Upcoming Events & Trainings
TRAINING OVERVIEW
This training will inform folks who work within the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program how to complete and fulfill the funding requirements. During the training participants will learn about:
Requirements, rules, and legalities of the DFI Title XX funding,
Application process, including required documentation,
Allocation of funds and financial information regarding the funding for camps,
Billing paperwork and registration documents required for campers/clients,
Outcomes and Camper Development requirements, and
Overall timeline for the funding year, including critical deadlines and due dates.
WHO IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND THIS TRAINING?
Each agency’s main contact must have completed this training within the last 5 years, OR
In the case of a new employee/main contact, they must complete this training within 60 days.
ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS INVITED TO ATTEND THIS TRAINING?
Additional employees or volunteers who work with the funding process are invited and encouraged to attend this training, including:
Registrars and Office Managers will process the registration documents;
Financial Directors, Fund Development Directors, and others who work with grants and funding sources;
CEO/ED, COO, and other leaders who would like to better understand how the process works, including the financial and legal aspects of funding;
Program Directors, Camp Directors, and other leaders who will be completing and responsible for the Camper Reports and Outcome Surveys; and
Other folks who are interested in learning more to assist in the document collection and preparations.
LOCATION & TYPE OF WORKSHOP
These workshops are live, virtual events and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform and requires a computer to access. ACA Illinois will not record these events. This training is 60 minutes in length and completed with the agency and our Manager of Family Services at a time that is convenient for them.
WHAT TO BRING TO WEBINAR & HOW TO PREPARE
This training includes visuals and interactions that require the person(s) in attendance to be logged on and able to participate. Each person should be prepared to have their camera on, access to audio (including the ability to speak and hear,) and interact within the Zoom room via a computer. Bring a notebook/paper and pen for activities.
To schedule your training, please email registration@acail.org or by calling 312-332-0833 x4.
WHAT IS THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD?
The Young Professionals Board (YPB) is a volunteer community group of camp pros 35 and under who work together to develop opportunities for growth and leadership within the camp world.
Members of this group have the chance to develop their executive leadership and governance (board) skills, build a stronger network, and provide critical feedback to the ACA Illinois Board of Directors and staff on the needs of emerging professionals. In addition to leadership development, the YPB also plans events and opportunities for the emerging professional!
WHO CAN JOIN THE ACA ILLINOIS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD?
Any person who meets the following criteria is invited to attend meetings, join the board, and volunteer with this group:
Membership with ACA or ACA Illinois is not required. You don’t have to be from Illinois to join.
WHAT'S THE TIME COMMITMENT? WHEN AND HOW DOES THE GROUP MEET?
The YPB meets monthly to network, plan events, participate in career development training, and more! The monthly meetings are held on Zoom for one hour. It is not required to attend every meeting - so please come when you can!
WHY JOIN THE ACA ILLINOIS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD?
It will help your career advancement! Moving up in your career requires skill-building and the YPB is designed to work alongside the ACA Illinois Board of Directors so that members can develop governance and executive-level skills. Additionally, members have access to a stronger network that can enhance their future opportunities for career growth.
Joining will help the camp community! The YPB is seen as the expert on the needs of emerging professionals and the ACA Illinois Board of Directors seeks their engagement and input in the Association’s goals and objectives, to better serve the community. ACA Illinois is a volunteer-driven, grassroots organization that requires the voices of many! This is your chance to give back and lift up your ideas!
LOCATION & TYPE OF EVENT
These workshops are live, virtual events and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
Please Note: ACA Illinois will not record these events.
THE FINE PRINT
This event and workshop series must be paid for at the time of registration. If you would like to pay by invoice and/or check, please contact registration@acail.org before registering.
This is a per-person fee event. This event requires camera, computer, and audio access for the participants as it’s designed to be interactive. Any user that has additional persons in attendance that are not registered will be automatically removed from the event without a refund.
Please Note: By registering and attending an ACA Illinois event or meeting, virtually or in person you are agreeing to all the event policies listed here. These policies include photo release, refund, link sharing, Code of Conduct, and other relative policies.
HOW TO REGISTER
You must have a Member Profile in our registration system to register for this event. If this is your first event with us, please click here to create a profile. It's free!
GROUP OVERVIEW
Work is hard. Life is hard. The world is hard. And sometimes, you just need to be in a space with others that get it.
