Accreditation
Accreditation Volunteer Resources
If you are looking for other resources and cannot find them or need assistance during a visit, please contact your accreditation staff member. Thank you for your support of the accreditation program!
Volunteer Role Service Description
- Associate Visitor/Visitor Service Description
- Professional Conduct for Accreditation Volunteers updated 4/2023
Visit Assignment Tools & Resources
Click the button below for more information, tools, and resources to help best prepare yourself for any assigned accreditation visits. Resources include:
- Site-Visit Roles & Responsibilities
- Visit Preparation Tools
- Site-Visit Forms
- Post-Visit Resources
- and more...
Visit Assignment Tools & Resources
Help Spread the Word!
Help us spread the word about the amazing professional development opportunity that is being an ACA Visitor! If you identify a fellow camp professional who would be an excellent ACA accreditation volunteer, please have them check out the "Become a Visitor" page using the link below!
Become an Accreditation Volunteer!!
Accreditation Volunteer Portal
Portal access is only available for current Accreditation Volunteers, and membership fees must be current for access. Access requires individual login. Highlights of the portal include:
- Digital Accreditation Process Guide (APG) v.2019
- My Visits Portal
- Annual Accreditation Report for Reviewers
- and more...
Accreditation Volunteer Portal
Accreditation Volunteer Huddles
Recording (December 2023): Review of AY 2023
Recording (January 2024- morning panel): Communication
Recording (January 2024- afternoon panel): Communication
Accreditation Process Guide v.2019
Pull-and-Replace Pages November 2019
Annual Accreditation Report for Reviewers
AAR Reviewer Access and Resources
Become an Accreditation Volunteer
ACA accreditation volunteers believe the benefits they receive by far exceed the investment they make in time to train for and visit camps. This is your chance at the best professional development ever!
Get Started
These 2 steps will get you on the path to becoming an ACA Accreditation Volunteer! These items MUST be completed at least 1 month prior to the start of the Accreditation Volunteer (formerly known as the Associate Visitor) Course.
- Submit an Accreditation Volunteer Application (online)
- Attend an Accreditation Volunteer Course (formerly known as the Associate Visitors Course)
Additional Steps
- Review the ACA Associate Visitor/Visitor Service Description.
- Be a current ACA individual member.
- Acknowledge and accept the Professional Conduct for Accreditation Volunteers
- Successfully complete the online pre-course work. This will be assigned once the application and registration are approved. The online pre-course work includes the Accreditation Process Workshop so you are up to date.
- Successfully attend/complete the Accreditation Volunteer (formerly the Associate Visitor) Course (virtual or in-person).
Visitor Benefits
A Chance to Learn
- During your training, you will build a network of other camp pros and polish your skills of observation and open-ended questions. Develop into the peer-mentor you always wished you had!
- You may read about programming in Camping Magazine and even listen to a colleague explain how a program works, but the value of seeing other programs in operation is unmatched.
- You will see first-hand how other camps accomplish their missions and reach their goals. See how they make it work in day-to-day operations.
- Get tips and ideas you can use in your own camp.
A Chance to Share
- The ACA accreditation program is a voluntary peer-review program and process. Your involvement and investment as an ACA accreditation volunteer is a significant contribution to the camp community:
- Our campers deserve the best. ACA is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults through the camp experience. When you help more camps maintain their accreditation or become accredited, you play a significant part in fulfilling our ACA mission.
- It's a way to give something back. You have learned so much about how to operate a quality camp through the accreditation program, now you have a way to make sure that others can have the same chance for knowledge and growth that you have had.
A Chance to Save Money
- Save $105 a year on ACA membership.
