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.
EVENT OVERVIEW
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 4/8/25 OR purchase a bundle code to use in the Little Caesars app for pick up on 4/22/25.
*Purchase of pizza is not required to attend.
Free for all but each person must be registered.
*Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
This session is a live, virtual event and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
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!
EVENT DETAILS
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.
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.
Join others for this special, FREE event for active ACA Illinois onsite visitors. Let us say thank you for giving your time and talents by inviting you to this exclusive and free event just for Visitors who serve ACA Illinois camps!
Each active Visitor can register up to 3 people from their camp to attend.
Click here for how to register.
Jump into a day with the popular and well respected Kim Aycock for a day of training and camp leadership resources. This day will be perfect for both camp professionals and seasonal leadership team members. Come yourself and bring two people OR giveaway three spots to your up and coming leadership team members as an incentive! It's up to the Visitor!**
Lunch is provided.
Not a Visitor yet but want access? Click here!
FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHY
Kim Aycock, Kimspiration, LLC
Kim Aycock, MST, has several decades of experience equipping young people with skills robots are unable to do. While blending the talents of a master teacher with the knowledge of a seasoned camp expert, Kim ignites learning for varying levels of camp pros worldwide through her interactive and innovative presentations. Kim speaks at regional and national conferences, contributes regularly to Camping Magazine and ACA blogs, and serves as co-chair of ACA’s Staff Recruitment & Retention Committee and Staffing Summit. She can be reached through her website kimaycock.com.
EVENT COST
Cost: FREE for active 2025 onsite Visitors for ACA Illinois and their guests.* ($199 value)
SCHEDULE
10AM - 12PM: The REAL Staff Training is After the Training
12PM - 1PM: Lunch
1PM - 3PM: Create Co-Counselor Cohesiveness Through Early and Frequent Communication and Collaboration
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
SESSION 1: The REAL Staff Training is After the Training
It is (insert month). Summer is knocking on the door and gets louder with each passing day. Staff training is on your mind (as it should be!). How about what comes AFTER staff training? The ongoing training that connects the dots to what was mostly theory before campers arrived. The fabricated role plays during orientation are now real scenarios (and don’t always have simple solutions or happy endings). This is the next level of training we intend to get to but rarely do. This is precisely the training all staff need and crave. It is the stuff staff retention is made of!
Join me to map out what these future mid-summer training sessions can look like and ease the pressure heading into the camp season! We will build templates that give staff time to:
SESSION 2: Create Co-Counselor Cohesiveness Through Early and Frequent Communication and Collaboration
It goes without saying, the co-counselor relationship is CRUCIAL to staff retention and the overall experience of the camper group. Yet, in many situations, staff are thrown together with their co-counselor/s and expected to co-parent a “family” of similar age kids before they are “married,” let alone have “dated.” Pain points with staff often come from discord between these contrived partnerships and can impact the entire camp community.
Intentionally create co-counselor cohesiveness by establishing lines of communication and collaboration BEFORE the campers arrive. Give your staff a framework to navigate issues that can potentially lead to division or a bad “break-up” if left unexplored (including regular check-ins and strategies to reset as needed). This proactive and positive approach will be the difference between make-it or break-it staff relationships (and an overall more peaceful camp community)!
REGISTERATION INFORMATION
Each active onsite Visitor for ACA Illinois can register up to 3 people from their organization to attend. This can be themselves plus two others, or three others and they themselves do not attend. It’s up to the Visitor.***
For this event, an active onsite Visitor is someone who is signed up to be an onsite Visitor for summer 2025 for ACA Illinois.
Not a Visitor but want access?
It’s not too late to become a Visitor for ACA Illinois. Click here to register for an upcoming training course. Visitors must be trained and committed by March 15, 2025 to qualify.
*Visitors are permitted to register up to 3 individuals to attend.
**Yes, this is a FREE event!
*** The Visitor must register their guests.
TO REGISTER
To Register, the Visitor must email registration@acail.org with the following information:
Name
Role
Email
Special Dietary Needs
Attending Morning, Afternoon, or Both Sessions
Deadline to register is Friday, April 25,2025. Onsite or late registrations will not be accepted.
EVENT LOCATION
This live event will take place in-person. Location TBD.
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.
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
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.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
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.
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!
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
