Dear Friends,

Each year we hear from members that they desire to visit other camps. We have a secret - okay - it's not a super secret - but....

We have a whole program that allows you to do just that! See other camps in operation!  Below I share some details on how you can jump into the number one program ACA offers this summer!

The Why & How of Becoming Seeing Other Camps This Summer: The Quick Read Version
 
Why Become an Accreditation Visitor?
The benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Getting to travel and see other camp programs. (We reimburse mileage and expenses!) 
• Expanding your camp knowledge. (Visitors cite that they almost ALWAYS walk out of a visit with NEW ideas to take back to their camp!)
• Discount on membership fees (Active Visitors get access to special rates to show our appreciation for their service!)
• Being an advocate for the Accreditation program. (We all benefit when we share the importance and value of running or choosing an Accredited camp!) 
• Broadening your understanding of the Accreditation program and the standards. (Visitors develop a deeper understanding of not only what the Standards are but also learn a variety of new methods to implement them at their camps - including news ways to think about policies and documentation that make the entire process easier and more attainable.) 

 
Interested in Learning More & Becoming a Visitor?
We have a course scheduled for March 11th, 2020 in Chicago and we would love to help you on your journey to joining the most popular volunteer opportunity within ACA! 
 
To be Eligible to become a Visitor, you should:

• Be At least 21 years old (This is less about years of life and more about years of experience. If you are under 21 and interested, let us know because we have a mentoring option available for you!)
• Basic knowledge of the application of ACA standards.  (Do you currently or have in the past worked at an Accredited camp? Then you likely meet this.)
• Willingness to conduct at least one accreditation visit every other year. (Visitors pick how many visits they are willing to do - most choose one per summer.) 
• Must have completed the Accreditation Process Workshop (APW) prior to Associate Visitor Course (Attended an APW course within the last 18 months. Haven’t done this yet, no worries - we offer it online!)
• Have a current membership on the day of the Accreditation Visit.  (Aren’t a current member, reach out and I’d be happy to talk to you about your options.)

You do not, I repeat, DO NOT need to be a camp director to be a visitor.  Many visitors are program directors, executives, retired, between jobs, teachers, current camp directors, assistant directors, seasonal staff, or just passionate about camp.
 
Ready to Sign Up today? 

1. Please register for the course through the link:  http://www.acail.org/avc.html (select the March 11th date)
2. Complete and submit an Associate Visitor Application: https://acacamps.formstack.com/forms/associate_visitor_application  

If you know someone who might be interested or you think they would be a great visitor, feel free to email me at kim@acail.org and I’d be happy to follow up with them. 

Thank you! We can’t wait for you to join our team!

Kim Steiner
Membership & Program Services Director

Kim Steiner is the Membership & Program Services Director for ACA Illinois. She loves helping folks become Visitors and all things Accreditation- because she knows that everyone involved in the program does so to create camps that are great places for both campers and staff. 
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Emerging Professional Award
Awarded to professionals with 10 or less years of professional level experience within the field of camp that contribute to the advancement of the field of camp through service to the American Camp Association, Illinois and the camp community.​

Honor Award
Presented to members of the community that contribute significant time and service to the American Camp Association, Illinois that advances the field of camp and/or access to the community. ​

Special Recognition Award for Advancing the Field of Camp
Presented to an individual within or outside of the direct field of camping, but whose service and support furthers the mission and goals of the American Camp Association, Illinois and the field of camp.​

Distinguished Service Award
This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated deep commitment of service towards the American Camp Association, Illinois and the field of camp over several years and/or long term projects. ​

Dear Mid States Friends & Family,
Since we shared the news in December regarding the cancellation of the Mid States and the Executive Seminar for 2020 due to the venue abruptly closing, our team took this setback as an opportunity to continue to evaluate and plan for our organization’s future.

As a nonprofit dedicated to providing development opportunities for camp professionals, we are continually monitoring industry trends and seeking new models to meet our members’ growing needs. We pride ourselves on listening to our members at all times, whether through program evaluations or one-on-one engagement in person at events or through our many online channels. We recognize our industry is an ever-changing landscape and the challenges of keeping current and timely, which is why last spring we formed a taskforce of board members and senior leadership to assess needs and plan strategically on behalf of our organization.