Gather in community with women and nonbinary folks from around the world! Through organic conversations and networking this Women in Camp Digital Pop-Up Group will focus on:
Being a brave and safe space for women and nonbinary camp pros to gather,
Allowing space for folks to practice authenticity,
Creating an environment where folks can bring their successes, challenges, concerns, and questions to share and get feedback and/or support, and
Discussing current and trending topics that are lifted up by the folks in the room, i.e. We will discuss what you want to discuss.
Join us for one, a few, or all of the sessions, and remember: it's ok if you can’t make every session! Come and be part of a community of folks ready to support you and build you up.
This Pop-Up Group is specifically designed to cross borders and be on a digital platform to help make it more accessible.
Please Note: Membership is never required.
This session is a live, virtual events and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
Please Note: ACA Illinois will not record this event.
This is an interactive training course. Each person should be prepared to have their camera on, access to audio (including the ability to speak and hear,) and interact within the Zoom room via a computer. Bring a notebook/paper and pen for activities.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
Summer camps have a unique opportunity to create environments centered on community and human development. This is what makes summer camps essential to the work of antiracism as a community and as individuals. However, challenges exist within our institutions (agencies, camps, and companies) that create barriers and/or can create further harm.
This is a two-part program:
PART I: ANIMATING ANTIRACIST WAYS OF BEING*
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Digital Event
PART I Details
For people invested in transforming their institutions and ecologies to become racially just, it is critically important to understand what antiracism is and what it requires of leaders in institutions. This work includes building a shared understanding of how systemic racism operates within institutions, practice identifying its impacts, and tools for imagining solutions. The workshop is designed for institutions that want their staff as well as their leadership to build the shared framework and practice applying these frameworks to their own institutional life.
Workshop Objectives
Introduce a framework for understanding antiracism and what it requires of institutions and their leaders.
Frame systemic racism and its relationship to white dominant culture.
Begin exploring how systemic racism advantages white people and harms People of Color because of a socio-political arrangement we are all conditioned to accept.
Invite participants to grapple with how they are upholding this arrangement regardless of their intent.
Begin exploring the long-term strategic work of dismantling systemic racism in institutions and society.
*Due to the content and knowledge required for Part II, it is required participants attend Part I. Participants who are not in attendance during Part I: Animating Antiracist Ways of Being will not be permitted into Part II: Foundations for Institutional Antiracism Organizing.
PART II: FOUNDATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL ANTIRACISM ORGANIZING
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
9:00am to 5:00pm (includes lunch)
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago IL
PART II Details
In the context of an increasingly diverse and interconnected global landscape, the cultivation of an antiracist environment is of the utmost importance. As institutions continue to impact societal issues, nurturing a truly inclusive institutional culture of mutual respect and understanding will allow institutions to truly harness the organizational power of diversity.
This daylong workshop will equip participants with the tools and skills that can be leveraged in the process of building a critical mass among institutional stakeholders and working towards ongoing, significant, structural antiracist transformation.
Introduce the core principles of institutional organizing and its significance in fostering collective action for antiracism efforts.
Analyze power dynamics within organizational structures; and identify ways to interrupt and counter oppressive power dynamics.
Explore the ways relationships with both internal and external stakeholders can be leveraged to foster collaboration and solidarity.
Develop effective strategies that use resources efficiently to influence lasting change.
BONUS: Participants will receive a copy of the November DEIAJ & Antirasim Book Club: Reclaiming Community: Race and the Uncertain Future of Youth Work by Bianca Baldridge for free! Join us for the book club discussion here. (Coming soon!)
APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE
This event is limited to one person per camp, however, a waitlist will be established for those organizations wishing to enroll more attendees. This event requires an application and acceptance. After acceptance, you will receive an invoice. Registration fee must be paid by the date listed on the invoice or the spot will be forfeited.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the space is full or 1 month prior to Part I.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Participants must attend Part I to gain entry into Part II. No exceptions can be made. We ask that if a participant cannot attend both parts not apply/register as this program has been designed for a cohort to be formed during Part I and continue into Part II.
COST TO ATTEND
This program rate is considered on a sliding scale, based on your agency or company's annual operating budget:
Annual operating budget of $50,000 or less: $50 per person
Annual operating budget of $50,001 - $100,000: $100 per person
Annual operating budget of $100,001 - $150, 000: $150 per person
Annual operating budget over $150,001: $200 per person
REBATES & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
ACA Illinois Visitor Crew members will receive a $50 rebate if they register, pay, and attend this training.*
DFI Title XX Camping Services Partner Agencies will receive a $50 rebate if they register, pay, and attend this training.*
Financial assistance requests can be made on the application.
