Camp Compass 2024

Camp Compass Updates

Camp Compass is a free, summer learning program for underserved elementary students of Springfield, Illinois District 186 Public Schools. Camp Compass is designed to prevent summer learning loss and improve reading and math skills.

The purpose of Camp Compass:

Our purpose is to provide a high-quality summer experience for children who might not otherwise have somewhere to go. We are committed to closing the achievement and opportunity gaps that exist between low-income students and their higher-income peers.

How do we accomplish this?

We utilize best practices for out-of-school time (OST) programming through a balance of academic and enrichment activities. We focus on the whole child and work to intentionally remove barriers that might otherwise prevent a child from participating in a summer program.

Camp Compass history and growth:

Camp Compass began in 2013, serving 54 children in Springfield. We continue to grow each year! This summer, Camp Compass had an extraordinary 924 campers and 315 staff members across seven different sites throughout the Springfield community.

Each day, at the beginning of Camp, every child was greeted by staff before being provided breakfast to nourish their brains and hearts to prepare them for the day ahead. The campers then split into their groups and headed into their rooms for academic time, consisting of engaging, hands-on instruction in math and literacy by talented teachers from Springfield Public Schools – District 186 and the assistance of remarkable Counselors.

With another nourishing meal in the campers’ bellies for lunch, it was then time for afternoons full of enrichment activities, including exciting field trips, art, P.E. facilitated by Enrichment Leaders, and interactive activities taught by visiting community partners or friends, or completing various enrichment kits led by the Counselors!

Twice weekly, the Counselors also led their groups through social-emotional lessons using our evidence-based Leader in Me curriculum, allowing the campers to empower themselves and grow to their full potential. Each day ended with a snack while winding down before the campers headed home for the day, ready to return the next morning to enjoy Camp Compass all over again!

We are incredibly grateful for our generous community of Springfield Public Schools – Public 186 for making Camp Compass 2024 possible! On behalf of our students, staff, and volunteers, THANK YOU!!!

Camp Compass 2024 Fun Facts

This summer’s staff consisted of too many dedicated people to name individually here, but included the following positions who all had an incredible and positive impact on all 924 kids served:

  • Administrators
  • Assessment Teachers
  • Camp Counselors
  • Classroom Teachers
  • Enrichment Leaders in Art & P.E
  • ESL / ELL Support Teacher
  • Family and Community Engagement Liaisons
  • Head Counselors
  • Literacy Coaches
  • Math Coaches
  • Nurses
  • School Social Workers and Psychologists
  • Secretaries
  • Security Guards
  • Special Education Support Teachers
  • Volunteers

Every week we went swimming and got to go on another field trip, too – and everybody had a blast at every single one! This summer, our field trip locations included:

  • AMF Strike ‘N Spare Lanes
  • BounceTag
  • Gymnastics Zone
  • Henson Robinson Zoo
  • King Pin Lanes
  • Memorial Wellness Center
  • Nelson Center Pool (the kids LOVED swimming here weekly!)
  • Skateland South
  • Springfield Clinic Pediatrics

A very special thank you to our community partners who visited us at Camp Compass this summer and taught our campers in the fields of animals and animal safety, arts and literature, financial literacy, healthy and safe living, positive mindset and life goals, sports, and STEM:

  • Lincoln Library
  • Dabble
  • Springfield Police Department
  • Cheri Plummer and Friends
  • CEFCU
  • APL
  • Jay Behrends
  • Healthy Kids Out of School
  • First Bankers Trust
  • Think First for Kids
  • Little Lincolns Fireside Tales (ALPLM)
  • Central Illinois Wildlife Rescue
  • Hoogland Center for the Arts
  • H & M Livestock Petting Zoo
  • National Weather Service
  • Route History Museum
  • Wild Times Exotics

We are so proud of ALL of our campers! But, don’t just take our word for it – here’s an inspiring success story from a Camp Compass 2024 Teacher:

This summer, Camp Compass welcomed Roman for the first time. While some aspects of Camp Compass mirrored his school year experiences, the camp environment introduced him to new teachers, peers, and even a different school building. Roman embraced these changes with enthusiasm, quickly adapting to his new surroundings.

