BreakawayKids is our elementary-aged summer program for those students coming out of 2nd grade (must be at least 8 years of age as of August 31st, 2024) through coming out of 6th grade. Volunteer Applications are accepted starting March 1st. Student Registration opens March 15th.
Registration Process for Coordinators: All coordinators are required to sign up with us to identify themselves as either Kids Coordinator or Teen Coordinator of their church. This step is crucial, as it ensures we have a designated point of contact for your church to facilitate communication and share updates, reports, and other essential information throughout the registration process. You will specify your camp week and estimate (as nearly as possible) the number of attendees. This step secures student/leader spaces for your church and provides your Church's Registration Code. This Code helps us ensure that your students are associated with your church upon registration as well as making sure they are registered for the correct week of camp. NO ONE will be able to register online without a code.
Immediate sign-up is available; however, Church Registration Codes will be provided after March 1st (for IL AG Churches) and after March 15th (for Churches outside the IL AG network).
Payment: Church coordinators are responsible for submitting payments to the ISM office for their church's students/leaders. The initial deposit of $100 per student to secure early registration rates must be postmarked by May 21 for Breakaway Kids Programs or June 21 for Breakaway Teen Programs.
Discounts: Discounts, such as Credentialed AG Minister's Child ($30/Child), Royal Rangers Chartered Member ($10/Child), and Mpact Girls Chartered Member ($10/Child), are exclusively available to qualifying individuals. Please be reminded that Royal Rangers and Mpact discounts are applicable only to churches chartered for the 2023/24 season. Please check with your church leadership to ensure that your group is chartered before applying for this particular discount. You will fill out a Discount Request Form if any of your students qualify for a discounts, and we will apply those discount to your Church’s total due once they are approved.
Reports: Coordinators will now receive reports directly from our Campwise system, delivered in the form of an invoice to the email address provided during the above mentioned sign-up, eliminating the need for Dropbox links used in the past. You will receive an updated invoice each day that a new registration occurs using your assigned Church Code. These invoices are typically sent out overnight after the registration occurs.
Group Housing: All groups will be housed before their arrival at Lake Williamson. If a church is sending more than 5 children of a specific gender, it is a requirement to send a Cabin Leader to accompany the group. Church Coordinators will provide their preferred rooming requests through a digital Housing Request Form, with a deadline no later than 14 days before the start date of the camp week (but preferably as soon as possible before that time). Church Coordinators will have the ability to edit their submitted form up until the specified deadline. If a church does not fill a room to capacity, we will assign additional students to that room to maximize space utilization, extending the opportunity to attend camp to as many students as possible. After the Housing Director completes the housing arrangements for a camp week, the only allowed change is the replacement of a same-gender camper, should the initially assigned camper be unable to attend. The final decisions on housing rest at the discretion of ISM. While we strive to accommodate your housing requests, please be aware that they are subject to availability and logistical considerations.
Check-in/Check-out: Check-in begins the Monday of each week and is open from 10am to 2pm in the Activities Center. Any group checking in after 2:00pm will need to go to the Admin office in the Clark Room of the Auditorium building. Please eat before arriving or bring $6.00 per person for lunch in the Lake Williamson Dining Hall available from 11:30am to 1:30pm. The first meal served at the Breakaway Program will be dinner Monday evening. All Breakaway Programs will conclude with a closing service at 10:00 am on Friday. All cabins will be cleaned out prior to this service.
Late Arrival/Early Departure: If your camper arrives after Monday registration or departs before 11:00 AM on Friday, pre-approval is needed. Please contact the ISM Office for arrangements, including signing out and back in for athletic events.
Lice Check Policy: (Kids and Teen Camp): All students must undergo a lice check before the event, conducted early enough for treatment if needed. Qualified individuals, such as teachers or nurses, should perform checks, and the Camp Coordinator is responsible for turning in the Lice Check Form at Check-In. Failure to do so will result in individual checks by nurses, with a fee of $10 per child for any student checked. The church is responsible for arranging the return home of campers found with lice.