*Participants must be present at both parts of the program to receive the rebate. Only 1 rebate per DFI Title XX agency. Visitor Crew rebate can not be transferred to other individuals and must be the actual, current member of the ACA Illinois Visitor Crew.
THINGS TO KNOW
Preregistration is required. Walk-ins and late registrations will not be accepted.
Please notify us of any food-related allergies or needs before the event. (Otherwise, we may not be able to accommodate your needs.)
Please notify us of any accommodations needed for you to attend these events prior to the events.
Parking will be included in this event and participants will be instructed on where to park prior to the event.
PART I- This session is a live, virtual events and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
PART II- This live event will take place in-person.
You must pay for this event at time of registration. If you would like to pay by invoice/check, please contact registration@acail.org prior to registering.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Join the ACA Illinois Visitor Crew and experience the #1 volunteer role in the field of summer camp! As an Accreditation Volunteer with ACA, you’ll have the opportunity to serve as a peer reviewer in the Annual Accreditation Report, Written Documentation, and onsite Visit process. Along with another Visitor, you’ll see behind the scenes of other camps, grow your professional network, gain new ideas, and provide unparalleled service & support to the community. It's a win-win-win-win!
Additionally, folks who serve as Accreditation Volunteers for ACA Illinois (known as the ACA Illinois Visitor Crew) will have access to exclusive programs, discounted professional development, and so much more! (limited edition exclusive swag!)
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THIS COURSE
This course date is hosted by the national office and will include folks from all over the country. You should apply/register directly here.
Not quite sure if you are ready and want to know more? Check out one of our Becoming A Visitor sessions!
ABOUT THE COURSE
About 4-6 weeks before the course date, you will receive a copy of the Accreditation Process Guide and access to the pre-work through our online learning systems. Trainees will need to complete the online pre-work no later than 1 week before the date of the training. You must attend all portions of the course in order to pass.
HOW TO APPLY/REGISTER
Complete this application. Within 7 days of your application, you will receive confirmation of enrollment into the date of your choice.
This is a free course.
REQUIREMENTS TO ME TO BE TRAINED
Must be a current member of the American Camp Association with a member number.
Must be 21 years of age or older.
QUESTIONS
ACA Illinois Volunteers, Members, & Visitors can contact Kyla at kyla@acail.org.
All other Accreditation Volunteers & Visitors should contact accreditation@acail.org.
MEETING OVERVIEW
This meeting is for camps accredited through the American Camp Association, Illinois office/local area that will be completing the Annual Accreditation Report.
During this meeting, we’ll cover:
Accessing the Annual Accreditation Report;
Using the Portal systems;
Timeline and deadlines;
The review process; AND
Q & A's!
ABOUT OUR BOOKCLUB
Jump into our Zoom room as we dig into our next DEI Book Club pick! Everyone is welcome to join us.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Approximately 2.4 million Black youth participate in after-school programs, which offer a range of support, including academic tutoring, college preparation, political identity development, cultural and emotional support, and even a space to develop strategies and tools for organizing and activism. In Reclaiming Community, Bianca Baldridge tells the story of one such community-based program, Educational Excellence (EE), shining a light on both the invaluable role youth workers play in these spaces, and the precarious context in which such programs now exist.
Drawing on rich ethnographic data, Baldridge persuasively argues that the story of EE is representative of a much larger and understudied phenomenon. With the spread of neoliberal ideology and its reliance on racism―marked by individualism, market competition, and privatization―these bastions of community support are losing the autonomy that has allowed them to embolden the minds of the youth they serve. Baldridge captures the stories of loss and resistance within this context of immense external political pressure, arguing powerfully for the damage caused when the same structural violence that Black youth experience in school, starts to occur in the places they go to escape it.
Bianca J. Baldridge is Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
The ACA Illinois DEI Committee is a group of thought leaders seeking to make both ACA Illinois and the camp community more diverse and inclusive. The DEI Committee hosts programs to further the essential work needed to create more inclusive communities. The DEI Committee also advises the ACA Illinois Board of Directors and Staff in DEI policies and procedures to ensure that ACA Illinois is a welcoming organization for all.
