an outstanding professional in the camp profession with ten or less years of full-time service. The award will be made for efforts that have significance within the resident camp, day camp, and/or retreat and conference center setting. These individuals demonstrate significant leadership and potential in the camp field and community.
To qualify, the individual must have demonstrated the following:
- Current member of ACA or willingness to become a member;
- Working with or providing leadership to either ACA Illinois or a camp within ACA Illinois’ membership; and
- Has been in the profession for 10 or less years in a professional capacity.
These award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Nominating Committee. Nominations for this award are open to the public during open calls for nominations.
Gordie E. Kaplan Program Excellence Award
The Gordie E Kaplan Program Excellence Award is given by ACA Illinois to honor programs that develop effective, creative responses to the needs of people and/or societal problems using the camp environment; to encourage continued development of such ideas; to stimulate the exchange of creative ideas; and to present to the public examples of positive contributions camp has made to the well-being of individuals and society.
To qualify, camp programs will demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Understand and make use of intergrouping – combining groups that have differences (e.g. physical abilities, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, religion, and home environment);
- Develop programs suited to the needs and interests of teenage campers;
- Broaden the range of services to persons with disabilities.
- Emphasize awareness of interpersonal relationships and development of interpersonal skills;
- Conduct continuing innovative and effective staff-development programs; and/or
- Offer support activities or leadership that significantly expands the opportunities for human growth and enrichment through the camp profession (for non-camp organizations).
To be eligible for nominations a program must have been in operation for at least one year (excluding planning and development time).
This award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Nominating Committee. Nominations for this award are open to the public during open calls for nominations.
Honor Award
The Honor Award is given to honor individuals for meritorious service to the camp profession and ACA Illinois. Presented to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and service to ACA Illinois for 5 years or more that has elevated the work, contributed to the mission, and served the ACA Illinois camp community.
To qualify, the individual must have demonstrated the following:
- Be a current ACA member or former member now retired from active participation;
- Have served in camping programs for at least ten years;
- Have made noteworthy contributions to ACA Illinois as demonstrated by at least five of the following:
- Member of the ACA Illinois board;
- Officer of ACA Illinois;
- Chair of a committee or task group;
- Member of a committee for three years;
- Significant service to a regional or national conference or training event;
- Employed staff of ACA Illinois;
- Significant contribution to the public awareness of the camp profession;
- Significant research in the field of camping;
- Author or co-author of one or more published books or articles related to the field of camping; and/or
- Mentoring future leaders in the camp profession.
This award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Nominating Committee. Nominations for this award are restricted to the ACA Illinois Board of Directors, Committees, Volunteers, and staff.
Marcy and Bob Brower Award for Innovative and Intentional Professional Development Award
The Brower Award is presented to an individual or group that seeks to encourage and provide accessible professional development in all levels of camp staff and professionals, is innovative in both approach and topic, and/or educates and encourages social change in camp.
To qualify, awardee must meet one or more of the following requirements in service of ACA Illinois camps and members:
- Provides leadership and/or support for Innovative Professional Development through organizing events or programs for or with ACA Illinois;
- Trains, speaks, or shares innovative content as a speaker, individual, or facilitator that is accessible and inclusive to all;
- Encourages and demonstrates innovative professional development for their own camp/organization;
- Provides learning communities centered in diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, justice and anti-racism in camp; and/or
- Provides significant leadership or support in the camp community that promotes intentional and innovative thinking and learning by camp professionals.
This award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Nominating Committee. Nominations for this award are restricted to the ACA Illinois Board of Directors, Committees, Volunteers, and staff.
Special Recognition Award
This award is presented to individuals or groups that demonstrate leadership, support, advocacy, or work that furthers the field of camp and/or addresses needs of the camp community. This award can be presented to community organizations, and other individuals including parents, volunteers, representatives, mission aligned fields, etc. The award will be made for efforts that have significance at the state and/or regional level. No more than two Special Recognition Awards will be awarded annually.
This award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Nominating Committee. Nominations for this award are restricted to the ACA Illinois Board of Directors, Committees, Volunteers, and staff.
Susan E. Rochlis Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Susan E. Rochlis Award for Lifetime Achievement is one of the two most prestigious awards presented by ACA Illinois. Recipients of this award have demonstrated over 30 years of leadership that have been transformational to the community served by ACA Illinois.
This award is presented to one individual per year and requires a letter of recommendation that outlines their significant lifetime of service to the ACA Illinois community by a minimum of two Board of Directors and/or staff of ACA Illinois.
Requirements for the Susan E. Rochlis Lifetime Achievement Award are the following:
- An individual that has dedicated more than 30 years of service to ACA Illinois through work on committees, Board of Directors, and/or a staff position of the Association,
- A minimum of two terms on the ACA Illinois Board of Directors, holding an officer position for a minimum of 3 years. Or in lieu of Board Service, 15 years in a leadership role on an ACA Illinois committee(s), or a combination of employment with ACA Illinois and board service/committee leadership totaling a minimum of 30 years,
- Commitment and involvement for more than 25 years in the wider camp space through employment or volunteer service that benefited the camp community. (Service can be outside of ACA Illinois), and
- Requires nomination by more than two current Board of Directors members or staff of ACA Illinois.
This award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Nominating Committee. Nominations for this award are restricted to the ACA Illinois Board of Directors and staff.
Visitor of the Year Award
The Visitor of the Year is awarded to a volunteer accreditation Visitor who has gone above and beyond to demonstrate commitment and provide quality service to the accreditation program within ACA Illinois.
To qualify, the nominee must meet the following criteria:
- Be a member of ACA Illinois;
- Be a current Visitor, Accreditation Facilitator, and/or Accreditation Instructor for ACA Illinois;
- Have led a minimum of 3 visits for ACA Illinois; and
- Mentored, advised, and/or supported new camps, professionals, or newer visitors within ACA Illinois.
This award honorees are selected by the ACA Illinois Visitor Crew Committee. The Nominating Committee oversees the integrity of the nomination and selection process. Nominations for this award are restricted to the ACA Illinois Board of Directors, ACA Illinois Visitor Crew, ACA Illinois Visitor Crew Committee, ACA Illinois accredited camps, and ACA Illinois staff.
With the exception of the Special Recognition Award, a person or group cannot receive the same award more than once. The Special Recognition is specific to project, purpose, or type of service, therefore each Special Recognition Award is unique and the award can be presented to the same person more than once, so long as it is presented for different acknowledgement and reasoning.
To see Past Award Honorees, click here.
The ACA Illinois Nominating Committee is a committee required per the By-Laws of ACA Illinois. The group is made up of individuals that are both appointed based on their position and elected by the membership. The elected members and the board appointed members serve 3 year terms, renewable up to 3 years. Elected members of the committee are elected through a multi-slate ballot presented to the ACA membership of ACA Illinois. The ACA Illinois Board Chair and CEO serve on the committee, however are not voting members.
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