Chicago is at Capacity. Join Waitlist Below or Explore More Dates
The Chicago Summer Institute is July 23–25.
Event Highlights
Don’t miss this year’s immersive experiences! View the event schedule for more about meeting times and the General Session.
PRE-SESSIONS
AVID 101
This year, we are offering an optional AVID 101 pre-session for attendees new to AVID on Tuesday, July 22, from 4:00–5:30 pm at the McCormick Place Convention Center, Lakeside Center E271a. Additional information on the AVID 101 pre-session can be found here.
LEADING SITE TEAMS
The Leading Site Teams pre-session for site and district leaders is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, from 4:00-5:30 pm at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Additional information on the Leading Site Teams pre-session can be found here.
New General Session Experience
Celebrate with us and hear amazing AVID student and educator speakers on Thursday, July 24, from 1:30–2:45 pm at the McCormick Convention Center, Lakeside Center, Arie Crown Theater.
Sylvie
Gonzalez Lopez
Crystal Lake Central High School
Madelyn
Horton
Park High School
Kendall
Bergrud
Wachter Middle School
AVID-Hosted Extended Experiences: Unforgettable Evening Adventures!
Looking for an exciting way to wrap up the day with your team? Get ready for some unforgettable fun! AVID is bringing you exclusive, FREE curated experiences that showcase the best of our host venues and cities, specially designed for you and fellow AVID educators.
Whether it’s attending an event or engaging in a unique local experience, these extended adventures are guaranteed to make your evening one to remember! Be sure to register your team for Summer Institute as soon as possible because spots are limited and will be based on your registration date when sign-ups open in the spring. Don’t miss out—let the adventure begin!
For information on how to sign up for an Extended Experience, please see our Extended Experiences FAQ.
Extended Experiences
Welcome to AVID-Hosted Extended Experiences at our Summer Institute! We understand the value of professional learning and the intentional opportunities it affords individuals and teams to unwind and foster connections. That’s why we would like to invite you to wrap up your day with an exciting AVID adventure.
Prepare for an evening filled with unforgettable fun! At AVID, we are thrilled to offer you exclusive, FREE curated experiences that showcase the best of our host cities, with the opportunity to network, foster collaboration, and find joy through an experience that resonates with you!
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Sign-up right away for SI and your Extended Experience of choice, space is limited, and these experiences are first come, first served. Sign-ups will open:
- April 14: For partners who registered for Summer Institute by February 11.
- April 15: For partners who registered for Summer Institute between February 12 – March 14.
- April 16: For partners who registered for Summer Institute March 15 and beyond.
For more information please see our Extended Experiences FAQ.
Champions Challenge: The Ultimate Game Night Showdown
Are you looking for an epic evening of laughter, excitement, networking, and friendly competition at our Game Night Showdown? This event is packed with a variety of games that will challenge your skills, test your knowledge, and bring out your competitive spirit. Everything you’ve come to expect from a classic game night will be there: the thrills, the camaraderie, the nostalgia, and, of course, the competition. Are you game?
Chicago Uncovered: Exclusive Double-Decker Bus Tour of the Windy City’s Hidden Gems
Hop on with us on a unique and flexible exploration of the Windy City with our private AVID Double-Decker Bus Tour! This is your personal passport to discover the best of Chicago. This experience has something for everyone—art enthusiasts, history buffs, foodies, and curious travelers alike—and you can create your perfect list of what you would like to more deeply explore after hopping off! Join us on a personalized journey through the heart of Chicago with the AVID network. Whether you’re there for the sights, the history, the networking, or the sheer joy of exploration, this experience promises to be a highlight of your visit to the Windy City.
Design Delights: River Tour of Chicago’s Architectural Masterpieces
Join us in an inspiring journey through the heart of Chicago with our Architecture River Tour! This isn’t just a boat ride; it’s a captivating exploration of the city’s iconic architecture, all from the unique perspective of the river. Imagine gliding along the water, the city skyline unfolding before you, with each building serving as a testament to Chicago’s architectural heritage. From towering skyscrapers to historic landmarks, every view tells a story of innovation, design, and the spirit of the Windy City. This tour promises to be a highlight of your visit to Chicago, with an opportunity to network with other educators!
