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!
WHAT WILL THE DFI TITLE XX FALL MEETING COVER?
This meeting will cover upcoming changes, timelines, due dates, and plans for the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Each agency must send at least one (1) person from their agency to attend. Agencies are invited to send as many folks to attend as they would like to register. However, for the Fall Meeting, we encourage the following folks to attend from each agency:
The person responsible for completing the application.
The camp registrar or person responsible for processing the camper registration documents.
Agencies are invited to send as many people to attend from their agency as possible.
HOW WILL THIS MEETING TAKE PLACE?
This meeting will be held over Zoom. Participants must have access to their computers to engage in this training.
I'VE ATTENDED TRAINING IN THE PAST, DO I NEED TO ATTEND THIS?
Yes, this is not a training. This is a meeting designed to share important and timely information.
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.
Do you know the number 1 rated volunteer and professional development experience in ACA? Being an Accreditation Visitor! Join us and learn more about this popular volunteer role in ACA Illinois that can increase your professional skills, give you access to new ideas, and provide a critical service to the camp community.
In this short session, we’ll cover:
Why Visitors are essential to the Accreditation program,
The benefits of serving as a Visitor to both your camp and your career advancement,
Qualifications to become a Visitor (we know you probably have them!),
Process and timelines, and
Some time for Q&A!
We look forward to sharing this excellent opportunity that can help your camp continue to excel and your career continues to advance! Jump in and attend a session and you can walk away with a gift card just for learning about the Visitor Crew!*
Please Note:
1). There is no obligation to become a visitor when you attend to learn more.
2). This session is intended for potential volunteers and future Visitors with ACA Illinois. If you are from outside of ACA Illinois but interested in learning more about how to become a visitor where you live/work/summer locally, please email Colette at colette@acail.org.
*Gift cards are limited to the first 25 registered for each session. Participants must preregister and attend this session in full to access this benefit.
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.
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
It doesn’t matter if you are in a finance role or not, finance is a critical, executive skill for all camp pros. Tackling how to approach conversations, offer input, and be seen as a valued voice on your organization’s financial matters requires knowledge that goes beyond managing a seasonal budget.
Gain new vocabulary and understanding related to agency financials and documents that will allow you to engage in these essential, but often challenging areas of nonprofit management. We’ll cover:
How to read and understand agency documents and reports;
How to listen for and ask the right questions around higher level agency financials;
Discover what is actually important to know related to your agency’s finances and how you find that information; and
So much more!
WORKSHOP SERIES DETAILS
Are you looking to advance in your career? The higher you go, the more finances will be a substantial part of your leadership and job role - even if you are not the Finance Director. You may not need it today, however, developing this skill can help you build on your current knowledge as you move towards executive-level positions.
WORKSHOP HOSTS
This event is hosted by the ACA Illinois Young Professionals Board. The intended audience for this event are camp pros who have little to no experience in agency financials aside from a basic budget for seasonal programs or for folks seeking to develop executive-level skills for career advancement.
Are you 35 or younger and want to gain even more executive-level skills? Click here to learn more about the ACA Illinois Young Professionals Board!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: BARRY FRANKS
Barry Franks is the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's Finance Director and has been with IPRA since 2009. He has two graduate degrees, in finance and banking, and has spent 25 years in non-profit management. His favorite IPRA event is Park Pursuit but loves seeing and interacting with members at all the events.
WHAT IS THE ACA STAFFING SUMMIT?
The Staffing Summit features critical learning, speaker panels, roundtables and engaging sessions spanning three days.
LOCATION & TYPE OF CONFERENCE
The virtual delivery of the conference increases the benefits of convenience and value while preserving the great networking and timely information which are hallmarks of ACA conferences. We will share practical solutions around addressing the staffing shortage, innovative ways to recruit staff and best practices for staff retention.
CONFERENCE DETAILS
The 2024 Staffing Summit will offer 45 sessions on out of the box ways to connect with staff, virtual job fairs and interviewing, recruiting specialized staff, and so much more. Session recordings will be available to attendees until December 1, 2024. Each day will have featured speakers, keynote presentations from industry thought leaders and networking opportunities to share resources and ideas. Don’t miss one of the most important events of the season!
Registration for the ACA Staffing Summit - 2024 is coordinated through the national office. Please click here to register.
CONFERENCE COLLABORATORS
What’s the first, second, and last step of becoming accredited? How does the Visit work? Who shows up? Do I have to do all of these? How much does it cost? What’s included in our membership? Why should we do all this work?
