American Camp Association - Illinois
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Board Members
    • Award Honorees
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Accreditation
    • DFI Title XX >
      • 2023 Camp Referrals
    • Send a Child to Camp
    • Top 5 Reasons to Send Your Child to Camp
    • Find a Camp
  • Join Us
    • Group Membership
    • Individual Membership
    • Why Accreditation?
    • 4 Reasons to Be Accredited
    • Services Portal
    • Volunteer
  • Learn & Tools
    • Professional Development & Training >
      • Executive Seminar
    • Calendar
    • Resources for Individuals and Families
    • ACA & COVID-19
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Today!
    • Fresh Start Campership Funds
    • Become a Sponsor or Community Partner
    • Throwing Lids & Helping Kids Fundraiser

IN THE LOOP

Gather up everyone! Time for the news, resources, and fun!

DID I PASS? (AND OTHER ACCREDITATION RELATED QUESTIONS FOR 2019 AND 2020!)

8/20/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Thank you to everyone who participated in Accreditation visits this year!!!
Here are a few answers to some of your burning questions regarding 2019 and 2020 Accreditation.

Camps that were Visited in 2019 FAQs:

When do I get my scores?
Once all the scores come in and score forms have been reviewed by the national office, the American Camp Association, Illinois Board of Directors reviews all camps who are accredited and votes to pass accreditation for the next year, approximately mid to late October. 

How will I get my scores?
We will send a copy of your scores both as an email and mailed letter to your primary contact. Please check on who is listed as your primary contact and that your contact information is up to date so you don't miss the correspondence. Unsure of the Primary Contact listed for your account. Contact Allie Boyaris at allie@acail.org or call 312-332-0833 x 4.

How do I know if I passed?
Camps need to score 80% or higher in each section to pass. In the letter, mentioned above, it will begin with identifying whether or not you passed, it will then show you a breakdown of your scores for each section percentage-wise.
How are my scores calculated?
The national office of the American Camp Association assembles a team to facilitate the scoring. Each standard is weighted differently and this information is kept confidential as to not impact the integrity of the program

Who sees my score reports?
Once received by the American Camp Association, Illinois staff, only those staff who work directly with the process see the scores so they can create the letters to send to your primary contact. Your primary contact is encouraged to use discretion regarding the results. Communicating that you passed is all that needs to be said. Camps should keep your scores confidential.

Do I have to do an Annual Accreditation Report this winter?
Yep. Accreditation maintenance is yearly. You maintained your accreditation for 2019 by completing your visit this summer, so to maintain your accreditation through 2020 you will need to complete the Annual Accreditation Report between Dec. 1 and Feb 1. Failure to submit the Annual Accreditation Report results in an onsite visit in summer 2020.

When will my next visit be?
Great question. It varies from camp to camp. Please reach out to American Camp Association, Illinois staff to check on your status.

How will I know what to do next?
The American Camp Association, Illinois works hard to help you stay on track. We communicate updates and timelines through emails, newsletters, phone calls, social media. We make sure that you are well informed about the process. 

General Visitor & 2020 Plans FAQs 

How many camps were visited this year?
This year we had 24 camps visited!

How many visitors are there?
We had 26 visitors visiting this summer but have about 40 on our visiting roster. If you would like to become a visitor we invite you to reach out! Contact Allie Boyaris at allie@acail.org or call 312-332-0833 x 4.

How do I become a visitor? 
Being an ACA Visitor is such a great space to volunteer. We host visitor courses throughout the year so register for a course and fill out our application. All you need is to have taken the Accreditation Process Workshop to be qualified! 

Any advice for someone participating in accreditation next year?
Work on accreditation all year. Preparing for accreditation is time-consuming, but most of the standards should be implemented before you even hire staff. Don’t put it off until the last minute. Tackle smaller pieces of it over the year and you will be stronger and more prepared in the end.

How do I know if I will be visited in 2020 or need to complete the Annual Accreditation Report? 
Letters will be both emailed and mailed informing you of your camp's 2020 statuses. They will be sent addressed to the primary contact on your account in late October if you need to check to see who is your primary contact or make a change email Allie Boyaris at allie@acail.org or call 312-332-0833 x 4. You are always able to give us a call at 312-332-0833 as well to check on the status of your Accreditation Cycle.

However, If you are not being visited in 2020, all camps will need to complete an Annual Accreditation Report by Feb 1, 2020.
​
0 Comments

Mid States Needs Your Help

8/16/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!
Volunteers Needed to Make Mid States Awesome! 

In 2020, we are embarking on the most ambitious Mid States we have ever had. But we need help to make that happen!  We are calling all those who love Mid States, have a passion for innovative programming, enjoy working with others, and want to see Mid States thrive and grow to consider joining a committee. We promise it will be hard work, it will also be loads of fun, help you grow professionally, and provide a great opportunity to help camps be great places for all.

Learn more about each of these committees (and others) by clicking here! 
  • Community Building Committee
  • Education Sessions Committee
  • Super Session Committee
  • Career Development Committee

Ready to volunteer? Click here to fill out our short interest form. Hurry, committees start meeting (mostly by conference call) in just a month or so!