The Book Club is facilitated by the members of the DEI Committee and hosted by Co-Chairs:
Shauna Guglielmo, Lincoln Park Zoo Camp
Annie Labus, Chicago Botanic Gardens’ Camp CBG
WHY ATTEND?
Here are some reasons we believe attending will benefit your organization and/or your career:
Career Advancement. Being at the forefront of DEI work is critical for current and aspiring leaders of all types of organizations. The intentional networking that happens during a professional Book Club, offers opportunities for growth, development, and connection around the topic area that becomes translatable to resumes and career advancement.
Camp Advancement. Book Clubs offer organizations an opportunity to develop new skills and understanding of the topic presented and consult with other professionals on how they navigate that topic in their own organization. As organizations continue to navigate creating gender inclusive spaces for their campers and staff, this book club will provide an opportunity to learn how other organizations are adapting their policies and programs to be more inclusive. Sure, you could read the book by yourself, but reading and discussing with others helps to reinforce the subject matter and create actionable plans, solutions, & policies that will benefit your camp!
Connected to Accreditation. Statements or philosophies specific to respecting the rights and dignity of all individuals. (CR-1.)
Meets the DFI Title XX Requirements. This event will help DFI Title XX camps meet the requirements for funding related to non-discrimination.
Participants are responsible for obtaining their own books. We encourage folks to check their local library or consider purchasing from Women and Children First, an independent bookstore located in Chicago (ships worldwide) that supports community based organizations including ACA Illinois.
This meeting is for camps accredited through the American Camp Association, Illinois office/local area that will have an onsite visit during summer 2025.
MEETING DETAILS
Timeline for the visit preparations;
What to expect during your visit;
Accessing the resources online to prepare;
Navigating the Portal systems;
Requirements for Written Documentation Review;
Training requirements for camps being visited in 2025; and
Have time for Q & A's!
MEETING AUDIENCE
Camps are encouraged to send multiple people to this meeting. This will help you have folks who can assist in the documentation process and understand the requirements.
Suggested folks to attend include:
Camp Director
Assistant Director(s) and Program Director(s)
Waterfront, Health Care, and other Specialized Activity Supervisors.
Property Managers, Camp Rangers, and Maintenance Staff
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
Jump into this fast-paced FAQ to learn about the State of Illinois and the nation’s largest, federally funded campership program and see if your camp may qualify!
More than 250,000 clients of IDHS have had the chance to attend camp because of the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program. Each year ACA Illinois works with camps that serve clients of IDHS to pay a portion of their camp fees. Camps apply to join the program to gain access to these funds.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
If your agency currently serves, or would like to serve clients of the Illinois Department of Human Services (who are receiving TANF, Medicaid, or SNAP benefits) and are between 5-17 years of age or are adults with special needs, then we invite you to learn how you may be able to access funding to support your campers.
This session will cover:
Qualifications for camps and agencies to join the program;
How the finances and match funds work;
Timeline and due dates for the application and billing seasons;
Outcome Goals; and
And other relevant information that will help the participants understand the program.
Sign up today to see if your agency can access these funds.
Please Note: This Information Session is for camps & agencies that are considering joining the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program for the first time.
EVENT OVERVIEW
Navigating and cultivating relationships with local and federal government officials & representatives is essential to our field. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, it became even more clear just how critical it is to have established relationships during moments of crisis before you need them. ACA Illinois’s Board of Directors continues to support the work of Government Relations and encourages each camp to actively engage with their representatives.
EVENT DETAILS
Agenda items for this meeting include:
Goals for building stronger relationships with our government(s);
Report from the ACA Illinois Government Relations Committee;
Results from the ACA Economic Impact Study and Camp Census;
Summer Camp Day 2025 Plans & Toolkit;
Camp Hill Days in Washington, D.C - how to get involved and what is happening; and
Next steps and feedback from the field.
Anyone can attend this community meeting. You do not have to be an ACA member to attend. While the focus will be on the state of Illinois and Washington, D.C., most of the content is transferable to other states.
Leverage AI and modern marketing tools to build strong relationships with camp directors, establishing yourself as a trusted industry partner. This webinar will explore innovative strategies to enhance your visibility, credibility, and rapport with camp decision-makers.
ACA Illinois and Travis Allison from Go Camp Pro invite you to spend an hour with us discussing proven strategies for reaching the Camp Pros you need without frustrating them. Learn how to use AI-powered content creation, personalized email campaigns, and social media analytics to consistently deliver value, showcase your expertise, and foster genuine connections that lead to long-term business relationships and increased sales in the competitive summer camp market.
