Latest ACA Blog Posts
April 13, 2011
Due to "the critical transportation problem" resulting from World War II, the Board of Directors decided to cancel the 1943 annual conference. Instead, sections were urged to hold regional conferences. The proposed theme of the conferences was "Camping, a Wartime Asset."
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April 12, 2011
Below is the link to the reviewed/revised/reformatted standards for what, in the current Accreditation Process Guide, are the Human Resources Standards (HR).
What’s Different?
- Re-organization of standards into general topic areas (ex: all standards that deal with “Staff Training” are grouped together).
- HR-1 Director Qualifications now requires some written documentation.
- HR-1C Professional Development requirements is revised to better match ACA’s Professional Development Center.
- HR-4 Staff Screening: Is split into two standards. CURRENT NUMBERS: HR-4 Screening for all staff and HR-5 Screening for New Staff.
- HR-9 Camper Supervision Ratios and HR-10 Staff Age Requirements have been reorganized into CURRENT NUMBERS. HR-8 Camper Supervision Ratios and Staff Age and HR-9 Supervision Ratio Exceptions.
- HR20 (Current HR-21) Staff Observation now requires...
April 6, 2011
The latest issue of Counselor Now is available online. Read The Seven Absolutes of Camp Counseling, by Jeffrey Leiken. He writes it is always better to be thought of as a great counselor by your director than to be thought of as a cool one by your campers. Working with children should be fun, and being able to access your playfulness in order to connect with your campers is essential to your success. Just make certain that you always remember that you are the adult and that you are hired to be professional in all your decisions
Also take a moment to read Words of Encouragement to the Camp Counselor: Ideas and Tips for a Successful Summer.
April 6, 2011
In 1894, Keewaydin Camp was organized on Lake Temagami in Ontario, Canada as a canoe and wilderness camp. Today it is the oldest camp to continuously operate on the same site in North America, and the oldest canoe-trip camp in the world. The camp family has expanded to include two additional camps and a robust environmental education program.
April 5, 2011
Below is the link to the reviewed/revised/reformatted standards for what, in the current Accreditation Process Guide, are the Operational Management Standards (OM).
What’s Different?
- Re-organization of standards into general topic areas (ex: all standards that deal with “Risk Management and Prevention” are together).
- OM-2 Firearms Control: In order to eliminate a potential double jeopardy, we are only asking about the locking of firearms in this standard and not also in PD. The language previously used in the PD standard is being used in OM-2.
- OM-9 Insurance Coverage: Changed terms “Fire and extended risk” to “Property coverage on buildings” per the recommendation of the insurance industry. Added “Business Personal Property” (covers furniture, merchandise, etc. used/owned by the business even if the building is not owned).
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March 30, 2011
Day camps became an accredited camp option for families 55 years ago. ACA had developed standards for resident camps in 1948. It was decided that a closer look at day camps was necessary. From 1950-54, the National and Section Standards Committees formulated Day Camp Standards for use and study. The Day Camp Standards were officially adopted by the Council of Delegates at the 1956 National Convention in Detroit, Michigan.
March 29, 2011
Below is the link to the reviewed/revised/reformatted standards for what, in the current Accreditation Process Guide, are the Site Food Service Standards (SF).
What’s Different?
Re-organization of standards into general topic areas (ex: all standards that deal with “Procedures” are together).
All of the guidelines for applicability to site-related standards are at the beginning, all of the guidelines for food service applicability are immediately before food service standards.
What’s Gone?
- SF-7 Maintenance Program (now included in what is currently numbered SF-7, Facilities in Good Repair)
- SF-9 Playgrounds: Deleted
- SF-10 Clean Camp Site (now included in what is currently numbered standard SF-7, Facilities in Good Repair)
- SF-14 Carbon Monoxide Detectors (now included in what is currently numbered standard SF-11, Smoke and Carbon...
March 23, 2011
In 2011, ACA and partner New Dimensions offer all members of the camp community a chance to celebrate 150 years of camp in style — with hats, t-shirts, tote bags, and posters. The commemorative images used on the products were designed by Bruce Dean, the same artist who designed ACA’s updated logo in 2005, and feature stylized reproductions of actual photos submitted by camps! Representing an artistic rendition of the progression of camp from the past (1910s, 1930s, and 1950s) to the present day, the merchandise is available for purchase online, and items can be customized with specific camp names.
March 22, 2011
Below is the link to the reviewed/revised/reformatted standards for what, in the current Accreditation Process Guide, are the Transportation Standards (TR).
What’s different?
- Re-organization of standards into general topic areas (ex: all standards that deal with “Procedures” are together).
- All of the guidelines for APPLICABILITY are now located in the very beginning of the section and not scattered throughout.
What’s Gone?
- TR-2: Traffic Control.
- TR-3: Arrival and Departure (now covered in what is currently numbered TR-4).
- From “old” TR-6, the requirement about availability and location of health information. This will be covered in the HW Section as well as in the PD Section.
- TR-8: Bus/van supervisor (now covered in what is currently numbered TR-5).
- TR-18 (now included in...
March 21, 2011
ACA’s CEO Peg Smith was featured on Lifetime Television’s morning program, The Balancing Ac, on March 11, 2011. This segment consisted of a conversation about the benefits of camp, choosing a camp, experiential education and the camp experience, and much more. Lifetime Television has 96 million subscribing households nationwide!
March 16, 2011
In 2007, ACA cemented its commitment to environmental stewardship and developed the Green Spoken Here initiative, offering online resources, including the "Green Spoken Here" pledge for camp and youth development staff, as well as parents and families, to encourage outdoor activity and environmental awareness.
March 15, 2011
Below are the reviewed/revised/reformatted standards for what, in the current Accreditation Process Guide, are the PD, PC, and PH Standards. In an effort to reduce redundancy, these three program sections have been "collapsed." The Program Aquatic and Program Trip/Travel standards will continue to "stand alone."
What’s different?
- Re-organization of standards into general topic areas (ex: all standards that deal with protective equipment are together).
- A fourth bullet was added to the definition of specialized program activities.
- Specialized program activities now include challenge/adventure and horseback riding. There are still some standards specific to these program areas.
- The standard specific to operating procedures has been removed and those topics are now covered in other standards — specific to the topic.
What’s...
March 9, 2011
In January 1930, the name of the Camp Directors Association (CDA) magazine was changed from Camping to The Camping Magazine. The Camping Magazine was the official publication of the CDA, under the authorization of the National Board of Directors. Its purpose was to inform and educate camp professionals and others in related fields so they can successfully serve their clientele. In 1946 the name was shortened to Camping Magazine. The magazine is still published by ACA, and serves as the resource for camp and youth development professionals, with articles on topics such as public policy, research, trends, and best practices.
The special May/June Staff Training issue features the foremost camp trainers and consultants for staff orientation. The 2011 Staff Training issue includes articles from Bob Ditter, Stephen Wallace, Jon...
March 3, 2011
Check out our premier issue of the Counselor Now newsletter, designed for you, the frontline camp staff. This newsletter offers job-specific resources for everything you'll need this summer — from Camping Magazine articles and training advice to job opportunities, Counselor Now will help you be at your best.
"Tips for Camp Counselors: Sage Advice from a Veteran Camp Director" offers the advice you need to nurture your campers' development and guide positive behavior. "...
March 2, 2011
Check out ACA's Camp Counselors Facebook Page built for you, frontline staff at summer camps! Check back here for advice and tips, fun activity ideas, job opportunities, and much more. Use this page along with our other resources like this blog and the Counselor Now monthly email for finding the tools to make a positive impact in the lives of your campers and have a great summer at camp!
