Locate Your Representatives

You can go to https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/ and find your State Representative, State Senator, and Federal Representative and reach out to them by sending an email listed on their website or through the “Contact Us” form. 

You can also invite local City Council representatives, Mayor, Commissioners, etc. The more the merrier! 

Inviting Your Representatives & Their Teams

Invite your representatives early to get on their calendars! If your Representative can’t attend themselves, consider asking if a member or members of their staff would like to attend in their place. You can also consider inviting them on a different day that works with their schedule. 

We ask that you "CC" us on any invites you send at: governmentrelations@acail.org. Our Government Relations Committee keeps track of representatives who hear from camps, the committees those representatives are on, and who you are building relationships with so when we have asks we know who has good communications with their elected officials!

Sample Email

Hello [Representative/Senator {Last Name]

Social Media Images

These images may be shared publicly so long as the the original image, ratio, size, color, and content have not been altered. All images are property of and copyrighted by the American Camp Association, Illinois, 2024.

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Hashtags

#ilsummercampday

#campisessential

#acaillinois

#familiesneedcamp

#campchangeslives

The "DO'S" and "DON'TS" for Government Relations

DO

• Use their constituent website, and remember: this is not a campaign visit! You can typically tell Representatives apart by introductions or the use of “For” or “4” in the website address, or on the page indicating they are running for office. They also might refer to volunteers as “friends” to signify volunteering for their campaign specifically.

• Get excited if they send a staff member in their stead! They will likely send someone whose expertise is in youth development or social services, and those staff work closely with the elected official to make voting decisions and prioritize issues.

• Take pictures throughout the visit! Make sure to double-check the photograph consent for your campers and ensure with your camper’s adults before you share any photographs of the day. Some parents might have feelings about their children being associated with politics.

• Work with your organization, if applicable, before reaching out with an invitation. You may already have an established relationship with the representative!

• Join their mailing list so you can see events in the district! 

DON’T

• Be discouraged if they can’t attend. Remember: you can invite them again next year!  Also, be mindful of where you put your focus and optimism. There are 118 State Representative Districts, 59 State Legislative Districts, and 17 Federal Representative Districts, so your most likely attendee is your State Representative.

• Talk about elections or voting, especially if you are a nonprofit.  These visits are to create community with our elected officials, not to keep them in office or get them out.

• Go out of your way to make the day a special event. The goal is to showcase camp exactly as it is, so it’s okay for our Representatives to see that.

• Think that this is just an Illinois event. If you are an ACA Illinois member but do not operate in the state, we still want you to reach out to your officials based on your camp’s operating address. They represent your business and the tourism that happens in that district and we need to build relationships with them as well.

After Your Camp Visit

• Double-check with parents that you can share a photograph of them with the elected officials. While you might have parental consent for photographs, your camper’s adults might not want their campers affiliated with politics.

• Share on social media and your website thanking the elected official for visiting your camp. Share your discussions about the importance of summer camp and what camp means to the families you serve. Don’t forget to tag their government office - many representatives also have campaign accounts - and also tag ACA Illinois. These things will go a long way in developing relationships with your Representatives! 

• Send an official thank you letter and/or email with photos from the day! Again, this encourages your Representative(s) to continue fostering a relationship with you and your camp.

• Send a press release and/or high-quality video to your local newspapers/radio stations/TV channels, letting them know about the visit.

Sample Press Release

For Immediate Release

[DATE]

Contact: [CONTACT INFORMATION]

GOVERNOR/SENATOR/ASSEMBLY MEMBER/REPRESENTATIVE/MAYOR/ COUNCILMEMBER [First and Last Name] joined [Camp/Program Name] for a day!

[Camp/Agency Name] was honored to host [Representative Title and Name] to discuss the importance of out-of-school programming, specifically summer camps!

[Date] - [Representative Title and Name] joined the [Your Position Title] and seasonal staff of [Camp/Agency Name], to see and enjoy the powerful impact of summer camp! Summer camps across the state of Illinois have been inviting their local Representatives to come and experience a day at camp this week. We were able to demonstrate the value of out-of-school time programming, and how it supports the development of social-emotional skills by keeping campers safe while schools and day programs are out of session.

[Add details here about the day and what Representatives did while they were at camp. Be sure to add details about any State/Federal Funds your camp(s) receives, such as but not limited to: any block/business grant, Summer Food Program, Title XX, Daycare funds, etc.]

[Add a quote here from a camper/staff member/yourself talking about what the day was like, expressing gratitude for the Representative attending, what it was like participating in an activity/eating a meal with them, etc.]

For more information about [Your Camp/Agency], you can go to our website [Website], or follow us on our social media platforms [Include the tag and sites you are ACTIVE on]. You can also contact our media representative, [Media Contact Person].

[Create a line about any licensing, accreditation affiliations, memberships, etc. that the camp is].

Buy our exclusive Illinois Summer Camp Day or Camp is Essential shirts from our ACA Illinois Bonfire store! We've got short-sleeved, long-sleeved, and even sweatshirts.