Join us for the
Fall Endeavor -
Oct 4-9, 2026
Accelerate joy, connection and growth with your Prisma peers! Join us for our first Endeavor of the 26/27 school year at YMCA Camp Duncan – located 1 hour outside of Chicago, Illinois- USA.
Part school, part camp - all fun!
the
Details
What is an Endeavor?
Learner Endeavors are a huge success at Prisma and are now in their third year for the 26/27 school year. In partnership with the Prisma Parent Community – we aim to give our Prisma learners ongoing opportunities for in-person connection several times throughout the year. We rotate these activities throughout the continental USA to make local travel possible for as many learners as possible. We also aim to keep these experiences as affordable as possible. Unlike family meetups, these Endeavors are designed to allow learners to be with their peers in-person without the need for their parents to be in attendance while they are at camp. Call it a break for parents, call it growth for the kids – a win win!
Who leads Endeavors?
Endeavors are led by our Prisma Team and supported with parent chaperones through the Prisma Parent Community. Trained parent chaperones are our “cabin chaperones” and Prisma staff – along with YMCA Camp Duncan Activities Counselors – will be running our activities and school portions of camp during the day and evenings. Team work makes the dream work – and we are so lucky to have such a great group of dedicated people helping to make these happen! We typically have lots of adult support at camp with a ratio of approximately 1 adult to 6 learners.
What's a typical day at camp like?
Our days will roughly look like an early morning activity before or after breakfast, school hub during the morning followed by lunch, afternoon activities, and free-time before dinner. Dinner is followed by a shared group evening activity like karaoke, campfires, dance parties or trivia, etc. We always anticipate that activities during the day will be grouped by age and likely cohort to some extent to accommodate different schedules between HS / MS groups. Lights out at a reasonable time and do it all over again the next day.
When can we sign up?
Registration is now open. A non-refundable 50% deposit is due within a week of registering. Final payment is due 3 weeks prior to camp., Because we need to pay the YMCA for kids in advance of camp starting, no refunds can be given if your child is not able to attend.
You can find the registration form here.
Want to learn more at an info session?
Join us on August 6th at 7pm EST for an information session with our Endeavors Team to learn more about our days, approach and what to expect at an Endeavor.
What is the cost?
The cost for Oct. 4-9th (6 days and 5 nights) is $695. This cost includes lodging, meals, and all activities for one learner.
Have more questions? See extended FAQs below or join in on our upcoming Info Session to learn more.
A Look Inside Prisma Endeavors –
Hear from learners themselves about Endeavors at Prisma and what makes them special to them.
YMCA Camp Duncan -
We are excited to be hosted by YMCA Camp Duncan and their team for our Fall Endeavor! Located in Ingleside, IL on an over 300 acre campus – it’s an incredible facility. There is even an indoor swimming pool! Check out their facility tour video to see the full campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is YMCA Camp Duncan?
YMCA Camp Duncan is located at in Ingleside, IL. Situated on the shores of Lake Duncan, it is about one hour north of Chicago, IL one hour south of Milwaukee, WI and 30 minutes west of Gurnee, IL.
Will our kids be getting their school work done at camp?
Yes! Our school days will be hosted on the Camp Duncan campus with separate spaces for LS, MS and HS learners. With the goal of the school week being both productive and inspiring, learners will attend in-person versions of workshops at the Lower and Middle School levels. High Schoolers attend some virtual sessions as needed and attend special HS learning activities together in the morning. This is “camp school” – just like our “home” school at home. We do expect learners to come into the week caught up or ahead of their work – and expect this will be a great motivator for them all. Do not expect your learner to get quite as much done as a normal week – hence the hope they do their part and work ahead of camp as well.
Do you need chaperones?
We are always in need of a limited number of chaperones and try to bring new ones on each session to grow our parent chaperone family! We require a mandated online chaperone training and background checks in advance of camp week. Chaperones will be needed to stay as the parent in the cabin as well as to attend activities provided by Club Getaway with their group as needed. Chaperones will not be required to lead events, cook, clean etc – just be present and a support for our kids if needed or to help them connect to family at home if needed. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to Jess Fox at [email protected] to complete an application.
What about food allergies?
If you have a child with severe allergies, we recommend setting up a private time to connect with our Wellbeing Lead, Molly Broshar to get input on your specific situation. Since this is our first camp at YMCA Camp Duncan – we are heavily reliant on the YMCA Camp Duncan staff – and believe parents will know best what is and is not possible for their children. YMCA Camp Duncan is well-versed in properly supporting food allergies, however we will lead this to parent discretion and the learner’s individual needs being addressed.
What kind of medical care is available?