This meeting will include 45 minutes of practical, proven sales advice from Travis and 15 minutes for you to share your own "this worked for me" ideas and ask any questions.
Please Note: This event is in Central Standard Time (CST).
This session is a live, virtual event and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
Please Note: ACA Illinois will be recording this call and sending the video to anyone who pre-registers.
WORKSHOP AUDIENCE
This workshop is geared towards vendors, business associates, and individuals who provide services and resources to camps and camp directors.
WORKSHOP SERIES OVERVIEW
Are you worried whether your staff will last the summer? Are you questioning whether you have the juice to even get to the start, let alone the finish, of another camp season?
The answers are at your fingertips. Camp and youth program providers are already masters at providing enriching, rejuvenating, and personal development experiences. However, these same leaders are often not well equipped with the skills and strategies required for nurturing and managing their own (super awesome) reserves of care and support. These same people are also inundated with many layers of responsibilities and stakeholder demands. Some of which, they may not yet recognize as draining or problematic. This workshop series uses evidence-based knowledge (yay for science!) and experiential education to set you up to administer care and camp without burning out.
WORKSHOP SERIES DETAILS
Join Dr. Mandi Baker in this four-part mini-series that supports leader well-being and the management of emotional labor that leads to burnout. Each workshop is 1.5 hours and will include foundational knowledge and experiential activities. Each workshop will explore a different ‘layer’ of how burnout occurs, how it can be decreased, and how wellness (mental, physical, social, and emotional) can be improved.
Workshop #1: Setting The Scene With Me
In this workshop, we will explore how burnout happens for staff in youth development programs (especially camps). We will explore the ‘layers’ that interact and intersect to improve or diminish staff and workforce wellbeing while, also, defining what wellbeing is. This workshop will, then, consider the art and science of self-care and how these strategies can (and should) be activated in camp contexts (yes, even while in full-swing camp season). This workshop is 2 hours to accommodate all the vital information and to make sure we start “doing” care.
Workshop #2: Caring for Staff (The Practical and Impractical)
Staff who deliver youth development experiences like camp counselors, educators, and youth program facilitators face frequent, diverse, and intense emotional demands. Staff need a host of social and emotional intelligence abilities to meet these as well as benefit from workforce strategies that support wellness and flourishing. This workshop will explore the nature of the emotional demands staff face and how to anticipate, reduce, and address these. We will also explore necessary strategies, both intangible and practical, that proactively strengthen and protect staff from work stressors.
Workshop #3: Fostering a Culture of Care, Community, and Citizenship
The culture you generate amongst your staff, participants, and community can make or break the experience for everyone. Camp cultures are especially known for being positive and inclusive, where people feel valued and safe to be silly and test out new aspects of identity. This is no mistake! And is usually done with a high level of intentionality however, not everyone thinks about how this unique cultural experience can drain and put unusual demands on those who create, maintain, and deliver it. In this workshop, we will look at how the cultural and community aspects of care and demand (i.e., gossip) effect employee experiences.
Workshop #4: Embedding Care Into Policy Practice, and Artifacts
Space speaks! The structures, routines, and texts in a work environment shape what people come to expect from it and how staff are expected to behave. These messages are delivered in diverse forms. Camps, for example, are represented in a range of movies, social media posts, and advertising efforts. Additionally, expectations of camp staff are delivered via policies, practices, and artifacts (i.e., position descriptions, staff manuals, and daily routines). This workshop will explore the dominant messages and how these shape the behavior and psycho-social expectations of people in these spaces.
Bonus Session #5: Drop-in Q&A/ Consultation
Do you have a burnout dilemma that you don’t know how to tackle? Do you have a workforce problem that you haven’t untangled (yet)? Want to know more about how to put what you’ve learned into practice? Want to hear live problem-solving of real issues? Bring all your ‘curly’ questions to this drop-in style Q&A/consultation session.
Please Note: This session is a bonus for participants who purchase all 4 workshops.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: DR. MANDI BAKER
Join Dr. Mandi Baker in this online workshop series that addresses the unique aspects of camp staff burnout. Drawing on her extensive research on seasonal camp counselors and year-round outdoor recreation leaders, Mandi will offer insights into the specific pressures and supports that can sustain your workforce. Mandi will guide you through a handful of activities, so you are empowered to deliver, keep well during, and recover from an amazing summer season.