With this combined input, for the future organizational health of the American Camp Association, Illinois, we are stepping back from our role in planning the annual conference moving forward. Know we did not come to this decision lightly. Our primary responsibility is and always has been to our members, and funds that were allocated to the conference will continue to focus on the professional development of the nearly 400 individuals and member camps who compose our organization as well as others outside ACA Illinois who wish to participate. We are working with ACA National to explore models of collaboration to continue to deliver high quality professional development.  As this dialogue continues, we will keep you updated and informed.

Currently, we at ACA Illinois offer more than 80 separate events, courses, trainings and networking opportunities. Over the last two years, we have piloted new models for professional development through our Women in Camp Summit and Brandwein Seminar for Dynamic Camp Leadership. We hope to offer even more retreat-style courses, virtual and shorter part- to full-day events. Additionally, we plan to deepen relationships with legislators and state and local government, allowing our field to be at the forefront of Illinois legislation impacting camps. And, we’ll be more available to members to assist them in navigating Accreditation, improving their camps, advancing their careers and serving as a true partner in their success.

It has been a tremendous honor for our team of four, along with dozens of volunteers, to contribute to the success of the conference for nearly the past decade. Together we have helped host 100 speakers annually, 75+ onsite volunteers, countless exhibitors and sponsors, and more than 20,000 attendees over the course of the conference's 27 year history.
 
Once again, thank you, our cherished community, for your continued support. I am grateful to you all and our partnership in enriching lives and changing the world.

With Gratitude,
Colette

Colette M. Marquardt
Executive Director 
American Camp Association, Illinois

Dear Mid States Friends & Family, 

I regret to share that due to Pheasant Run closing and space not being available in the area for our size and budget, we will be canceling Mid States and the Executive Seminar for 2020. 

This decision was not made lightly and came after several weeks of multiple folks working to find alternative solutions. Unfortunately, due to the timing of the notice of Pheasant Run closing in relation to our event dates - we simply could not find a space that met our needs. 

While we aren’t able to host Mid States this year, we are already working on planning Mid States 2021 and look forward to sharing updates with you in late spring. 

But wait! We have new programming for you and invite you to join us! Once we came to the decision that Mid States 2020 and the Executive Seminar weren’t viable this year, we set on a path to lay the groundwork for alternative programming options. Click here to see our full calendar and read below to discover what we are offering this spring!

I am very excited to share that, while it will be in a smaller space, we will still welcome Lee Cockerell, Amy Gallo, Sunni Brown, and Brad Montague this spring in our new “Fasterclass Series” located in Chicago. Register early because space is extremely limited.

If you have already registered for Mid States or the Executive Seminar, you will receive a phone call from our staff after the New Year to discuss the process for refunds and/or changing your registration to one of our new events.  

Lastly, I want to extend deep appreciation for all the hard work that went into planning Mid States and Executive Seminar 2020. The foundation for planning these events was laid well over a year ago and with each passing month, countless volunteers and staff worked to bring this program to reality.  Our fearless leader and conference chair, Gordie Kaplan, along with the Conference Leadership team including: Gwyneth Emigh, Jackie Folak, Sam Thompson, Shauna Guglielmo, Michael Brandwein, Weston Outlaw, Shena Willbrandt - have already put in many hours of thinking and planning. So many others have stepped up over the last few months and were ready to run with planning programs after the New Year. And our staff… Kim, Allie, and Stacy have poured hours of discussions and planning every detail to get us to this point - without them, I’d still be sitting in my office with a large flip chart, a lot of post it notes, and a dream.  All these people make the camp world better and I am so grateful to work with them. 

I also want to thank you, our cherished community. Thank you for the outpouring support over these last several weeks as we navigated this “problem.” While the outcome is not what I had hoped, I am confident that together we can still learn together, grow together, and change the world together.

With Gratitude,
Colette

Colette M. Marquardt
Executive Director 
American Camp Association, Illinois

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