Questions? Contact Us:
- ACA Accreditation, American Camp Association | 800-428-2267
- Colette Marquardt, ACA Illinois | 312-332-0833
- Kyle Medeiros, ACA New York/New Jersey | 212-391-5208
- Elizabeth Snell, ACA New England | 781-541-6080
Timeline for On-Site Visits
In the year of your visit, you will receive an email in the fall reminding you that it's your expected visit year. You can also check your next visit year in the Accreditation Portal. This timeline will help you keep track of key tasks and requirements to complete throughout the year. If you have questions about items on this timeline, contact your accreditation staff member for assistance. The ACA accreditation year is from November 1 through October 31.
Fall-Winter |
Accreditation Process Workshop Complete this workshop as early as possible. It is required that at least 1 person from the camp team takes this in the year of the visit. |
January |
Sign annual Statement of Compliance (currently accredited camps) |
February 1 |
New or non-accredited camp application and fee due Application and fee must be received to move forward with the accreditation process. Camp Information Form* |
March |
Visitor assignments sent via e-mail* |
April 1 |
Accreditation Process Workshop Camps not currently accredited must complete both requirements by April 1 to move forward with a site visit |
June-August |
On-site peer-review visit (most visits take place during the summer months). The on-site visit date is determined with your visit team and occurs on a typical program day (not the opening or closing day of a camp session), and often requires a full day. The peer review is conducted by a team of ACA-trained volunteers who will spend the day observing the camp and working with the director in the scoring process. This visit must occur when the camp is in full operation during the camp's primary business season. |
November |
Camp notified of accreditation status |
Reminder: Ensure fees are current to avoid resource interruption.
Camps Preparing for an On-Site Visit
For camps that are seeking accreditation for the first time, or maintaining their accreditation with their on-site visit, this in an overview of the steps to take in a visit year.
Learn about the important due dates, requirements and estimated time investment to prepare for an on-site visit through maintaining your accreditation.
A fundamental learning opportunity in the accreditation program is receiving feedback from accreditation volunteers on your written documentation. The review and feedback allow the camp to ask questions and make corrections before the on-site visit when scoring occurs and helps verify that the camp is prepared for the on-site visit.
Finding qualified staff and volunteers is a big task. Check out the resources you can use to help you find the industry experts and providers that meet the standards for certification across aquatics, adventure/challenge, first aid/cpr, horseback riding and more.
Day of On-Site Visit / Camp Tour
Tips and tricks to prepare you and your camp community for the day of the visit.
Accreditation Process Guide v. 2019
Accredited camps are responsible not only to meet state and local laws, but also to meet the requirements defined by the standards. The Accreditation Process Guide includes 7 sections of standards. The digital version is available to all accredited/seeking accreditation camps with active membership.
Accreditation Related Trainings
Accreditation Process Workshop Self-Guided Online Learning
This self-guided online course is designed to provide an overview of the ACA Accreditation Process. All camps expecting a visit must have at least one person complete this current online course on behalf of the camp.
Closer Look Video Series
On-demand video library breaking down different topics of standards to explore the meaning and context and gain helpful hints to build your standards knowledge and confidence.
Accreditation Volunteer (formerly the Associate Visitor) Course
The ACA accreditation program is a voluntary peer-review program and process. Involvement and investment as an ACA accreditation volunteer make significant contributions to the camp community by giving back their time, knowledge, and experience as a peer. Please review the qualifications and responsibilities before applying. This is your chance at the best professional development ever!
Accreditation Volunteer Update Course
Accreditation volunteers are required to update on a regular basis to maintain active volunteer status. This update must be completed before doing a visit. All accreditation volunteers are pre-enrolled. Visit the ACA Learning Center for access.
Closer Look Videos
Welcome to the Closer Look Video Series. This recorded on-demand video is one of many that is part of a large library of accreditation related resources offered through ACA called the ACA Accreditation Academy - your one stop shop for learning and growing from the accreditation experience.
Closer Look videos take a small cluster of standards and explore commonly missed standards, tricky interpretations, and highlight resources available to provide deeper knowledge and understanding. These are helpful to a broad audience of viewers including accredited camps, camps considering accreditation for the first time, new leadership joining an accredited camp and accreditation volunteers.
