American Camping Association, Illinois Section

What American Camping Association, Illinois Section does

American Camp Association, Illinois Section (legally American Camp Association, Illinois, Inc.) is a nonprofit membership association headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that serves the Illinois camping industry and broader youth-outdoor community. The organization is led by CEO Colette Marquardt and operates under a volunteer-driven model. Its functional role spans three areas: (1) administering accreditation standards derived from the national American Camp Association, providing quality assurance and professional development to member camps; (2) running the DFI Title XX Camping Services program under contract with the Illinois Department of Human Services, which places 4,000+ economically disadvantaged youth at accredited camps annually; and (3) operating a community engagement and vendor partner ecosystem serving ~288,600 members, volunteers, campers, professionals, and friends across the state.

The organization's core products and services include accreditation, professional development, events, and the Title XX camping placement pipeline. Technology is built on commodity SaaS: Wild Apricot for membership management, Zoom for virtual events, JotForm for applications, SmugMug for photos, and Bonfire for merchandise. There is no proprietary technology beyond the membership platform; AI capabilities are provided exclusively through a partnership with Go Camp Pro, which delivers AI-empowered safety monitoring and podcasting tools to member camps.

The business model is nonprofit and multi-stream. Individual camp membership is free; vendor participation is monetized through a Mission Partner program at $250/year. Event registrations are tiered, and the organization also receives donations and Campership funds. The largest economic line is the DFI Title XX state-funded program, which is government revenue administered through the association. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no commercial venture-capital profile.

Name

American Camping Association, Illinois Section

Legal name

American Camp Association, Illinois, Inc.

Website

https://acail.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Camping Association, Illinois Section is a Chicago-based nonprofit membership association that provides camp accreditation, professional development, and administers the state-funded DFI Title XX program serving 4,000+ economically disadvantaged youth annually across Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Camping Association Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Camp accreditation services
• Youth development programs
• Nonprofit association services
• Professional development training
• Camp membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Free membership via ACA Illinois Services Portal; premium Mission Partner membership at $250/year for vendors and service providers
2. Event Registration Fees: Tiered pricing for events including ACA Illinois Member rates, Non-Member rates, Young Professional rates, and DFI Title XX Partner Agency rates
3. Donations & Campership Funds: Donations collected to provide camperships and camp experiences for young people who need extra support services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing camp accreditation standards and review, professional development for camp operators, and the state-funded DFI Title XX Camping Services Program that sends economically disadvantaged youth to accredited summer camps across Illinois. Operates a searchable camp directory for families and a Mission Partner program for camp-industry vendors.

Product overview

ACA Illinois operates as a membership-driven nonprofit association serving the camp industry through a platform of interconnected programs and services. The core offerings include the ACA Accreditation Program for camp quality standards, the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program for state-funded camp placements, and the Visitor Crew volunteer program for accreditation visits. Supporting programs include The Director's School professional development, the Great Lakes Day Camp Forum annual conference, Young Professionals Board, Women in Camp initiatives, and Summer Trainings. The organization provides a Member Toolbox digital hub and Services Portal (powered by Wild Apricot) for member access to resources, event registration, and community engagement. Additional offerings include the Mission Partners business partnership program and campership funds for financial assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mission Partners: Business partnership program connecting product and service providers with camp leaders. Annual membership at $250/year.
• Visitor Crew
• Young Professionals Board
• Women in Camp

