Upcoming Events & Trainings
EVENT OVERVIEW
This training session will help folks who are new to an organization that receives funds from the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program.
EVENT DETAILS
The #1 reason for camps not receiving partial or full funding that they were allocated is due to incomplete or incorrect documentation and/or missing deadlines. Help yourself by ensuring the people who work directly with registering camps, paying bills, completing the outcomes reports, etc. are properly trained and ready for the billing and application processes.
The training will cover:
Accessing resources, forms, and information;
Timeline and due dates for the program;
Processing bills for funds;
Brief overview on how allocations and financing work; and
Other pertinent information required to administer the program at your agency.
To register for this event, please contact campadvocates@acail.org to schedule your training session.
EVENT AUDIENCE
It is required that the person with the overall responsibility of the camp attend this training. It is strongly recommended that any new employees who will be assisting in completing the documents, working with the payment process, registering campers, etc., also attend. These folks may include the Registrar, Finance Director, ED/CEO, Camp Director, Program Director, Office Manager, Funds Development Director, etc.
WHY ATTEND?
Develop an understanding and comprehension of the required steps, documents, and policies to receive and/or maintain DFI Title XX Program funding.
LOCATION & TYPE OF EVENT
This event is a live, virtual event and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
Please Note: ACA Illinois will not record this event.
WHAT TO BRING TO WEBINAR & HOW TO PREPARE
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.
THE FINE PRINT
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
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
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.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
This session will cover:
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.
WORKSHOP AUDIENCE
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.
LOCATION & TYPE OF WORKSHOP
This session is a live, virtual event and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
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!
These workshops are live, virtual events and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
Please Note: ACA Illinois will not record these events.
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.
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!
MEETING DETAILS
This meeting supports the state’s effort to ensure camps understand and follow safe drinking water standards. IDPH regional offices will also inspect camp water systems during the camp inspection process.
Topics will include: the Revised Total Coliform Rule, water sampling requirements, and lead and other VOC requirements.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
ACA Illinois members who operate non-community water systems should plan to attend.
Recommended attendees include:
Camp directors or staff responsible for regulatory compliance
Maintenance or facilities staff responsible for the water system
Staff who coordinate water sampling or maintain system records
Camps are welcome to send additional staff involved in water system operations or compliance.
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 session is a live, virtual events and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
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.
This meeting will cover upcoming changes, timelines, due dates, and plans for the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program.
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.
Camp is ESSENTIAL to Illinois and every state in the country! Help spread the word about how camp impacts the community through providing positive youth development, creating jobs, boosting the economy, offering child care options for working families, building future citizens who will become leaders, and so much more!
Illinois Summer Camp Day is a critical opportunity for the community, camps, the public, and our elected officials to highlight the important work we do. Inviting our elected representatives to learn about our camps and what challenges we face ensures these representatives can make informed decisions at the local, state, and federal levels.
Join us for a rundown on what Illinois Summer Camp Day is all about and how you can participate!
We’ll discuss how to:
Find the right day and way to celebrate.
Invite local elected officials to see your program in action.
Demonstrate your impact on the larger community with tips and activities.
Use our toolkit, including pre-built social media and invitation template.
And any questions you may have about this fantastic celebration of camp!
While this is called Illinois Summer Camp Day, any camp can join us, regardless of the state you operate in! Our materials and content can easily be adapted to any state!
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 related policies.
Join us for a half or full day of Accreditation training & workshopping!
Visitors: Join us for just the morning or come for the whole day! We’d love to have you!
Camp Directors: Join us for lunch or come right after for the Camp & Visitor Workshop Time!
Questions on when to come? Reach out to Kelly at registration@acail.org
This is a free event. You can purchase an optional lunch at registration. (We will not be able to add lunch purchases after registration closes.)
Please bring as many people from your camp to the afternoon program as you wish.
All ACA Illinois Visitors
All camps (returning and new) who will be visited onsite in summer 2026.
Directors who are new to working with an Accredited Camp, regardless of next visit year.
Camps interested in Accreditation in the future are also welcome!