Joining the only national accreditation program for summer camps will demonstrate to your community your commitment to maintaining the best practices of the industry. Accreditation opens your camp up to a world of resources, networks, and support so that you can run the very best programs for your campers and community.
SESSION DETAILS
The accreditation program is a lot of work but never fear - we are here to help you succeed! Throughout this quick-moving session, we’ll cover:
The steps for your first visit, how to access the resources available to make it easier,
What the timeline looks like,
Tips and tricks on how to navigate the process,
How fees work, and
There will be plenty of time for questions and support as you consider beginning your journey with us into accreditation.
SESSION AUDIENCE
Camps that are interested in becoming accredited but want to understand the process and what to expect before committing; and
Directors who have never served as a director while being accredited and have a visit during the upcoming summer.
MEETING OVERVIEW
This meeting is for camps accredited through the American Camp Association, Illinois office/local area that will have an onsite visit during summer 2025.
MEETING DETAILS
During this meeting, we’ll cover:
Timeline for the visit preparations;
What to expect during your visit;
Accessing the resources online to prepare;
Navigating the Portal systems;
Requirements for Written Documentation Review;
Training requirements for camps being visited in 2025; and
Have time for Q & A's!
MEETING AUDIENCE
Camps are encouraged to send multiple people to this meeting. This will help you have folks who can assist in the documentation process and understand the requirements.
Suggested folks to attend include:
Camp Director
Assistant Director(s) and Program Director(s)
Waterfront, Health Care, and other Specialized Activity Supervisors.
Property Managers, Camp Rangers, and Maintenance Staff
Jump into this fast-paced FAQ to learn about the State of Illinois and the nation’s largest, federally funded campership program and see if your camp may qualify!
More than 250,000 clients of IDHS have had the chance to attend camp because of the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program. Each year ACA Illinois works with camps that serve clients of IDHS to pay a portion of their camp fees. Camps apply to join the program to gain access to these funds.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
If your agency currently serves, or would like to serve clients of the Illinois Department of Human Services (who are receiving TANF, Medicaid, or SNAP benefits) and are between 5-17 years of age or are adults with special needs, then we invite you to learn how you may be able to access funding to support your campers.
This session will cover:
Qualifications for camps and agencies to join the program;
How the finances and match funds work;
Timeline and due dates for the application and billing seasons;
Outcome Goals; and
And other relevant information that will help the participants understand the program.
Sign up today to see if your agency can access these funds.
Please Note: This Information Session is for camps & agencies that are considering joining the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program for the first time.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
Summer camps have a unique opportunity to create environments centered on community and human development. This is what makes summer camps essential to the work of antiracism as a community and as individuals. However, challenges exist within our institutions (agencies, camps, and companies) that create barriers and/or can create further harm.
This is a two-part program:
PART I: ANIMATING ANTIRACIST WAYS OF BEING*
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Digital Event
PART I Details
For people invested in transforming their institutions and ecologies to become racially just, it is critically important to understand what antiracism is and what it requires of leaders in institutions. This work includes building a shared understanding of how systemic racism operates within institutions, practice identifying its impacts, and tools for imagining solutions. The workshop is designed for institutions that want their staff as well as their leadership to build the shared framework and practice applying these frameworks to their own institutional life.
Workshop Objectives
Introduce a framework for understanding antiracism and what it requires of institutions and their leaders.
Frame systemic racism and its relationship to white dominant culture.
Begin exploring how systemic racism advantages white people and harms People of Color because of a socio-political arrangement we are all conditioned to accept.
Invite participants to grapple with how they are upholding this arrangement regardless of their intent.
Begin exploring the long-term strategic work of dismantling systemic racism in institutions and society.
*Due to the content and knowledge required for Part II, it is required participants attend Part I. Participants who are not in attendance during Part I: Animating Antiracist Ways of Being will not be permitted into Part II: Foundations for Institutional Antiracism Organizing.
PART II: FOUNDATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL ANTIRACISM ORGANIZING
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
9:00am to 5:00pm (includes lunch)
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago IL
PART II Details
In the context of an increasingly diverse and interconnected global landscape, the cultivation of an antiracist environment is of the utmost importance. As institutions continue to impact societal issues, nurturing a truly inclusive institutional culture of mutual respect and understanding will allow institutions to truly harness the organizational power of diversity.
This daylong workshop will equip participants with the tools and skills that can be leveraged in the process of building a critical mass among institutional stakeholders and working towards ongoing, significant, structural antiracist transformation.
Introduce the core principles of institutional organizing and its significance in fostering collective action for antiracism efforts.
Analyze power dynamics within organizational structures; and identify ways to interrupt and counter oppressive power dynamics.
Explore the ways relationships with both internal and external stakeholders can be leveraged to foster collaboration and solidarity.
Develop effective strategies that use resources efficiently to influence lasting change.
BONUS: Participants will receive a copy of the November DEIAJ & Antirasim Book Club: Reclaiming Community: Race and the Uncertain Future of Youth Work by Bianca Baldridge for free! Join us for the book club discussion here. (Coming soon!)
APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE
This event is limited to one person per camp, however, a waitlist will be established for those organizations wishing to enroll more attendees. This event requires an application and acceptance. After acceptance, you will receive an invoice. Registration fee must be paid by the date listed on the invoice or the spot will be forfeited.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the space is full or 1 month prior to Part I.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Participants must attend Part I to gain entry into Part II. No exceptions can be made. We ask that if a participant cannot attend both parts not apply/register as this program has been designed for a cohort to be formed during Part I and continue into Part II.
COST TO ATTEND
This program rate is considered on a sliding scale, based on your agency or company's annual operating budget:
Annual operating budget of $50,000 or less: $50 per person
Annual operating budget of $50,001 - $100,000: $100 per person
Annual operating budget of $100,001 - $150, 000: $150 per person
Annual operating budget over $150,001: $200 per person
REBATES & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
ACA Illinois Visitor Crew members will receive a $50 rebate if they register, pay, and attend this training.*
DFI Title XX Camping Services Partner Agencies will receive a $50 rebate if they register, pay, and attend this training.*
Financial assistance requests can be made on the application.
*Participants must be present at both parts of the program to receive the rebate. Only 1 rebate per DFI Title XX agency. Visitor Crew rebate can not be transferred to other individuals and must be the actual, current member of the ACA Illinois Visitor Crew.
THINGS TO KNOW
Preregistration is required. Walk-ins and late registrations will not be accepted.
Please notify us of any food-related allergies or needs before the event. (Otherwise, we may not be able to accommodate your needs.)
Please notify us of any accommodations needed for you to attend these events prior to the events.
Parking will be included in this event and participants will be instructed on where to park prior to the event.
PART I- This session is a live, virtual events and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform.
PART II- This live event will take place in-person.
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.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Join the ACA Illinois Visitor Crew and experience the #1 volunteer role in the field of summer camp! As an Accreditation Volunteer with ACA, you’ll have the opportunity to serve as a peer reviewer in the Annual Accreditation Report, Written Documentation, and onsite Visit process. Along with another Visitor, you’ll see behind the scenes of other camps, grow your professional network, gain new ideas, and provide unparalleled service & support to the community. It's a win-win-win-win!
Additionally, folks who serve as Accreditation Volunteers for ACA Illinois (known as the ACA Illinois Visitor Crew) will have access to exclusive programs, discounted professional development, and so much more! (limited edition exclusive swag!)
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THIS COURSE
This course date is hosted by the national office and will include folks from all over the country. You should apply/register directly here.
Not quite sure if you are ready and want to know more? Check out one of our Becoming A Visitor sessions!
ABOUT THE COURSE
About 4-6 weeks before the course date, you will receive a copy of the Accreditation Process Guide and access to the pre-work through our online learning systems. Trainees will need to complete the online pre-work no later than 1 week before the date of the training. You must attend all portions of the course in order to pass.
HOW TO APPLY/REGISTER
Complete this application. Within 7 days of your application, you will receive confirmation of enrollment into the date of your choice.
This is a free course.
REQUIREMENTS TO ME TO BE TRAINED
Must be a current member of the American Camp Association with a member number.
Must be 21 years of age or older.
QUESTIONS
ACA Illinois Volunteers, Members, & Visitors can contact Kyla at kyla@acail.org.
All other Accreditation Volunteers & Visitors should contact accreditation@acail.org.
This meeting is for camps accredited through the American Camp Association, Illinois office/local area that will be completing the Annual Accreditation Report.
Accessing the Annual Accreditation Report;
Using the Portal systems;
Timeline and deadlines;
The review process; AND
Q & A's!
