Annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Justice and Antiracism Institute
for Summer Camp Professionals, Owners, and Executives
For more information, click on the boxes below:
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What is the Better Camping for All Institute?
Better Camping for All Institute is an annual event designed to create community-centered learning and conversation spaces for professionals and executives working in summer camps. Each year, topics are carefully curated by the ACA Illinois Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Justice, & Antiracism Committee.
Why “Better Camping for All”?
ACA Illinois believes all people deserve quality camp experiences - not just those that can afford or have been historically included - but all people. Better Camping for All is a value statement used as a compass by ACA Illinois’ staff and board leaders, directing decision-making, funding, and ensuring that for any services provided by ACA Illinois. The goal is to always make it accessible and equitable for all. This work has roots in the local camp community for 75+ years, led by changemakers from within the camp community, and continues today.
The DEIAJ & Antiracism Committee named this annual institute “Better Camping for All” as a way to ensure that topic selection, location, price, engagement, and other key factors are always rooted in making the community better for all people, not just those historically included.
CampWell is a research-backed training framework, created by camp people, for camp people, for individuals serving youth, that encourages camps to create conditions where campers and staff thrive. Developed in collaboration with the American Camp Association with support from the H.E. Butt Foundation, CampWell is your pathway to an evolving camp culture focused on whole-human and whole-community flourishing.
CampWell supports camps in building safe programs that facilitate a supported culture of individual well-being and belonging, leading to a thriving camp ecosystem where all individuals are connected and positively contributing. We are partnering with the CampWell program, and the Alliance for Camp Health, to offer a CampWell Level Two training in a two-part series taking place on Thursday, February 26, 2026 (Online) and Thursday, March 5 - Friday, March 6, 2026 in Ridge Park (Chicagoland area).
Participants will leave CampWell Level Two training with an adaptable curriculum, essential educational resources, and ready-to-use activities created to assist you in elevating care at camp. Click here to learn more!
Register for CampWell Training
See CampWell Training Schedule
Mental health is a critical part of work behind creating more just and equitable programs for our participants and workplaces for our employees. Through creating environments that support well-being, we continue to break down barriers and build stronger communities.
2024/2025: Foundations for Institutional Antiracism Organizing
What is the goal of the institute?
To drive actionable change in creating spaces and communities that not only celebrate diversity but strive to reach equity, inclusion, accessibility, justice, and become antiracist.
How is the goal accomplished?
By creating a learning space that challenges adult learners to seek new perspectives and ideas while dismantling practices and policies that are exclusionary and harmful to marginalized communities.
How are topics selected?
The DEIAJ & Antiracism Committee of ACA Illinois chooses the topics and speakers based on the needs of both the camp professionals & executives AND the community served by ACA Illinois.
Why the institute?
ACA Illinois is a charitable non-profit seeking to strengthen communities through the camp experience. Through their services and programs, ACA Illinois seeks to create positive change within the community. This is accomplished by ensuring that all people, youth and adults, have access to supportive, safe, equitable, accessible, and just environments - and ACA Illinois believes camp is an excellent place to do this essential work.
What about weather or COVID?
In the event of increased COVID reports or inclement weather which would make travel unsafe in Chicago, the event will be moved to a digital format on the same day and time as planned. ACA Illinois can require face coverings and COVID testing during the in-person event if deemed necessary for the safety of the participants and facilitators. There will not be a hybrid option - either the whole group will be in the digital format or the whole group will be in-person.
Will this be recorded?
No. This is an interactive event program in which the content does not translate to a recorded format.
Shauna Guglielmo, Lincoln Park Zoo - Co-Chair Annie Labus, Chicago Botanical Gardens - Co-Chair Maria Hamman, Volunteer Peggy Aylmer, Volunteer | Rikki Lake, Camp for All Kids Colette Marquardt, American Camp Association, Illinois Kelly Ireland, American Camp Association, Illinois - Events Coordinator |
Are you interested in serving on the ACA Illinois DEIAJ & Anti-Racism Committee? Let us know by emailing colette@acail.org. You do not have to be a member of ACA Illinois, or an accredited camp to join this committee. |
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