Welcome to the Illinois Homemakers Craft Camp!

We are a yearly retreat for women (18+) that blends skill-sharing and handcrafts with a collaborative environment built on laughter, friendship, and a shared history.

From "Traveling Maids" to Trailblazers

Our journey began in 1914 with the Smith-Lever Act, signed by President Woodrow Wilson to improve rural life across America. But the road wasn't always smooth!. When Kankakee County hired its first home advisor in 1915, people didn't realize she was a teacher—they thought she was a traveling maid!

By 1919, the value of these "Home Bureaus" was undeniable. In 1924, twenty counties officially united to form the Illinois Home Bureau Federation, turning a misunderstood role into a statewide movement for rural women.

A History of Making Things Better

For over a century the Bureau led the charge for change and quickly became a powerhouse for rural improvement:

• The Famous Mattress Tag: In 1926, our Better Bedding Committee lobbied for sanitary stuffing regulations (no more old rags and buttons!). If you’ve ever seen the "do not remove under penalty of law" tag on your mattress, you’re looking at a piece of our legacy.

• Wartime Resilience: During the war years, our members collected 80,000 pounds of waste fat to support the manufacturing of soap and other essentials.

• Health and Home: We campaigned for Diphtheria immunizations and worked tirelessly to bring running water and electricity to rural homes across Illinois.

The Sharing of Knowledge

From the beginning, the "Local Leader Lessons" were our backbone. We focused on the essentials of life: home canning, childcare, nutrition, and even the "survival skills" of the 1950s—like civil defense first aid and how to survive an atomic bomb.

The Spirit of Play

Since 1926, we’ve prioritized "Play Days" for mental and physical rejuvenation. Our history is full of colorful moments:

• The Morning Yell: Early campers at McLean County’s Camp Lentz started their day with a spirited group shout.

• Dancing through History: Imagine practicing Charleston moves to a wind-up Victrola or competing in the Dollar Dress Contest, where outfits were judged on workmanship but could not cost more than a single dollar.

Our Camp Today

While we originally began as an extension of the Homemaker’s Extension, we are now an independent non-profit organization. When state bylaws changed, we chose to step away to remain a "women-only" sanctuary—a sacred space for female connection that we have cherished for decades. To preserve this unique environment, we stepped away to become our own independent entity: the Illinois Homemakers Craft Camp.

While our name has evolved over the last century, our mission remains the same: providing a space for women to learn, create, and find rejuvenation away from the hustle of daily life.

Today, we continue to meet at the 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello—a beautiful site donated by Robert Allerton in 1946—where we keep the traditions of education, creativity, and fun alive.

While our name has evolved over the last century, our mission remains the same: providing a space for women to learn, create, and find rejuvenation away from the hustle of daily life.

Our Commitment

We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. We operate with a volunteer heart, and should we ever disband, all our funds are pledged to the 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello, where we continue to hold our annual retreats.