Sky’s the Limit: Chicago Sky’s Ultimate Basketball Battle
Prepare for an evening of high-energy action with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. Get ready for an opportunity to network with other educators over one of our favorite games—basketball—set against the backdrop of the vibrant Chicago Sky fan community. This is an opportunity to be part of a passionate community, to cheer on the players, and to experience the thrill of top-tier basketball firsthand. From the opening tip-off to the final buzzer, every moment is sure to be filled with action and excitement!
Windy City Quest: Scavenger Hunt Adventure
Bring your best for a quest to test your problem-solving skills, quick thinking, and teamwork. Whether you’re local or new to Chicago, this fun challenge will give your team a chance to explore hidden gems, discover new places, and learn fascinating facts about the electric big-city energy, iconic architecture, and miles of jaw-dropping waterfront. So, gather your colleagues and get ready for some friendly competition and networking with other AVID educators!
Intro
The Chicago Summer Institute takes place at a single venue. Your Community of Practice, Site Team meeting, General Session, and hotel may be spread out across the venue. To find out each event’s location, log in to the AVID Event app with your MyAVID credentials or check your printed badge prior to the event.
Community of Practice and Site Team Locations
Communities of Practice and Site Team meetings are held at the location listed below. Your specific Community of Practice and Site Team locations will be listed on your name badge. You will receive Summer Institute supplies during your first Community of Practice session.
- McCormick Place Convention Center, Lakeside Center
- McCormick Place Convention Center, South Building
Name Badge
Your name badge is required for all Summer Institute activities. There are two ways to get your name badge: print at home or print on-site.
Print at Home
You can check in and print your name badge at home 3 days before the Summer Institute begins to bypass check-in lines and go directly to breakfast at your Community of Practice location. As a reminder, your Community of Practice and Site Team meeting room locations are listed on your name badge. You do not have to print your name badge on-site if you print it at home. AVID Center will email you printing instructions closer to the event date.
Print On-Site
If you do not print your name badge at home, you must print your badge at one of the following locations during the times listed below.
Tuesday, July 22, 1:00–5:00 pm
- McCormick Place Convention Center
Lakeside Center
Wednesday, July 23, 6:30–8:00 am
- McCormick Place Convention Center
Lakeside Center
Important:
Your Community of Practice (CoP) is listed first because that is where you will begin your day. The second listing is your Site Team location, which you will join in the afternoon.
Note for Day 1:
- Go directly to your CoP location by 8:00 am.
- A grab-and-go breakfast will be available near your CoP.
- You will receive a lanyard and badge holder at your CoP location.
Meals
A grab-and-go breakfast will be provided near your Community of Practice location on the first day of Summer Institute. As a reminder, refer to your name badge for your Community of Practice location. We also provide morning coffee breaks each day and an afternoon break on Day 2.
Laptop Requirements
All curriculum and training materials will be housed in your AVID eLearning course, so it is important that you bring your fully charged device, your charging cord, and headphones to your Community of Practice each day. There will be a limited number of power strips available in the Community of Practice rooms. We will provide face-to-face facilitation, and you will have the opportunity to engage with fellow participants. There will also be digital content and engagement. Wi-Fi will be provided on-site to all participants throughout the event. Smartphones, iPad minis, and Galaxy tablets are not recommended for this experience.
Hotel Accommodations
AVID has negotiated group rates for participants provided through the button below. While the majority of our partner hotels offer complimentary Wi-Fi and other amenities, we recommend verifying at the time of check-in. It is the participant’s responsibility to make, change, or cancel hotel and airfare reservations. Hotel and airfare reservations do not guarantee registration for an event.
Hotel Room Reservations
You can reserve your room(s) by clicking on the button below.
When you reserve hotel rooms, you will be required to create an account for the individual or group hotel reservations. The password that you create for your account will be required to confirm, change, update, or cancel any room reservations. Refer to your confirmation email for important deadline dates that may financially impact you. A credit card will be required to hold your room reservation(s).
If you have questions about your hotel room reservations for the Chicago Summer Institute, contact Customer Service, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm ET.