9:00am - 12:00pm: Visitor Update & Review (Visitors Only)
During the morning, ACA Illinois Visitor Crew members will have the opportunity to connect with others while receiving important updates, in-service training, and networking. We’ll cover missed standards, scoring errors, all the paperwork, coaching camps through tough conversations, and best practices from your person supporting camps successfully through the process. A chance to ask questions, provide advice and feedback to challenging situations, and a quick review of the process, forms, and changes to the Standards, will help lead you into summer visits!
12:00pm - 12:30pm: Optional Lunch (Visitors & Camp Directors)
Folks are welcome to join us for lunch. You can bring your own lunch or pre-purchase a Panera Box Lunch* when you register.
*You can prepurchase your Panera Box Lunch when you register. Box Lunches are $15. You will have the choice of 4 options. Please notify registration@acail.org if you have any special dietary needs or food allergies.
12:30pm - 3:00pm:Camp & Visitor Workshop Time (Visitors & Camp Directors)
Camps that would like to begin their Written Documentation Review in-person or have some one on one time with a Visitor to go over final preparations for their visit are invited to join us in the afternoon.
WHAT TO BRING & HOW TO PREPARE
Accreditation Process Guide v2019
Past Written Documentation or Computer with Access to Files (Downloaded)
Examples of Documentation to bring:
Any documents used in previous visits.
Parent/Caregiver Handbook/Information
Staff Handbook/Information
Health & Wellness related documents and policies
Facility, Food Service, & Transportation related documents.
Something to Take Detailed Notes With/On
Camp shirts/apparel strongly encouraged! Come casual!
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ALL MY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION IS NOT COMPLETE?
We do not expect you to have final Written Documentation. Bring whatever you have completed or are in progress!
Just bring what you can, but do not fret if you are missing anything!
This live event will take place in-person.
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.
This event is only open to ACA Illinois Accredited Camps. Camps are invited to send multiple people from their camp to participate. This event is free. To register, please email Kelly at registration@acail.org
SERIES OVERVIEW
ACA Illinois is proud to continue the partnership with ACA Inc., ACA, New York and New Jersey, and ACA, New England to present the Staffing Summit in a new and exciting format for 2025 and 2026!
SERIES DETAILS
October 28, 2025: Recruit & HireJoin us for a full day of keynote, educational sessions, and collaboration hubs focused on recruitment and hiring of staff!
April 28, 2026: Train & RetainJoin us for a full day of keynotes, educational sessions, and collaboration hubs focused on staff training and retention!
January 28, 2026: Micro Staffing Event (Bonus!)Available as a bonus event for those registered for the package, this event will be two hours and include a speaker and large collaboration hub.
Come up your staffing game for summer 2026 and let the Staffing Summit support you in your staffing efforts along the way. Educational sessions during events will be recorded and available to registrants for 30 days post the live event.
Register for one, two, or the whole series here!
SERIES SCHEDULE
*Please note all times are EST
Tuesday, October 28
11:00am-11:30am — Collaboration Hub 1
11:50am-1:00pm — Welcome & Keynote
1:10pm-2:00pm — Educational Session One
2:20pm-3:10pm — Education Session Two
3:30pm-4:20pm — Educational Session Three
4:30pm-5:00pm — Collaboration Hub 2
4:30pm-5:00pm — E-Commerce Session
Tuesday, April 28
11:00am-11:30am — Collaboration Hub
Tuesday, January 28 (Micro Event)
1:00pm-2:00pm — Welcome & Speaker
2:00pm-2:45pm — Collaboration Hub
2:45pm-3:00pm — Closing
EVENT PRICING
Single Member: $60/$75
Single Nonmember: $75/$90
Package Member: $100/$115
Package Nonmember: $115/$130
*Package registration includes both full days and a bonus micro event
Get out of the office and in person with other camp pros from the area. We’ll spend our time together networking, enjoying a delicious lunch, and going on a tour of the host camp, Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see.
As we inch closer to summer, now is the perfect time to connect with others who do similar work to seek support, share resources, and build stronger connections.