ACA ILLINOIS VISITOR INCENTIVE
ACA Illinois Visitors will receive a $15 Rebate for an individual webinar or $60 for the package of all four webinars.*
*Folks eligible for the ACA Illinois Visitor Rebate program must be currently active Visitors for ACA Illinois during the current year. Participants must attend to receive the rebate. This is not transferable to other persons.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP SERIES?
This workshop series is to inform and equip executives, directors, and managers about how burnout happens and how to beat it. The first workshop is perfect for seasonal staff and front-line employees. This workshop series draws on research across many fields of study including health, sociology, leisure, and youth development. It has been tailored specifically for leaders in youth development programs like camp.
WHY ATTEND WORKSHOP SERIES?
The reduction of burnout causing threats and improvement of work conditions has been shown to not only improve the functioning, efficacy, and effectiveness of your staff but also support and improve their (holistic) well-being and resilience in and outside of the immediate work context. Proactive approaches to employee wellbeing and flourishing have also been shown to improve workforce and knowledge retention.
Create a legacy of being the place to work because you, and your leadership team, know how to infuse (radical) care in all ‘layers’ of the work experience for your staff (and you). Cultivate a culture of care, service, and flourishing for all that ‘step into’ your space.
To see information on the full series look here.
To see details about the full series, look here.
Are you looking to find connection and expand your skills? If so, volunteering for ACA Illinois provides endless benefits! Volunteering for a professional association enhances your resume and allows you access to a network of experts and contacts. Through committee, board, and other volunteer roles, you can expand on your skills while positively contributing to the needs of our camp community.
During this quick-moving session, participants will learn about our committees and boards, including open roles and projects currently needing more support. We’ll also cover serving as an Accreditation Volunteer or event volunteer. Most volunteer roles can be done remotely. Membership and/or Illinois residency is not required to volunteer for ACA Illinois. Join our international volunteer community today!
As a thank you for your time learning about our volunteer opportunities, the first 25 people who register and attend the session will receive a $10 gift card to Target, Starbucks, or Dunkin!*
*Current members of the Board of Directors and Committees do not qualify.
The DFI Title XX Camping Services Program is a fee-for-service program, not a grant. This program also comes with several requirements and unique terms/rules set by the government. What are the rules around charging additional fees and deposits? What can you do if the funding doesn’t cover the actual cost of camp? How is this not considered a grant and why does that matter to both the camp and ACA Illinois? These questions and more will be addressed in this session.
An overview of how allocations are determined by ACA Illinois and IDHS;
Reading the Allocation Memo, including defining the terms;
How to properly classify this funding in the agency’s bookkeeping systems (because it's not a grant);
Review of how matching funds work, expectations of the agency, and calculating actual new money to the agency;
Suggestions on how to offset the additional cost per client when this is only a subsidy;
Stacking funding programs to get to the total cost of camp and potential conflicts;
Rules on additional fees and deposits for campers/clients;
Implications of overestimating, low billing, and how to plan for future allocations; and
Q & A time.
Recommended folks to attend:
Executive-level employees of agencies such as the CEO, COO, etc.
Finance directors, CFOs, etc
Fund development directors, grant managers, etc.
Registrars and office managers processing documents and bills.
Employees who manage the bookkeeping, record keeping, processing payments, invoices, etc.
This session is for camps & agencies that are currently part of the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program.
This meeting is for visitors who will be or may be serving as Visitors in the summer of 2025 for ACA Illinois.
Timelines for visit preparations;
What’s expected of onsite Visitors;
Accessing resources and the portal documents;
Updates to the program;
Lessons learned from 2024 onsite visits; and
Q & A Time!
This meeting will cover upcoming changes, timelines, due dates, and plans for the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Each agency must send at least one (1) person from their agency to attend. Agencies are invited to send as many folks to attend as they would like to register. However, for the Spring Meeting, we encourage the following folks to attend from each agency:
The person responsible for completing the billing paperwork.
The person responsible for overseeing the outcome development of campers.
The camp registrar or person responsible for processing the camper registration documents.
Agencies are invited to send as many people to attend from their agency as possible.
I'VE ATTENDED TRAINING IN THE PAST, DO I NEED TO ATTEND?
Yes, this is not a training. This is a meeting designed to share important and timely information.
This meeting is for visitors who will be or may be serving as Lead Visitors in the summer of 2025. Folks should plan to attend if they have never served as a Lead Visitor or would like a refresher.