For group reservation sizes of 1–14, contact Customer Service at 864-580-4513 or email [email protected]. For group reservations of 15 or more, contact Customer Service at 864-541-0781 or email [email protected].
Hotel Room Rates
Hotel room rates start at $254 per night. The specified room rate is based on single occupancy before taxes and fees. Additional occupants may incur additional fees. See detailed information about room rates on the housing site.
Additional Hotel Accommodation Questions
Please view the Hotel Accommodations FAQ page for additional information.
Please allow a few moments for the housing site to load.
Flights
AVID + Southwest® Partnership Advantage
Travelers who book their business travel for Summer Institutes by booking on SWABIZ will earn 2X the Rapid Rewards bonus points per qualifying night and will be entered into a raffle to win a free round-trip ticket!
Save money when booking travel through the AVID preferred partnership with Southwest Airlines! SWABIZ benefits include:
- Chance to win a free round-trip ticket to any Southwest destination
- DOUBLE earning bonus of Rapid Rewards points
- Discounted fares
- Ability to modify your reservations on Southwest mobile app and Southwest.com®
- Points never expire
Book a Flight with Southwest Airlines Corporate Travel.
Don’t have a Rapid Rewards account? Enroll here.
Getting Around Chicago
Parking at McCormick Place Convention Center
McCormick Place Convention Center is located at 2301 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 6061.
Lot C: The parking rate is $27 for up to 16 hours and $40 from 16 to 24 hours. Lot C is recommended as the closest lot connected to the Lakeside Center.
Lot A: The parking rate is $27 for up to 16 hours and $40 from 16 to 24 hours.
Lot B: The parking rate is a flat fee of $18 per day with no in-and-out privileges.
Parking at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is located at 2233 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616. Attendees can park for a discounted rate of $28 per day.
Parking at Marriott Marquis Chicago
Marriott Marquis Chicago is located at 2121 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616.
Self-Parking is located in Lot A at McCormick Place Convention Center, connected to the hotel via a Skybridge on Lot A’s 3rd floor.
The parking rate is $27 for up to 16 hours and $40 from 16 to 24 hours.
Public Transit
Chicago’s Transit (CTA) offers an extensive network of trains and buses. Two lines operate 24/7: the Blue Line, which connects Chicago O’Hare International Airport and downtown, and the Red Line, with service between the North and South Sides via downtown. Experience the convenience of public transportation to McCormick Place Convention Center.
Car Sevices
A number of ride sharing services are available in Chicago, including Uber and Lyft. You may also schedule a pickup from traditional taxi cabs such as Yellow Cab.
*Please note that transportation services and rates are subject to change. It’s advisable to check the latest information from official sources or directly contact the service providers before making arrangements.
Event Policies
Participation Policy
Our professional learning opportunities are engaging and rigorous, and therefore, are best suited for distraction-free spaces. Each professional learning experience is designed for individual engagement. Only one participant per registration may attend.
We love children; however, participants may not bring children or guests to AVID Professional Learning, General Session, or Site Team meetings. Only invited AVID students and invited AVID guests may participate.
In order to receive your Digital Badge, you must complete the following:
- Submit all daily feedback forms, the participant reflection, and the exit survey before the end of the last training day.
- Attend all sessions and engage in the course activities. 100% attendance is required.
- Contribute to your Community of Practice by being an active participant in all sessions.
For more information, please read the AVID Center Event Code of Conduct Policy.
Health and Safety
AVID is committed to the health and safety of our participants and employees. To facilitate this effort, AVID is collaborating with the site host, vendors, and other partners to ensure that appropriate safety protocols consistent with applicable local laws and guidance are in place.
ADA Accessibility
AVID Center complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you require special devices, have medically necessary dietary restrictions, or need assistance per ADA guidelines, please submit your request at least 2 weeks before the Institute starts.
MyAVID Store
Two Ways to Shop!
Visit the booth at the McCormick Place Convention Center, Lakeside Center, or shop online at myavidstore.com.
Additional Questions
Please contact [email protected] or call 1-833-AVID-CARE (1-833-284-3227) if you have any additional questions.