Standards covered in this video all refer to the Accreditation Process Guide v.2019 or the APG v.2019. If you are an accredited camp or a camp officially seeking accreditation, you may access a digital copy of the Accreditation Process Guide v.2019 in the Accreditation Portal as a reference to use along side this video!
More information, tools & resources to help you with your accreditation preparations can be found on the ACAcamps.org website in the Accreditation Academy. Check out the Accreditation Standards Toolkit for even more learning opportunities.
These videos require registration, but are complementary, so you earn continuing education credits.
Title | Standards Covered | Length |
---|---|---|
Closer Look: Annual Accreditation Report for Camps | Maintaining Accreditation Annually | 15 min |
Closer Look: Annual Accreditation Report for Reviewers | Accreditation Volunteer Training | 15 min |
Closer Look: Facility Fun | CR.5, AD.1, AD.44.2, FA.11, ST.1 | 15 min |
Closer Look: Healthcare at Camp | AD.11, HW.1, HW.4, HW.6, HW.9, HW.13, ST.2 | 15 min |
Closer Look: Impact of Staff Training | ST.25, ST.30, ST.31, ST.34, ST.36 | Coming Soon! |
Closer Look: Layers of Protection | AD.14, AD.18-AD.20, AD.27, ST.22-ST.24 | 15 min |
Closer Look: Statement of Compliance | Maintaining Accreditation Annually | Coming Soon! |
Closer Look: Transportation Practices | AD.1-AD.4, AD.7, AD.9, FA.23, FA.24, ST.19, ST.39 | 15 min |
Closer Look: Wonderful World of Trips and Specialized Activities | AD.34, AD.35, AD.45, ST.8, ST.32, ST.41, PD.2, PD.4, PD.5 | Coming Soon! |
Closer Look: Written Documentation Review | Preparing for an On-Site Visit | Coming Soon! |
Visit Assignment Tools & Resources
Visitor Tools & Forms
Access Tools & Forms
Tools and forms are linked in the My Visit Assignment area of the Volunteer Accreditation Portal
- Professional Conduct for ACA Accreditation Volunteers
- ACA Volunteer Visitor Travel Information
- Communication Checklist for Visitors
- 2024 Scoring Materials
- Score Form
- Scoring Reference Guide as noted on the score form by an *
- Digital Scoring Notify ACA staff to utilize it for your visit
- Immediate Corrective Action (ICA) of Mandatory Standard
- ICA Notification Form updated 4/2023
- ICA Comment Examples for Visitors
- Camps submit ICA documentation
- 72-hour Rule Guidelines
- Visitor Reference Booklet
- Multi-Site Camp Visit Process & Directions
Resources
- Written Documentation Review forms if not providing feedback in the accreditation portal
-
- Standards Planning Tool Includes written documentation tool (.xlsx) revised 9/2022
- Activity Certification Charts and Resources
- Reminders for Visitor Communication -Video
Accreditation Volunteer Portal
Portal access is only available for current Accreditation Volunteers, and individual membership fees must be current for access. Access requires individual login. Highlights of the portal include:
- Fully Updated Digital Accreditation Process Guide (APG) v.2019
- My Visits Portal
- Assigned Visitor Team & Contact Info
- Camp Information Forms for Assigned Camps
- Access to tools, resources, and forms
- Written Documentation Review
- Digital Scoring
Accreditation Volunteer Portal
Post-Visit Resources
- ACA Volunteer Visitor Travel Information Read First!
- Volunteer Reimbursement Form for ACA Local Offices online submission
ACA requires all volunteer reimbursements to be paid via electronic fund transfer. - Volunteer Reimbursement Information for ACA Affiliates - If you are volunteering with ACA, New England, ACA, New York and New Jersey, or ACA, Illinois please contact the appropriate office directly.