During this EVENT , we’ll cover:
How to be a Lead Visitor;
Timeline for planning onsite visits;
What’s expected;
Trends and lessons learned from previous leads; and
SEMINAR OVERVIEW
Plan your most awesome staff training! You know you’re going to spend hours on designing this year’s camp training—let us help you do it faster, with less stress, and turbocharge its quality with the expert guidance of a world-renowned master trainer.
Give yourself a huge helping “hand” with Michael’s Five Fingers of Fantastic training, including a unique, step-by-step checklist for successfully building the precise essential elements of terrific training
Use terrific, precise and practical methods to greet staff, begin training to focus on mission and motivation, set expectations, and build a community of positive relationships—all while modeling how staff can use this to do the same with their campers
Grab attention & motivate full participation—even from returning staff who “have heard it all”
Maximize learning with Michael’s creative, highly acclaimed teaching techniques that get people involved instead of listening to “lectures”
Boost professionalism and responsibility, even in young staff for whom this may be a first job—and teach the core skills all staff need for success
Learn outstanding, original activities you won’t find elsewhere to boost your training effectiveness
A total of 6 hours of time-saving, quality-boosting methods and materials taught in Michael’s trademark “use-it-immediately,” fun, and highly energetic teaching style.
PARTICIPANT REVIEWS
This live webinar received rave reviews from coast to coast in 2022—attended by multiple people from 30 different U.S. states and Canada!
“An absolute must-do.”
“This training was simply AMAZING! It helps make the planning process of staff training so simple yet ensures staff training will be engaging for new and returning staff!”
“Exciting, engaging, meaningful, well-planned, exceptional execution: a MUST-DO for anyone involved in training people for anything.”
“This was a fun and exciting event that provided a ton of easy to use and relevant information for making your staff training both informational and engaging.”
“An incredibly practical expert approach to planning the most effective staff training for your camp.”
“Extremely helpful! I can't wait to use these techniques to revamp my training.”
“Practical, feasible! This approach was exactly what every Director needs to wrap their head around staff training goals and execution.”
“I don’t even have the words for how helpful, inspirational, and reassuring this event was.”
“Michael is an incredible presenter.”
“A practical step-by-step approach to staff training that gives you the blueprint for your best staff training ever.”
FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHY
Michael Brandwein is one of the most famous names in camp. He is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning staff and Leadership Team trainer who has presented in all 50 states, on 6 continents, and served on the national board of the American Camp Association. He is the number one bestselling author of staff training and leadership books in the camp field, including Training Terrific Staff (Vols. 1 & 2), Skill of the Day: What Great Leaders of Young People Do & Say, Learning Leadership (CIT/LIT), Super Staff SuperVision, and Growing Great Qualities in Kids: The L.A.S.E.R.B.E.A.M. Technique for Bringing Out the Best in Young People.. (www.michaelbrandwein.com/store) He does both in-person and online training for camps.
This program is ideal for anyone who prepares, plans, or presents part or all of their staff training.
WHY ATTEND
How will your camp benefit from you attending this program?
Camp leaders spend many dozens of hours preparing for training. How much are those hours worth to you? You will save valuable time from this webinar because you’ll get “ready-to-go,” highly acclaimed, original activities and techniques that you can plug into your existing training or use in developing new training. Even more importantly, this content will dramatically increase the effectiveness of your training, which motivates staff, establishes an environment of professionalism and responsibility, and prepares them for success.
How does your career benefit from you attending this program?
One of the most important roles at camp is setting up and presenting the training. When you can do so as an expert, using outstanding techniques and materials that make your training fresh, exciting, and highly effective, you will be—to be blunt—one of the superstars of your camp team. You’ll have a terrific toolbox for professional success now and in the future.
This event is a live, virtual event and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform. ACA Illinois will not record this event.
This is an interactive training course. Each person should be prepared to have their camera on, access to audio (including ability to speak and hear,) and interact within the Zoom room via a computer. Bring a notebook/paper and pen for activities.
There will be a short break for lunch during the event.
By registering and attending an ACA Illinois event or meeting, virtually or in-person you are agreeing to all the event policies listed here. These policies include the photo release, refund, link sharing, Code of Conduct, and other relative policies.
Please Note: This is a per person fee event. This event requires camera, computer, and audio access for the participants as it’s designed to be interactive. Any user that has additional persons in attendance that are not registered will be automatically removed from the event without refund.