Within just a few days, Roman naturally emerged as a leader in his group. Each day, he arrived at camp eager to participate and fully engaged in the activities. Roman consistently demonstrated strong emotional awareness, skillfully  identifying his feelings and responding thoughtfully. His commitment shone particularly bright during the preparation for the camp’s talent show. Roman made a promise to his group that he would approach their performance with focus and seriousness, and he stayed true to his word, contributing to a successful performance.

Roman’s leadership extended beyond his immediate group. During a game of dodgeball with other campers, a disagreement arose about team divisions. Roman stepped in calmly, offering a solution that encouraged inclusivity and unity. His suggestion to have everyone play together was a perfect example of his ability to foster teamwork and collaboration.

In addition to his leadership and social-emotional growth, Roman made remarkable academic progress as well. On his math basic facts assessment, which gauged his growth in addition and subtraction , Roman improved his scores by 38%! 

Roman’s time at Camp Compass highlighted his growing strengths, both socially and academically, and we are excited to see where his journey takes him next.

The inspiring success stories above are possible because of the dedicated and loving staff and volunteers, who, this summer, received pre-program professional development (PD) like never before. We held a conference-style training at the beginning of summer so that our staff and volunteers could choose from various topics, selecting the ones they related to most during the breakout sessions.

The opening and closing plenary sessions, however, consisted of keynote speakers that were a true honor to have. We were honored to have Michael Brandwein, internationally acclaimed expert on camp, youth development, and education, teach us how to grow great qualities in kids in training us in his his Key System Solution to Handling Negative Behavior in Young People.

At the conclusion of the conference, we had the privilege to interact with Becky Gabany and Kay’te Ingram from ChangeBridgeConsulting.com, who shared an informative and important workshop focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

In between these keynote speakers, PD attendees had a myriad of topics and trainers to choose from during the breakout sessions, and it was an honor to have each of them join us with their unique knowledge. A big thank you to the following speakers:

  • Erica Austin – What Color is Your Personality?
  • Virginia Colletti – Introduction to LEADit!
  • Nate Colwell – Children’s Advocacy Center Overview: Responding to Disclosures of Abuse
  • Rachael Dwyer, MSW, LSW, CSSW – Bully, Tattling vs. Telling, and Staff Response
  • Leaha Jones & Kathy White – Crisis Intervention 101
  • Stephanie Jurgens – Confused About High-Frequency Words and Sight Words? You are NOT Alone!
  • Katey Kratz, MT-BC – Managing Stress Levels & Self Care
  • Ashley Krstulovich, E-RYT, YACEP – Mindfulness in the Classroom: Simple Strategies on How to help Campers
  • Corey Moore – Practical Strategies for Improving Behavior
  • Leslie Poppenhouse – Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics
  • Sara Schmitt, LCSW – Introduction to Trauma-Informred Care & ACEs
  • Shelley Stewart – Building Community with Read Alouds and Identity
  • Vyvyvan Wesley – Preventing & De-escalating Difficult Behaviors Through an SEL Lens

And a big thank you to First United Methodist Church for hosting our PD, and to Café Moxo and Grab a Java for keeping us caffeinated throughout the entire day – we couldn’t have done it without your generosity!

Looking beyond 2024

What will 2025 look like?

Due to the expiration of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, the future of Camp Compass at this scale is uncertain. In order to continue to serve over 750 kids each year, new funding sources are needed.

Do you want to be a champion for Camp Compass?
If you would like to learn more and get involved in helping children who are underserved by our community, contact Brandy Stabler, Director of Development at brandy@compassforkids.org or 217-481-4651.