0 Comments

2020 Mid States Chair Announced!

8/15/2019

0 Comments

 

Greetings Camp People, 

I hope your summer/camp season is going or went well. I am Gordie Kaplan and I will be serving as your Conference Chair for the 2020 Mid States Camp Conference hosted by the American Camp Association, Illinois.  Mid States will again take place at Pheasant Run Resort, St Charles, Illinois, Monday, March 30th – Wednesday, April 1st, 2020. I was one of the founding members of the Mid States Camp Conference and I have been involved with every conference since 1993 in some leadership capacity.  I’m honored to be your chair for 2020. 

Like many camps, organizations, and events, we have had our successes and challenges.  However, we have always strived to follow the Mission Statement and Operating Principles, which you can read here. Over the past 27 conferences, our commitment to our mission has remained constant. We do make changes every year based on feedback from participants and trends in the camp field nationwide. Our priority is to make Mid States as impactful as possible to our attendees. 

Based on the 2019 Mid States Demographics Survey we learned 39% of the attendees were between the ages of 36-60+ while 57% were 22-35. 77% were employed year-round at their camps and/or agencies. We also discovered that 53% of attendees had been serving camp for between 5-20 years. We found that 58% of Mid States attendees work in day camps, 52% work in resident camps, and some work at both. Therefore, we are planning to continue to meet the needs of camp professionals at all levels, incorporating sessions for day camp professionals throughout the conference and offering plenty of professional development opportunities for executives, managers, and directors. 

Volunteer support and participation have always been outstanding during Mid States.  We are committed to increasing volunteer involvement from now through the conference.  Are you interested in helping us plan and prepare for Mid States? If so please email: gordiekaplan@acail.org.

Finally, for emerging details and new plans please check in with the Mid States website, acail.org/midstates, like our Facebook Page, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Gordie Kaplan

2020 Mid States Camp Conference Chair

Picture
0 Comments

New ACA Illinois Staff - Meet Allie!

8/14/2019

 
​I am so excited to share with you that we have a new staff member joining the American Camp Association, Illinois (ACA Illinois). We welcome Allie Boyaris as our new Membership and Program Services Specialist. Allie’s work will include helping to develop and support our Professional Development programs including the Mid States Camp Conference and the Women in Camp Summit and support the Accreditation program. Allie has already been acclimated to all things DFI Title XX Camping Services Program. We are over the moon to have Allie join this small, but mighty team! 

Kim Steiner
Membership & Program Services Director
Picture
Hello Everyone!

I’m Allie Boyaris, and I’m delighted to be joining the American Camp Association, Illinois team as Membership & Program Services Specialist! I’ll share a bit about myself and my background so you can get to know me.

I grew up in and around Chicago, and over the last twenty(ish) years I have been a part of camp communities in Michigan, central New York, and Minnesota, as well as all over the state of Illinois. Like many of us, my experiences at camp shaped my worldview in a foundational way. For me, the experiences I had at camp and while volunteering at Mid States contributed to my interest in exploring the different ways people learn and teach emotional regulation. I was inspired to earn my BA in psychology and to work in the field of mental health, investigating the power of experiential education in different contexts. 

A few months ago, I moved back to Illinois from Bend, Oregon, where I had been working as a mentor and guide to teens and adults participating in a residential therapeutic program that takes place in the Oregon wilderness. I thrived in this role using backcountry skills and a love of outdoor tripping, the seeds of which were planted at camp. 

While I’ll miss the mountain access I had in Oregon, I am so excited to become part of the Dream Team here at ACA Illinois! I feel such a strong sense of purpose here because I wholeheartedly believe that quality camp experiences provide a vital opportunity to develop healthy emotional and social skills. I’ve come to this belief by reflecting on my own growth, as well as witnessing the journey of others. I can’t wait to get to work promoting the value of camp experiences, strengthening and supporting the camp community, and expanding access to camp!

When I’m not in the office, you can find me bobbing my head at world music concerts, getting sweaty palms while making rock climbing plans, making friends with retired ladies at yoga classes, biking around the city with my partner, Daniel, and eating ice cream for breakfast. I can’t wait to get to know all of you!

Allie Boyaris
Membership & Program Services Specialist

Allie’s Contact Information:
Email: allie@acail.org
Desk Phone: 312.332.0833 ex. 4
Cell Phone: 312.965.7398

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    August 2015

    Categories

    All
    Accreditation
    Awards
    Events
    Executive Seminar
    FAQs
    Meet Our Commuity
    Member Info
    Membership
    Mid States
    #midstates2020
    Resources
    Volunteers

    RSS Feed

American  Camp  ASSOCIATION,  illinois

American Camp Association, Illinois
PO Box 5412
Evanston, IL 60204


Phone: 312-332-0833
Email: info@acail.org


​

ConNECT  WITH  Us

RESOURCE  LINKS

Make a Donation
Calendar
Contact Us
Accreditation & Membership

Find a Camp
Services and Registration Portal

Refund Policy
SEARCH OUR SITE
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Board Members
    • Award Honorees
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Accreditation
    • DFI Title XX >
      • 2023 Camp Referrals
    • Send a Child to Camp
    • Top 5 Reasons to Send Your Child to Camp
    • Find a Camp
  • Join Us
    • Group Membership
    • Individual Membership
    • Why Accreditation?
    • 4 Reasons to Be Accredited
    • Services Portal
    • Volunteer
  • Learn & Tools
    • Professional Development & Training >
      • Executive Seminar
    • Calendar
    • Resources for Individuals and Families
    • ACA & COVID-19
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Today!
    • Fresh Start Campership Funds
    • Become a Sponsor or Community Partner
    • Throwing Lids & Helping Kids Fundraiser