You must have a Member Profile to register for this event. If this is your first event with us, please click here to create a profile. It's free!
In celebration of the Young Professionals Board’s annual pizza fundraiser, jump into the Zoom room for the 2nd annual Pizza Party!
Grab your Little Caesars Make-At-Home Kit or exchange your code and join us for an online community dinner! Complete with trivia, fun, prizes, and more, this all-ages event is open to everyone, regardless of membership.*
Gluten-free crust options are available in the Make-At-Home Kits!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Order your Make-At-Home Kit early to receive your order in the mail by 4/1/25 OR purchase a bundle code to use in the Little Caesars app for pick up on 4/15/25.
*Purchase of pizza is not required to attend.
Free for all but each person must be registered.
*Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Each year, camp professionals, volunteers, and community members gather to celebrate all the great work of our Association before heading into summer! This community event is the perfect place to connect with others and eat an amazing meal!
During this event, we celebrate:
Our Award Honorees and their guests;
Our Volunteers, including the Visitor Crew;
Newly and reaccredited camps in ACA Illinois; and
Recognize our members!
With plenty of raffles, fun, and swag - this is the party you don’t want to miss!
Plus, did we mention, eating a fantastic meal? This 4 course, family-style feast (complete with dessert) will be divine! (Gluten Free, Vegetarians, Vegans, and Food Allergies can be accommodated.)
Financial assistance is available. Membership is not required to attend.
ACA Illinois Volunteers and Visitors Attend for Free! As our way to thank you for your time and all the gifts you share with us, we invite you to join our celebration at no cost. Simply email registration@acail.org to register at this rate.
Get your directors, site directors, team leaders, supervisors, and other members of your Leadership Team—new or experienced—trained in one dynamic online seminar! (And it’s also invaluable for those who train the Team.)
Superb training of your Leadership Team is one of the best investments you ever make in camp success. This is the acclaimed, skill-packed, one-of-a-kind training that receives rave reviews and is presented by the award-winning, internationally famous author of the number one national best-selling book that’s considered the “must have” source on the subject, Super Staff SuperVision.
SEMINAR DETAILS
Leadership Team members learn what to say and do every day to be one of the very best leaders at camp, including:
Fast paced, interactive, and highly effective: A total of 5.75 hours taught in Michael’s trademark “use-it-immediately,” fun, and highly energetic teaching style.
Michael Brandwein is one of the most famous names in camp. He is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning staff and Leadership Team trainer who has presented in all 50 states, on 6 continents, and served on the national board of the American Camp Association. He is the number one bestselling author of staff training and leadership books in the camp field, including Training Terrific Staff (Vols. 1 & 2), Skill of the Day: What Great Leaders of Young People Do & Say, Learning Leadership (CIT/LIT), Super Staff SuperVision, and Growing Great Qualities in Kids: The L.A.S.E.R.B.E.A.M. Technique for Bringing Out the Best in Young People. (www.michaelbrandwein.com/store) He does both in-person and online training for camps.
This program is ideal for anyone who leads staff themselves, or who trains members of the Leadership Team on how to supervise others. It will be great for both new and experienced people.
This course was developed to meet the needs of camp directors and owners who were looking for a place to send Leadership Team members so that they will get and practice the skills necessary for supervision success. A lot of new Leadership Team members get promoted from front-line positions but may not have much if any experience in leading peers and others. Experienced Leadership Team members need fresh, advanced skills to keep them motivated and challenged in positive ways. To train all of these people, you require an excellent curriculum of the skills they’ll need and effective ways to teach them in an effective, motivating, and highly engaging way. This course provides that.
If you’re a director, it gives you a way to support the most important people at camp. The Leadership Team is the engine that drives camp to success. If you’re a member of the Leadership Team, you’ll get specific, practical tools and techniques you can use every day to be one of the stars of your camp and bring out the best in everyone. And these methods will qualify you throughout your life as you develop positive working relationships as a leader and manager of others.
This is a per person fee event. This event requires camera, computer, and audio access for the participants as it’s designed to be interactive. Any user that has additional persons in attendance that are not registered will be automatically removed from the event without refund.
Mailing Address:
American Camp Association, Illinois I PO Box 5412, Evanston, IL 60204
American Camp Association, Illinois
5 S Wabash Ave
Suite 1406
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-0833
Email: info@acail.org
Website: acail.org