Basic first aid and medicine management services will be provided by a parent volunteer with first aid training. We can provide basic medication storage/administration and allergy concerns. We will help manage this with pre-registration required forms. After registration we will collect and review medical forms for each learner, and we will happily meet with parents and families to discuss individual medical concerns on an as-needed basis. All care that is outside the scope of basic first aid (think bandaids and basic parent approved meds in advance like tylenol or pepto bismo) will require a parent call and shared decision-making process for next steps for medical care of camper.
What is your policy on phones and computers at camp?
We can’t wait to be at camp and disconnected as much as possible. Phones will not be allowed to be used at camp – however parents will be able to check in with your learner’s cabin chaperone if needed. Kids WILL have access to their computers during school day and will be able to utilize all technology from their computers – so that is certainly another way for them to connect. Our goal is to keep kids safe, present and happy. You can read our phone policy in our learner and parent expectations below.
Can my child fly alone to camp?
Unfortunately, we do not offer any unaccompanied minor travel services or airport pickups. Parents are responsible for getting their learners to camp. Parents have and will continue to support each other in this – so buddying up is encouraged in making things work!
Will there be any meetings prior to camp for parents?
There will be a pre-camp mandatory meeting for parents and campers approximately two weeks prior to camp. More details and invites to follow for those registered.
Will my child get to room with their friends?
Each cabin is anticipated to be grouped by age and gender and will not be more than 3 years apart in age. We want kids to succeed and therefore will make every effort to try to make sure that every child has at least ONE friend in their cabin with them so that they feel supported by a peer in addition to their chaperones. We want everyone to succeed and we want to have an inclusive cabin culture for all.
Please note, high school cabins do NOT have a chaperone in them – but instead near to them or between their cabins.
How many learners can sign up?
At this time we can support up to approximately 80 campers for our this session. If you can’t make this trip – don’t worry there are many more to come and you should not feel as though you have to make this work! This is one of many opportunities that kids can take advantage of to meet their Prisma peers in person and virtually.
Space is dependent on chaperone availability and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis via official registration and a paid deposit.
I have additional questions - who should I talk to?
Please reach out to Coach Cindy at [email protected] on additional questions, etc. regarding camp logistics, schedules, etc. Coach Cindy will help connect you with the best member of our Endeavors Team to address your specific needs. Thank you!
When will payment be due?
By registering your child for camp – you agree to pay 100% of the amount due of $695 for your child to attend camp when billed on or before September 15th, 2026. We do expect and depend on FIRM commitments at the time of registration and deposit. No exceptions can be made if your schedule changes and you are not able to attend camp.
Expectations for Learners and Parents –
For Learners
We will always strive to be kind and thoughtful of our fellow Prismarians – creating a strong camp culture rooted in support and inclusion of each of us
We will be each others cheerleaders in teamwork, growth and fun.
We are here to grow in each of the Prisma Powers (applied curiosity, initiative & follow through, communication & collaboration, innovator’s mindset) and will support others in this goal too.
We know that being at an Endeavor is a privilege, not a right, and we are grateful for the opportunity!
We will reflect on our growth and progress and celebrate it
We will build good habits and mindsets that we can use for the rest of our lives.
It might be a good idea to start building habits necessary for success BEFORE the Endeavor, like making sure we can have sleep routines that work in a group setting.
We will use the buddy system at all times.
We will be present and take every opportunity!
We will not have our cell phones with us throughout the week. Phones will be collected upon checking in, then stored in a safe, secure location until it’s time for us all to travel home.
The goal of this policy is to ensure that learners will be able to fully engage with the experience and fellow Prismarians in front of them, and grow in their independence. All chaperones and coordinators will have cell phones on them in case of emergencies. All parent communication should go through the lead chaperone or coordinator. Of course learners will be allowed to use an adult chaperone’s phone to call home when needed!
Exceptions will obviously be made for learners with phones tied to medical monitoring devices (such as learners with Type 1 Diabetes).
Learners may have access to their computers during school hours so they can complete asynchronous work.
For Parents & Guardians
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We are committed to helping our child grow in independence and the Prisma Powers.
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We are committed to providing our child with the space and time to grow – and celebrate their successes too!
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Many parents’ most formative, memorable experiences in their own childhood took place away from electronic devices. We are endeavoring to provide those same types of experiences to today’s Prismarians in a safe, supportive environment.
We know that this experience may be a significant opportunity for us to grow as well.
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We are ready for our child to have independent experiences in a safe, supportive environment without our direct supervision.
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We will attend all pre-trip calls as a family, so we will all be prepared for the amazing experience!
Want to learn more?
Join our Endeavors team for our Fall Endeavors Info Session on Thursday, August 6th at 7pm EST to learn more about the upcoming Endeavor and next location – YMCA Camp Duncan.