Camps + Responding to Coronavirus
For Camp Families:
For Camp Professionals:
We know that there is a lot of uncertainty regarding this illness and its potential impacts to summer camp programming.
The American Camp Association Camp Operations Guide for Summer 2020, created by a panel of experts, has been published. You can view individual chapters or download the full guide here.
For additional resources, the national American Camp Association has compiled a web page of resources. Click here to access the most up to date information including recommendations from the Association of Camp Nurses.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released their recommended considerations for summer day and overnight camps to slow the spread of COVID-19. You can view those considerations here.
The state of Illinois is maintaining a response page detailing information about cases and testing within the state as well as Executive Orders from Governor Pritzker and resources for individuals and businesses. Click here to reach that website.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH) has very comprehensive information about the virus available on their website that is updated regularly. Click here to view the Illinois DPH website.
The ACA Illinois team and several other camp professionals have been contributing to an ongoing document created by Travis Allison and GoCampPro filled with resources for your camp/agency. You can access that document by clicking here. Travis also created a Slack group for all camp professionals to share resources and ideas; join that group by clicking here.
We aim to share timely, relevant content for you and your agency. See below for upcoming events and recordings of past webinars.
The American Camp Association Camp Operations Guide for Summer 2020, created by a panel of experts, has been published. You can view individual chapters or download the full guide here.
For additional resources, the national American Camp Association has compiled a web page of resources. Click here to access the most up to date information including recommendations from the Association of Camp Nurses.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released their recommended considerations for summer day and overnight camps to slow the spread of COVID-19. You can view those considerations here.
The state of Illinois is maintaining a response page detailing information about cases and testing within the state as well as Executive Orders from Governor Pritzker and resources for individuals and businesses. Click here to reach that website.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH) has very comprehensive information about the virus available on their website that is updated regularly. Click here to view the Illinois DPH website.
The ACA Illinois team and several other camp professionals have been contributing to an ongoing document created by Travis Allison and GoCampPro filled with resources for your camp/agency. You can access that document by clicking here. Travis also created a Slack group for all camp professionals to share resources and ideas; join that group by clicking here.
We aim to share timely, relevant content for you and your agency. See below for upcoming events and recordings of past webinars.
Recordings of Previous Trainings on Responding to COVID-19 & Keeping Campers Safe
The statistical information may be out of date in this recording, but the preparation content for your camp program remains relevant.
Critical Considerations & Communicating During Challenging Times
ACA Illinois' Colette Marquardt, partnered with PCI, a Chicago based communications firm that specializes in crisis communications for a two part seminar. While much of the content is geared toward Illinois and the current situation regarding response to COVID-19 within Illinois, this information may likely be helpful to many camps across the country.
This series focused on communicating in times of crisis & critical questions to consider when making decisions about your next steps.
Click here to access the recording and documents from Part 1.
Click here to access the recording and documents from Part 2.
This series focused on communicating in times of crisis & critical questions to consider when making decisions about your next steps.
Click here to access the recording and documents from Part 1.
Click here to access the recording and documents from Part 2.
Standards School Special Edition: COVID-19 & Summer Planning
ACA Illinois Standards Instructors gathered together to look at the Accreditation Process Guide as a tool to help us find solutions to planning for this upcoming summer. Pulling together Standards that could help camps develop new policies and procedures around safety, risk management, & program adaption (including switching to virtual/alternative options) that respond to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
One thing the instructors all agreed upon was that the Accreditation Process Guide is a dynamic tool that can always help any camp set up the very best policies and practices to run safe and quality summer camps.
Access the recording and supporting documents here.
Thank you to our instructors that contributed to this program: Dale Adkins, Joel Bennett, Colette Marquardt, Sam Thompson, & Kim Steiner.
One thing the instructors all agreed upon was that the Accreditation Process Guide is a dynamic tool that can always help any camp set up the very best policies and practices to run safe and quality summer camps.
Access the recording and supporting documents here.
Thank you to our instructors that contributed to this program: Dale Adkins, Joel Bennett, Colette Marquardt, Sam Thompson, & Kim Steiner.
Crucial Conversations: Camps and the Coronavirus
With new warnings about the potential impact on the U.S., the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an issue that requires effective communications, risk assessment, and planning. Offered in partnership with the American Camp Association, Illinois, this webinar will explore:
Presenter: Joel Bennett, Principal @ Joel Bennett Consulting.
For more than 15 years, Joel has worked internally as an operations and HR professional and as an external consultant primarily in the non-profit space. Most recently, he served as the Director of Operations and Human Resources at Beber Camp (WI), Perlman Camp (PA), and the Perlman Retreat Center (PA). His expertise spans areas including strategic planning, design thinking, employee engagement, leadership coaching, training initiatives, technology deployment, benefit plan design, and payroll. Joel holds a Six Sigma Green Belt, is a Standards Instructor for the American Camp Association, and is a Society of Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). Joel’s strengths are built on his ability to listen, break down a problem, and develop a strategic solution. A motivational trainer and facilitator, Joel creates and evolves organizational initiatives that support business strategy, enhance organizational effectiveness, all while valuing the individual employee.
- Effective communication in an era of disinformation.
- Lessons learned from running Summer Camp during the 2009 Swine Flu (H1N1) pandemic.
- Business Continuity Coverage: What to look for in your insurance policy and questions to ask your summer partners.
- Developing creative solutions for potential staffing challenges.
- How to appropriately engage specific stakeholder groups in your Camp community.
- Working Remote without Missing a Beat: Best Practices (pre-summer).
- And your questions!
Presenter: Joel Bennett, Principal @ Joel Bennett Consulting.
For more than 15 years, Joel has worked internally as an operations and HR professional and as an external consultant primarily in the non-profit space. Most recently, he served as the Director of Operations and Human Resources at Beber Camp (WI), Perlman Camp (PA), and the Perlman Retreat Center (PA). His expertise spans areas including strategic planning, design thinking, employee engagement, leadership coaching, training initiatives, technology deployment, benefit plan design, and payroll. Joel holds a Six Sigma Green Belt, is a Standards Instructor for the American Camp Association, and is a Society of Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). Joel’s strengths are built on his ability to listen, break down a problem, and develop a strategic solution. A motivational trainer and facilitator, Joel creates and evolves organizational initiatives that support business strategy, enhance organizational effectiveness, all while valuing the individual employee.