KP Scholarships: If your church is interested in bringing a group of students to serve in the kitchen on a week other than the one they are attending as campers, you may make a request by filling out the KP Participation Request. Please note, you must be able and willing to send a group leader to serve alongside your students.. By participating in KP Duty during that week, your students will earn a scholarship covering the registration cost of their camp week. Please note that space for these KP Scholarships is very limited, and requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Church Code:
To register your child for camp, you'll need a unique Church Code provided by your church's Camp Coordinator. This code associates your child with your church group and ensures they are registered for the correct camp week. Please ensure you obtain this code before beginning the registration process. Contact your church to obtain this code. If your child is not attending with a church group, you will contact our office for registration assistance.
Early Bird and Regular Registration:
Keep an eye out for the Early Bird and Regular Registration periods. Register your student early to get the best pricing!
Payment Submission:
Payments are not accepted online; please process them through your church. Consult your Camp Coordinator for payment guidance. Parents of students not attending with a church group may contact ilsmonline@idcag.org for payment instructions.
Camp Capacity and Waitlist:
As our camp has continued to grow, we do face hitting capacity for our Teen Camp weeks. We urge you to register your students promptly after receiving your Church Code to secure their spots. If registration fills up and capacity is reached, your child will be placed on a waitlist. However, being waitlisted is not necessarily a negative thing; it simply means your child is prioritized for open spots based on registration date. Please continue the registration process even if the portal indicates they will be waitlisted. Once availability is determined (ie. unused spots are released from other churches), students can be moved from “waitlisted” to “registered” status.
Additional Assistance:
If you have any questions or need further assistance, your first point of contact should be your Camp Coordinator. If you need further assitance that they are unable to provide, you can contact our office. We're here to help make your child's camp experience memorable and enjoyable. We look forward to welcoming your child to camp!
Registration: This year, we're thrilled to introduce a dedicated Volunteer Registration process through the Campwise portal. This streamlined approach incorporates additional elements like Reference Requests and Background Checks, seamlessly integrating aspects that were previously handled separately. This enhancement not only ensures a more efficient registration process but also provides a comprehensive and user-friendly experience for our valued Volunteers. We believe these changes will contribute to a smoother and more streamlined journey as you prepare for Breakaway Summer Camps. You will select “Volunteer Registration” from our Camp webpage, rather than registering through the Camper portal, as in the past. You will, however, use the same login username and password as you used when signing up through the camper portal.
Role Update: Introducing 'Cabin Leader'": We have an important update regarding a role title at Breakaway Summer Camps. To provide clearer and more accurate information about the responsibilities of this role, we have changed the title from "Counselor" to "Cabin Leader." This adjustment aims to avoid any potential misunderstandings of the individual’s role at camp. The change in terminology better reflects the focus of their responsibilities, which involve leading, coordinating and encouraging their assigned group of students rather than providing professional counseling services.
To ensure the safety and well-being of our campers, volunteers are required to complete the following steps as part of the application process:
Age Requirements:
Please note that volunteer selection is based on the specific needs of the program, and while we appreciate your interest, we cannot guarantee a position. Your dedication to these requirements is crucial to creating a safe and enjoyable experience for all campers. Thank you for your commitment to Breakaway Summer Camps!
*"Cabin Assist" Role:
T-shirts can be pre-purchased at a discounted rate if registered by (May 14 for Breakaway Kids // June 11 for Breakaway Teen). Please select your preferred size during online registration. The discounted, pre-purchase rate is $15. After the t-shirt registration deadline, T-shirts will be available at the Camp Merch Store for $20 while supplies last.
A $100 deposit per attendee is required by the program's deposit deadline (Kids Camp - May 21st // Teen Camp - June 21st), except for Cabin Leaders and Support Staff, who pay a total fee of $60 by these dates. The remaining Registration Fees must be paid in full on or before the event's first day. Deposits will only be accepted if attendees have completed online registration within our Campwise System. Students' payments should be made to your church, and the church will send the group's payment to ISM.
Registration: Students arriving without a church group are considered an Individual. If you are an Individual, not attending with a group, please email us at ilsmonline@idcag.org for your Registration Code. You must have this Code in order to register as an Individual with our camp.