This event is hosted by the ACA Illinois Young Professionals Board. This event is open to all ages 18+. Preregistration is required. ACA Illinois membership or Illinois residency ACA Illinois is not required.
This session is a live, in-person event.
HOW TO PREPARE
This event includes a walking tour of the property. We encourage you to come dressed for a day at camp, with good walking shoes, layers, and rain/cold gear.
Its almost summer and camp is around the corner! Join Colette Marquardt, CEO of the American Camp Association, Illinois to gain tips and suggestions to prepare your child or loved one for an overnight camp experience. She’ll cover topics such as:
What to expect as first time camp parents and caregivers;
Packing lists;
Forms and communicating medical/specific needs with the camp;
Addressing any questions about safety with the camp;
Homesickness;
Supporting your camper from home; and
Q&A time from participants!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Colette Marquardt is the CEO of the American Camp Association, Illinois. Based in Chicago, Colette is responsible for leading the Illinois camp field and works with over 300 day and overnight camps throughout the Midwest, all of which serve Illinois families. Before joining the association staff, Colette was a camp director and work at camp for over 15 years at several camps around the Midwest. Over her career, she has worked with thousands of camps, families, and professionals by providing training, support, resources, and funding. Colette guides the local camp community in risk management, working closely with the State of Illinois in both health & safety and funding for summer camps that benefit the state of Illinois. Illinois has an incredibly diverse camp community, and Colette believes that there is a camp for every person who wants to attend, and she’s ready to help identify it!
WHO & HOW TO ATTEND
This event is open to the public. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend. This is a FREE event. An option to make a donation is available at registration and is greatly appreciated. Donations help us continue to provide services to the local community and summer camps.
Its almost summer and camp is around the corner! Join Colette Marquardt, CEO of the American Camp Association, Illinois, to gain tips and suggestions to prepare your child or loved one for a day camp experience. She’ll cover topics such as:
What to expect as first-time camp parents and caregivers;
Daily packing lists;
Addressing any questions about safety at the camp;
Homesickness (yes, even at Day Camp);
Supporting your camper at the end of each day to prepare for the next; and,
SEMINAR OVERVIEW
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.
SEMINAR REVIEWS
EVENT REGISTRATION FEE LEVELS
Early Bird Rate: $75 when you register before April 14, 2026
Attendee Rate: $99.00 when you register between April 15 - May 8, 2026
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 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.
WHY ATTEND
How will your camp benefit from you attending this program?
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.
How does your career benefit from you attending this program?
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 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.
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.
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!
Illinois has a strong day and overnight camp community and we want to make sure the world knows about us!
Get involved and have tons of fun showing off your camp this coming Illinois Summer Camp Day! Illinois Summer Camp Day allows each of us to showcase the essential work and support that camp provides to the community including child care, youth development, jobs, and more!
Camps are encouraged to invite their local, state, and/or federal government representatives out to camp during the summer. During this visit, camp professionals can share with community leaders their success, challenges, and needs. It's vital for our representatives to understand the unique needs of the camp industry when they make decisions while in office - decisions that will ultimately impact our ability to meet our missions.
Camp is essential to our greater community. With over half of America’s youth attending a camp program each summer, we know that camp shapes future leaders, supports working families, and provides life changing development experiences for all people. Join us as we share the intentional work and potential behind the camp experience this summer!
NEW in 2026: Stay Connected - Complete the Registration
If you are interested in staying connected and/or getting involved, please consider registering. Once registered, you’ll receive updates, reminders, toolkits, support, and more! Registration is not required to participate in Illinois Summer Camp Day - just a helpful way to stay connected!
NOT A CAMP BUT WANT TO HELP OUR CAUSE? Camp Directors are very busy in the spring and summer. Many want to participate but find it difficult to navigate the communication needed to set up the visit. We need Mentors who can help camps get connected, scheduled, and visited this summer. As a Mentor, we’ll match you with a camp that wants to participate but needs a bit of extra support. Your support and help will strengthen the entire camp community!
This is a live, in-person event at each participating camp.
This event includes pre-work, inviting your local representatives to camp. Register to get more information on this.
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