ABOUT OUR BOOKCLUB
Jump into our Zoom room as we dig into our next DEI Book Club pick! Everyone is welcome to join us.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Approximately 2.4 million Black youth participate in after-school programs, which offer a range of support, including academic tutoring, college preparation, political identity development, cultural and emotional support, and even a space to develop strategies and tools for organizing and activism. In Reclaiming Community, Bianca Baldridge tells the story of one such community-based program, Educational Excellence (EE), shining a light on both the invaluable role youth workers play in these spaces, and the precarious context in which such programs now exist.
Drawing on rich ethnographic data, Baldridge persuasively argues that the story of EE is representative of a much larger and understudied phenomenon. With the spread of neoliberal ideology and its reliance on racism―marked by individualism, market competition, and privatization―these bastions of community support are losing the autonomy that has allowed them to embolden the minds of the youth they serve. Baldridge captures the stories of loss and resistance within this context of immense external political pressure, arguing powerfully for the damage caused when the same structural violence that Black youth experience in school, starts to occur in the places they go to escape it.
Bianca J. Baldridge is Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
The ACA Illinois DEI Committee is a group of thought leaders seeking to make both ACA Illinois and the camp community more diverse and inclusive. The DEI Committee hosts programs to further the essential work needed to create more inclusive communities. The DEI Committee also advises the ACA Illinois Board of Directors and Staff in DEI policies and procedures to ensure that ACA Illinois is a welcoming organization for all.
The Book Club is facilitated by the members of the DEI Committee and hosted by Co-Chairs:
Shauna Guglielmo, Lincoln Park Zoo Camp
Annie Labus, Chicago Botanic Gardens’ Camp CBG
WHY ATTEND?
Here are some reasons we believe attending will benefit your organization and/or your career:
Career Advancement. Being at the forefront of DEI work is critical for current and aspiring leaders of all types of organizations. The intentional networking that happens during a professional Book Club, offers opportunities for growth, development, and connection around the topic area that becomes translatable to resumes and career advancement.
Camp Advancement. Book Clubs offer organizations an opportunity to develop new skills and understanding of the topic presented and consult with other professionals on how they navigate that topic in their own organization. As organizations continue to navigate creating gender inclusive spaces for their campers and staff, this book club will provide an opportunity to learn how other organizations are adapting their policies and programs to be more inclusive. Sure, you could read the book by yourself, but reading and discussing with others helps to reinforce the subject matter and create actionable plans, solutions, & policies that will benefit your camp!
Connected to Accreditation. Statements or philosophies specific to respecting the rights and dignity of all individuals. (CR-1.)
Meets the DFI Title XX Requirements. This event will help DFI Title XX camps meet the requirements for funding related to non-discrimination.
Participants are responsible for obtaining their own books. We encourage folks to check their local library or consider purchasing from Women and Children First, an independent bookstore located in Chicago (ships worldwide) that supports community based organizations including ACA Illinois.
EVENT OVERVIEW
Navigating and cultivating relationships with local and federal government officials & representatives is essential to our field. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, it became even more clear just how critical it is to have established relationships during moments of crisis before you need them. ACA Illinois’s Board of Directors continues to support the work of Government Relations and encourages each camp to actively engage with their representatives.
EVENT DETAILS
Agenda items for this meeting include:
Goals for building stronger relationships with our government(s);
Report from the ACA Illinois Government Relations Committee;
Results from the ACA Economic Impact Study and Camp Census;
Summer Camp Day 2025 Plans & Toolkit;
Camp Hill Days in Washington, D.C - how to get involved and what is happening; and
Next steps and feedback from the field.
Anyone can attend this community meeting. You do not have to be an ACA member to attend. While the focus will be on the state of Illinois and Washington, D.C., most of the content is transferable to other states.
WORKSHOP SERIES OVERVIEW
Are you worried whether your staff will last the summer? Are you questioning whether you have the juice to even get to the start, let alone the finish, of another camp season?
The answers are at your fingertips. Camp and youth program providers are already masters at providing enriching, rejuvenating, and personal development experiences. However, these same leaders are often not well equipped with the skills and strategies required for nurturing and managing their own (super awesome) reserves of care and support. These same people are also inundated with many layers of responsibilities and stakeholder demands. Some of which, they may not yet recognize as draining or problematic. This workshop series uses evidence-based knowledge (yay for science!) and experiential education to set you up to administer care and camp without burning out.