Payments: Individuals are subject to the same Deposit Deadlines as groups. Please review the Deposit Section of the website for applicable dates. You will send your payment directly to ISM || PO Box 620 || Carlinville, IL 62626. If you prefer to pay by credit card, there will be a 3.5% processing fee added to your registration cost. Please contact our office for an online invoice to be sent, if you choose online payment.
Housing: ALL students will be housed prior to their arrival at Lake Williamson. If a student is coming as an individual but would like to be housed with another attending group or individual, we will do our best to accommodate requests if they are made by the housing deadline (no later than 14 days before a camp week’s start date). You may submit this request by emailing ilsmonline@idcag.org or as a written request with the payment. Please contact the office no earlier than 1 week prior to your enrolled program week if you would like to receive your color team and rooming assignment.
LICE CHECK POLICY: (Kids and Teen Camp): All students must undergo a lice check before the event, conducted early enough for treatment if needed. Qualified individuals, such as teachers or nurses, should perform checks, and please bring a completed Lice Check Form to Check-In. Failure to do so will result in individual checks by nurses, with a fee of $10 per child for any student checked. The parent is responsible for arranging the return home of Individuals found with lice.
To accommodate programming costs, requests for refunds for students unable to attend the full week of their program must be submitted no later than 14 DAYS before the first day of the selected Program. Refunds for students who are unable to attend must be requested by the Church Coordinator with an official Refund Request Form which can be obtained through our office. We first encourage the transfer of funds to another student within your group who has a remaining balance. If no transfer is feasible, a Refund Request will be processed for approval, deducting the $100 non-refundable deposit, t-shirt fee, and high ropes fee (if applicable). Refunds will not be issued for those who opt not to attend after the registered week's registration is closed, as this could potentially deny another participant a spot. Any approved refunds will be processed at the end of the Breakaway Camp season (typically August). Please note that we are unable to refund money for partial attendance during a registered week, and no refunds will be issued for expelled students.
Please clearly label all items. Students are responsible for personal belongings. ISM is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
ISM withholds the right to search any bags necessary to ensure the safety of everyone on the grounds. If any student is found in possession of any inappropriate or dangerous item, they may be asked to leave immediately. If this should happen, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian and church to retrieve the said child from the grounds immediately, at their own expense without a refund.
A High Ropes course is available for those in 4-12 grade on a first come/first serve basis (very limited spots available) for an additional cost of $30/student.
Not sure what High Ropes is all about? Click here for more information.
Students participating in any and all Illinois Student Ministries Summer Programs (Breakaway and Breakaway Kids) must be able to conduct themselves in a manner that does not disrupt the mission and objectives of the Breakaway program.
Students must be able to obey directions, follow accordingly, and obey rules for their own safety. In addition, Students must be able to handle themselves appropriately during activities such as free time, when general supervision is provided for the entire facility. (Students are not always specifically with their own Cabin Leader. At times throughout the day, they are under general supervision).
The ISM would love to see every student attend our summer program; however, we have limitations due to our volunteer staff and financial considerations that confine us to our basic ratios of 5:1. Should a student require further assistance due to physical, mental or social disabilities, a student's guardian may choose the following alternate arrangement for their child, in coordination with your Church's Coordinator.
The alternate arrangement would be for the student's guardian to provide a personal chaperone (of the same gender as the child) that would be the student's “one-on-one” cabin leader, who would be able to provide assistance in the bathroom/showers if needed.
The guardian would be required to cover all the expenses for this one-on-one cabin leader, in addition to the child’s registration. The student and one-on-one assistant would be assigned a room with other students, but that one-on-one assistant would only be responsible for the specific child.
Each Breakaway Program has varying degrees of outdoor terrain that may create mobility challenges for physically impaired participants. Every reasonable accommodation will be offered based on the limited availability of staff. Guardians should consider this and make appropriate inquiries prior to registering a child for any of our Breakaway Programs.
For security purposes, the personal cabin leader would be required to complete an Adult Volunteer Application provided by Illinois Student Ministries, which includes a background check.
Here is a snapshot of the various dates/deadlines to keep in mind:
