What is ACA Accreditation?
The American Camp Association is the only nationwide organization that accredits all types of organized camps.
The ACA Accreditation Program:
Educates camp owners and directors in the administration of key aspects of camp operation, program quality, and the health and safety of campers and staff;
Establishes guidelines for needed policies, procedures, and practices;
Assists the public in selecting camps that meet industry-accepted and government-recognized standards;
Has 50 years of experience in developing and administering the standards program. Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Red Cross, etc., continually work with ACA to improve and develop ACA's camp standards program;
Accredits over 2,400 camps in the United States and Puerto Rico (nearly 400 of them here in New England). ACA-accredited camps meet up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality;
Collaborates with associations (e.g. American Cancer Society, American Red Cross), youth-serving organizations (e.g. Girl Scouts, Camp Fire USA), religious organizations (e.g. United Methodist Church, Salvation Army), camp organizations (e.g. Association of Independent Camps).
Information for Camps Interested in ACA Accreditation
Accreditation vs. LicensingUnlike inspections by state licensing bodies, ACA accreditation is voluntary. The ACA does not have the authority to close or otherwise penalize an entity not meeting its accreditation criteria, except for the removal of accreditation status. Licensing focuses on the enforcement of minimum standards. Accreditation focuses on education and the evaluation of camp operations, using standards that go beyond the minimum requirements of licensing.
Defining Accreditation
ACA Accreditation is a process during which a camp undergoes a thorough review of its operation — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management — to ensure compliance with more than 300 standards. The American Camp Association collaborates with experts from The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure that current practices of the camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes growth and fun in an environment committed to safety. The American Camp Association, as the only national accrediting body for all types of camps, has a 55-year history of administering the accreditation program. ACA standards are recognized by courts of law and government regulators as the standards for best practices in camp.
Purpose of the Accreditation Program
The main purpose of the ACA-accreditation program is to educate camp owners and directors in the administration of key aspects of camp operation, particularly those related to program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff. The standards establish guidelines for needed policies, procedures, and practices.
ACA, New England recommends completing the following steps prior to your first visit.
- Begin the process at least one year in advance so that you will have plenty of time to review and evaluate each area of your camp’s operation.
- Take the Standards Course as early as possible. This required 4-hour course will introduce you to the Standards and to the accreditation process. This free course is offered throughout the winter and spring.
- Schedule a pre-visit with your visitor. Your assigned visitor can answer any questions you may have about preparing for your visit weeks or even months in advance.
- Keep your contact information up to date with ACA New England and ACA so that all materials and information reach you in a timely manner.
Become an ACA Visitor
Visitors are volunteers with a background in camp administration who have completed the Associate Visitor Training course and served an “apprenticeship” with an experienced visitor.
For additional information or answers to questions about ACA accreditation or becoming an ACA Visitor in New England, contact:
Stephanie Baker, Member Services Associate
ACA New England
(781) 541-6080
Stephanie@acanewengland.org
Information for Accredited Camps
If you're up for re-accreditation in 2010 (or if you're seeking accreditation for the first time), here are some things you should know:
1. You must have someone who's going to be involved in the accreditation process attend either a standards course or a standards update course. Check for dates on our professional calendar.
2. Make sure all of your materials are up to date with corrections that have been made to the process guide.
3. You should start preparing for the visit as early as November and involve key staff in preparing your written documentation.
4. Visitors will be assigned by late April to visit your camp when it's in session. You'll receive a letter from us letting you know who they are.
5. Set up a written documentation preview with your lead visitor before the start of the camp season. This will give you a chance to gather missing documentation before the actual visit.
6. Letters informing you of your scores will be sent out in November, 2010.
7. Accredited certifications will come from the ACA National office in December.