JANUARY 18-22, 2027 I CHICAGO, IL
The Director’s School (TDS) is committed to developing the current and next generation of camp professionals.
For over 140 years, the camping movement has grown in complexity yet still serves the basic purpose to engage campers in supportive settings with caring adults. The Director’s School addresses a gap in professional preparation for those individuals developing and leading camp programs. The curricular focus will be administrative operations that are grounded in the understanding, connection, and application to the principles of positive youth development, which are at the heart of camp program design. The Director’s School will become a three-level learning experience so that students will continue to level up their skills as their knowledge and practical skills grow.
To learn more about The Director's School, check out the video below to hear an overview of the program, featuring Colette Marquardt, ACA Illinois CEO, and Megan Owens, Owner of BlueSky Recreation Consulting.
Who: Early-career camp professionals; professionals new to camping field with other career background or expertise
Underlying Lesson: Build the necessary operational framework of camp programs
Competency: Business Operations
Curriculum Focus: Human resource, financial and risk management, & ethical decision-making
Level 1 is designed to build the foundational knowledge of camp program operations in the areas of human resource, fiscal, and risk management within the framework of the principles of youth development. Every camp professional benefits from a strong foundational understanding of the principles affecting all operations and nuanced practices pertinent to organizations and locales. Upon Level 1 completion, students will be able:
- To develop the foundational operating systems for camp programs.
- To utilize best practices across their camp operations.
- To engage in thoughtful decision-making at all levels of their camp responsibilities.
Level 2: Organizational Planning & Assessment
Who: Camp professionals with 3+ years of year-round experience in the camping industry
Competency: Organizational Planning
Underlying Lesson: Failing to plan is planning to fail
Curriculum Focus: Strategic, risk management & operational plans, evaluation, assessment & ethics
Level 2 is designed to build the competency of organizational planning, inclusive of assessment, as professionals begin to lead their camp programs. Without strong plans and the ability to assess conditions in real time, decisions can be made haphazardly. There are multiple plans to create and utilize based on the camp organization’s structure, focus, and values. Upon Level 2 completion, students will be able:
- To identify the organizational plans necessary for their camp program.
- To create a structure at their camp to develop the identified plans.
- To establish a process of evaluation and assessment related to plans’ goals and objectives.
Level 3: Organizational Growth & Sustainability
Who: Camp professionals with 5+ years of year-round, leadership experience in the camping industry
Competency: Organizational Systems
Underlying Lesson: Decision-making for long-term growth and short-term trends
Curriculum Focus: Strategic management, financial stability, succession planning, alumni relations, & ethics
Level 3 addresses the competency of organizational visioning, growth strategy, and sustainability. The camping industry is comprised of organizations that are new and over a century old that necessitate short-term, immediate, and long-term decisions. Strategic management is foundational to this level, as it influences operations, relationships, and longevity. This level addresses organizational sustainability from the perspective of strategic management. Upon Level 3 completion, students will be able:
- To establish a process of organizational assessment utilizing multiple sources of data.
- To lead visioning exercises with identified stakeholders.
- To make informed high-level decisions.
Location
Chicagoland, Illinois.
Cost
Cost Per Person: $2,000*.
Cost includes:
- Full, 5-Day Program
- Supplies and textbooks
- 4 Nights of a Private Hotel Room with Ensuite Bathroom, and All Meals.
*Limited financial assistance is available.
*Special commuter pricing available for folks local to venue. Contact registration@acail.org for pricing.
Limited Registration
The Director's School is intended to be a small cohort; therefore limited registration will apply. Our goal is to have no more than 20 individuals in each level (60 total).
Application Timeframe
Applications Open September 1, 2026 – October 31, 2026.
Applications will include: resume, letter of interest, & letter of support. Please note: The purpose of the application is to ensure individuals attend the level that best meets their needs.
Application Portal will open on September 1, 2026 on this page.
Questions? Contact Us.
If you have questions about The Director's School, please contact us here. (registration@acail.org)
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