Tip of the Week from the American Camp Association
About
ACA
Media
Tip
from the American Camp Association
October 13, 2008
ACA-Accredited® Camps
Offer Parents Confidence
The decision to send your child to camp
can be very stressful for parents. In today's
society, it's hard to trust other
people to be safe and have your child's
very best interests at heart. There is
no seal of approval, no guarantee, no blinking
light saying "Proven safe! Proven
safe!" However, American Camp Association-Accredited® camps
focus on safety in ways that instill parent
confidence and trust.
ACA accreditation assures parents of:
- Staff to camper ratios are appropriate
for different age groups - First-aid facilities and trained staff
available when campers are present - Health, risk management, and safety
standards are considered the best practices
in the field - Healthy, developmentally-appropriate
activities and learning experiences - Caring, competent role models
- Discovery through experiential education
- Service to the community and the environment
- Opportunities for leadership and personal
growth
It is important for parents to know that
there is a difference between licensing
and accreditation. Licensing focuses on
the enforcement of the minimum regulations,
whereas accreditation focuses on education — supporting
the best practices in all aspects of camp
operation.
It's not too early for families
to start researching summer camps. There
is a camp for every child. It's important
that families look together to find
the right camp.
- Parents can utilize the ACA Find
A Camp search at www.CampParents.org.
This online search tool allows families
to explore camps by age, gender, special
needs, activities, cost, and location. - ACA recommends that parents speak to
the camp director, and ask if the camp
is ACA-accredited, and why or
why not. Don't be afraid to ask
a camp for parent references. - It's important for parents to
consider the camp's philosophy
and how well it suits their child's
needs and personality. Families can use The
Ultimate Camp Planner and Expert
Advice About Camp at www.CampParents.org as
a resource. - Decisions about camp - like where to
go and what to pack - should be a joint
venture, keeping in mind your child's
maturity. If your child feels a part
of the decision-making process, his/her
chances of having a positive experience
will improve.
Although no accreditation process, no licensing
program, and no set of regulations or laws
can guarantee safety, ACA accreditation is
the best evidence for parents that a camp
is committed to health and safety. To access
a list of ACA-accredited camps visit the
Find A Camp search at www.CampParents.org.
For more information on accreditation, visit www.CampParents.org/funsafety.php.
Contact Public Relations at 765.349.3317 or pr@ACAcamps.org to
interview an ACA
spokesperson for more information about accreditation. For customizable
public service announcements or article reprints, visit our Media Center
at www.ACAcamps.org.
About ACA
The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance
the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs
ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally
challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps
that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.
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