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.

We invite you to explore the website for more information.

When: January 18 – 22, 2027

Where: St. Charles, Illinois

Questions? Send a message to our colleagues at ACA, Illinois at registration@acail.org