Products and services

• ACA Accreditation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 economically disadvantaged young people sent to camp annually through DFI Title XX program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmeriCampcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational camp counselor program partner that connects participants from around the world with the unique cultural experience of an American summer camp. Located at 455 Market Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94105.
• Cabin 9 Consulting LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquips camp leaders with tools and skills to fulfill their visions through fundraising trainings, partnering with camps to create fund development plans, and coaching leaders to build teams of volunteers and donors. Located at 2298 Young Ave #342, Memphis, TN 38104.
• CloverPhase Solutions, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides operational strategy, systems development, and event support for mission-driven organizations. Located at 4805 Birchwood Dr., Midland, MI 48642.
• CNY EnterprisesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers specialized services in non-profit marketing and management including organizational development, board/volunteer management, marketing, training, and fundraising. Located at 2218 N. Monticello, Chicago, IL 60647.
• Deep Dive HR ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperienced team of Fractional HR Consultants that takes day-to-day payroll, benefit, and employee relations tasks off camp leaders' plates. Located at 739 Kimball Rd., Highland Park, IL 60035.
• Evanston Family Chiropractic and WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides chiropractic and massage healthcare services for camps. Located at 705 Main St, Evanston, Illinois 60202.
• Go Camp ProcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI-empowered tools for camp directors including SCAN safety technology, professional development podcasts, and global tools to save directors time. Located at 1077 Elora Rd., Woodstock, ON N4S 5L9.
• OomphotographycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago-based photo agency and official photographers for ACA Illinois, capturing epic headshots, stage, product, and event photos. Located in Chicago, Illinois 60625.
• Shena Willbrandt DesignscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial marcomm consultant for ACA Illinois providing social media campaigns, website updates, and merchandise design. Located in Chicago, Illinois.
• SmugMugcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial photo sharing platform for ACA Illinois helping camps showcase memories through customizable galleries with secure storage, easy sharing, and photo sales options. Located at 548 Market St PMB 32047, San Francisco, California 94104-5401.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National 4-H Council: A national youth-development organization with extensive summer camp programming, state/regional affiliate structure mirroring ACA's section model, federal and extension partnerships, and volunteer-driven delivery. Comparable on structure (national + state affiliates), camp-focused youth outcomes, and government-program administration capabilities.
• JCC Association of North America: The umbrella body for Jewish Community Centers, many of which operate large summer day and overnight camps. Comparable in driving camp standards, professional development for camp directors, and serving as a hub for affiliated camp operations through a membership-style federation model.
• Girl Scouts of the USA: A national youth-development organization with a substantial residential and day camp footprint, summer programming, and credentialed camp standards. Comparable on mission (camp as a youth-development vehicle), national standards framework, council-level training, and volunteer-driven model.
• Camp Fire: A national youth-development organization with a long-running summer camp program, council-based structure, and youth-development credentials. Comparable on mission (camp transforming youth lives), council/affiliate model resembling ACA's state sections, and youth-outcomes focus including serving disadvantaged youth.
• YMCA of the USA: A national federation that operates many of the largest summer resident and day camps in the U.S., alongside broader youth services. While YMCA is an operator rather than association, its scale, youth-development mission, credentialed camp programming, and government partnerships make it a strategic comparable for ACA Illinois' constituent camps.

Direct peers

• Association for Experiential Education: A professional membership association for experiential educators and outdoor practitioners offering accreditation/standards, an annual conference, and professional development. Compares to ACA Illinois in mission (advancing outdoor experiential education), accreditation-style programs, and member-supported training events.
• American Camp Association: The national parent/affiliate organization that ACA Illinois operates as a state section under. ACA owns the national camp accreditation framework that ACA Illinois administers locally, plus offers its own national conferences, training, and standards. It is the most direct comparable on mission, products (accreditation, training, professional development), and member base.
• Christian Camp and Conference Association: A membership trade association serving Christian-affiliated camps and conference centers, similar in role to ACA Illinois but for a religious subset of the camp industry. Comparable on offering accreditation-adjacent standards, professional development, conferences, and government/insurance partnerships to a member-based camp community.
• Foundation for Jewish Camp: A philanthropic and professional-support organization advancing the Jewish camp ecosystem through training, professional development, and capacity-building grants. Directly comparable to ACA Illinois as a camp-focused trade/philanthropic organization offering training, accreditation-adjacent resources, and community-building for camps.

Others

• Outdoor Recreation Roundtable: A broad-based outdoor recreation industry trade association that includes camp operators among its diverse membership and runs advocacy, events, and an annual conference. Comparable on association model (membership dues, sponsorships, government advocacy), events business (conferences, webinars), and camp-sector inclusion in its policy agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AmeriCampTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmeriCamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-camp-association-illinois-section

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Camping Association, Illinois Section