IAJHSC Summer Leadership Camp
4-H Memorial Camp/Allerton Park, 499 Old Timber Rd., Monticello, IL 61856
About
IAJHSC Summer Leadership Camp includes daily recreation such as swimming, boating, archery, volleyball, and crafts. Delegates take part in structured activities including country line dancing, olympics, a movie, a luau, a banquet and achievement night, a candle lighting ceremony, and time to reflect and sing around the campfire. During the week, each delegate is assigned to a mock Student Council that elects officers, establishes committees, and meets daily with Senior Staff and Junior Counselors for topics such as job training, brainstorming, planning agendas, project planning, parliamentary procedure, and evaluation.
• Ages: 11–14 years old
• Schedule: June 21st–27th, 2026
• Price: The price for IAJHSC member schools is $500/delegate and non-member schools is $550/delegate.
Junior High/Middle School students who will be entering grades 6, 7, or 8 in the fall may attend IAJHSC Summer Leadership Camp, and students who have attended once may attend a second time if their student council advisor believes it will be beneficial to the student and their home council. Delegates are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the camp session reaches capacity, and the cost includes lodging, three meals a day, evening snacks, program materials, and a camp t-shirt, with delegates providing their own bedding. Camp delegates stay in cabins with other junior high students and one or two Junior Counselors, are typically not housed with students from their home school, and sleep in bunk beds with foam rubber mattresses in cabins located near Senior Staff and the Camp Nurse.
During the week, each delegate is part of a mock Student Council of 15–20 students that has responsibilities to complete throughout camp, meets at least once each day with a member of the Senior Staff and 2 or 3 Junior Counselors, and participates in daily General Sessions for all camp delegates. Recreation is held at least once a day, and the camp store is open during recreation so delegates may purchase snacks. The final evening of the week includes a banquet and achievement night followed by a candle lighting ceremony, and each day ends with time to reflect and sing around the campfire.
Under the leadership of the Camp Director, camp is operated by Senior Staff and Junior Counselors, with Senior Staff made up of student council advisors and former Junior Counselors and Junior Counselors being a carefully selected group of capable, responsible, and enthusiastic young leaders who previously attended the camp as junior high or middle school students. In addition to Senior Staff and Junior Counselors, there is a full-time nurse on staff. The leadership team includes Camp Director Leanne Rohn, Executive Director Lisa Thompson, and a Summer Leadership Camp Director officer role.
The stated purpose of IAJHSC Summer Leadership Camp is to provide opportunities for delegates to gain leadership skills, a deeper understanding of the democratic process, and to participate in the exchange of ideas to improve their leadership skills for their home school communities. After camp, delegates are expected to be active leaders in their home schools and to share what they learned with other members of their home councils. The program is structured to balance education and entertainment, and delegates are asked to come prepared to learn and have fun.
The IAJHSC has been building leaders for 53 years and has been the sole organization of its kind in Illinois since 1958, describing itself as a unique statewide association dedicated to empowering middle school student leaders and their advisors and remaining committed to training tomorrow’s leaders today. Each year, the IAJHSC presents awards such as the Honor Council Award Program, the Honor Roll of Outstanding Student Council Members, and Advisor Longevity Awards. Scholarships are available each year for students with a financial need, with 18 scholarships given to help send students to the 2025 camp, and fundraiser ideas mentioned include a Camp Calendar Fundraiser and a Pick a Square Fundraiser. The organization has also announced its 2025–2026 State Service Project: Camp GranADA.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
• Ages: 11–14 years old
• Schedule: June 21st–27th, 2026
• Price: The price for IAJHSC member schools is $500/delegate and non-member schools is $550/delegate.
Junior High/Middle School students who will be entering grades 6, 7, or 8 in the fall may attend IAJHSC Summer Leadership Camp, and students who have attended once may attend a second time if their student council advisor believes it will be beneficial to the student and their home council. Delegates are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the camp session reaches capacity, and the cost includes lodging, three meals a day, evening snacks, program materials, and a camp t-shirt, with delegates providing their own bedding. Camp delegates stay in cabins with other junior high students and one or two Junior Counselors, are typically not housed with students from their home school, and sleep in bunk beds with foam rubber mattresses in cabins located near Senior Staff and the Camp Nurse.
During the week, each delegate is part of a mock Student Council of 15–20 students that has responsibilities to complete throughout camp, meets at least once each day with a member of the Senior Staff and 2 or 3 Junior Counselors, and participates in daily General Sessions for all camp delegates. Recreation is held at least once a day, and the camp store is open during recreation so delegates may purchase snacks. The final evening of the week includes a banquet and achievement night followed by a candle lighting ceremony, and each day ends with time to reflect and sing around the campfire.
Under the leadership of the Camp Director, camp is operated by Senior Staff and Junior Counselors, with Senior Staff made up of student council advisors and former Junior Counselors and Junior Counselors being a carefully selected group of capable, responsible, and enthusiastic young leaders who previously attended the camp as junior high or middle school students. In addition to Senior Staff and Junior Counselors, there is a full-time nurse on staff. The leadership team includes Camp Director Leanne Rohn, Executive Director Lisa Thompson, and a Summer Leadership Camp Director officer role.
The stated purpose of IAJHSC Summer Leadership Camp is to provide opportunities for delegates to gain leadership skills, a deeper understanding of the democratic process, and to participate in the exchange of ideas to improve their leadership skills for their home school communities. After camp, delegates are expected to be active leaders in their home schools and to share what they learned with other members of their home councils. The program is structured to balance education and entertainment, and delegates are asked to come prepared to learn and have fun.
The IAJHSC has been building leaders for 53 years and has been the sole organization of its kind in Illinois since 1958, describing itself as a unique statewide association dedicated to empowering middle school student leaders and their advisors and remaining committed to training tomorrow’s leaders today. Each year, the IAJHSC presents awards such as the Honor Council Award Program, the Honor Roll of Outstanding Student Council Members, and Advisor Longevity Awards. Scholarships are available each year for students with a financial need, with 18 scholarships given to help send students to the 2025 camp, and fundraiser ideas mentioned include a Camp Calendar Fundraiser and a Pick a Square Fundraiser. The organization has also announced its 2025–2026 State Service Project: Camp GranADA.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
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