Join Dr. Mandi Baker in this four-part mini-series that supports leader well-being and the management of emotional labor that leads to burnout. Each workshop is 1.5 hours and will include foundational knowledge and experiential activities. Each workshop will explore a different ‘layer’ of how burnout occurs, how it can be decreased, and how wellness (mental, physical, social, and emotional) can be improved.
Workshop #1: Setting The Scene With Me
In this workshop, we will explore how burnout happens for staff in youth development programs (especially camps). We will explore the ‘layers’ that interact and intersect to improve or diminish staff and workforce wellbeing while, also, defining what wellbeing is. This workshop will, then, consider the art and science of self-care and how these strategies can (and should) be activated in camp contexts (yes, even while in full-swing camp season). This workshop is 2 hours to accommodate all the vital information and to make sure we start “doing” care.
Workshop #2: Caring for Staff (The Practical and Impractical)
Staff who deliver youth development experiences like camp counselors, educators, and youth program facilitators face frequent, diverse, and intense emotional demands. Staff need a host of social and emotional intelligence abilities to meet these as well as benefit from workforce strategies that support wellness and flourishing. This workshop will explore the nature of the emotional demands staff face and how to anticipate, reduce, and address these. We will also explore necessary strategies, both intangible and practical, that proactively strengthen and protect staff from work stressors.
Workshop #3: Fostering a Culture of Care, Community, and Citizenship
The culture you generate amongst your staff, participants, and community can make or break the experience for everyone. Camp cultures are especially known for being positive and inclusive, where people feel valued and safe to be silly and test out new aspects of identity. This is no mistake! And is usually done with a high level of intentionality however, not everyone thinks about how this unique cultural experience can drain and put unusual demands on those who create, maintain, and deliver it. In this workshop, we will look at how the cultural and community aspects of care and demand (i.e., gossip) effect employee experiences.
Workshop #4: Embedding Care Into Policy Practice, and Artifacts
Space speaks! The structures, routines, and texts in a work environment shape what people come to expect from it and how staff are expected to behave. These messages are delivered in diverse forms. Camps, for example, are represented in a range of movies, social media posts, and advertising efforts. Additionally, expectations of camp staff are delivered via policies, practices, and artifacts (i.e., position descriptions, staff manuals, and daily routines). This workshop will explore the dominant messages and how these shape the behavior and psycho-social expectations of people in these spaces.
Bonus Session #5: Drop-in Q&A/ Consultation
Do you have a burnout dilemma that you don’t know how to tackle? Do you have a workforce problem that you haven’t untangled (yet)? Want to know more about how to put what you’ve learned into practice? Want to hear live problem-solving of real issues? Bring all your ‘curly’ questions to this drop-in style Q&A/consultation session.
Please Note: This session is a bonus for participants who purchase all 4 workshops.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: DR. MANDI BAKER
Join Dr. Mandi Baker in this online workshop series that addresses the unique aspects of camp staff burnout. Drawing on her extensive research on seasonal camp counselors and year-round outdoor recreation leaders, Mandi will offer insights into the specific pressures and supports that can sustain your workforce. Mandi will guide you through a handful of activities, so you are empowered to deliver, keep well during, and recover from an amazing summer season.
ACA ILLINOIS VISITOR INCENTIVE
ACA Illinois Visitors will receive a $15 Rebate for an individual webinar or $60 for the package of all four webinars.*
*Folks eligible for the ACA Illinois Visitor Rebate program must be currently active Visitors for ACA Illinois during the current year. Participants must attend to receive the rebate. This is not transferable to other persons.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP SERIES?
This workshop series is to inform and equip executives, directors, and managers about how burnout happens and how to beat it. The first workshop is perfect for seasonal staff and front-line employees. This workshop series draws on research across many fields of study including health, sociology, leisure, and youth development. It has been tailored specifically for leaders in youth development programs like camp.
WHY ATTEND WORKSHOP SERIES?
The reduction of burnout causing threats and improvement of work conditions has been shown to not only improve the functioning, efficacy, and effectiveness of your staff but also support and improve their (holistic) well-being and resilience in and outside of the immediate work context. Proactive approaches to employee wellbeing and flourishing have also been shown to improve workforce and knowledge retention.
Create a legacy of being the place to work because you, and your leadership team, know how to infuse (radical) care in all ‘layers’ of the work experience for your staff (and you). Cultivate a culture of care, service, and flourishing for all that ‘step into’ your space.
To see information on the full series look here.
To see details about the full series, look here.
