Smooth and Successful On-Site Visits
Communicate Early & Often
Communicate with your lead visitor to ensure that the details of the visit are secure:
- Location/directions to the camp and a place and time to meet the day of the visit.
- Is lunch provided, or should the visitors bring their lunch?
- Are there any clothing requirements?
- Are there cultural norms or mores that visitors should be aware of (language, greetings, dress, food, etc.)?
- Is there cell reception and/or Wi-Fi so visitors can make proper arrangements?
- Will documents be reviewed digitally? And if so, do visitors need to bring a laptop or tablet?
Camp Tour Schedule
Think about the areas of camp and specialized activities that need to be observed and draft a tour schedule that you can collaborate on with your visitor team once they arrive. During the tour, your visitor team should have the opportunity to talk with staff and campers- make sure your camp team is as involved as they can be on the tour.
Video: Getting Staff Ready When Preparing Your Visit
Documentation for Review & Scoring
Assure that ALL documentation is gathered in one place for the written documentation review portion of the visit. If documents are stored electronically, each person should have individual access to reviewing the documents. Make sure your APG v.2019 is up to date!
Accreditation Process Guide (APG) v.2019 Pull-and-Replace Pages - November 2019 NEW!
Video: Review of Written Materials During the On-Site Visit
Take a Moment to Celebrate
You and your team have worked hard to prepare and get to this point. Now it's your time to shine and show off how special your camp is. Take it in and enjoy the day of the visit. Remember your visitors are “camp people” and your peers who know what it’s like to be in your shoes.
When Will I Know the Results?
Camps visited in the summer will be notified of the results of the visit no later than October 31 of the same year. Camps visited at other times of the year will be notified between six (6) and eight (8) weeks following the receipt of the score form at the ACA, Inc. office. While a camp may be visited for accreditation during its first season of operation, accreditation is not achieved until action by the local leadership confirms that all accreditation criteria are met. The “accreditation year” is November 1 through October 31.
Questions or Concerns?
If you have questions or need assistance related to your visit, please feel free to contact a member of the Accreditation & Standards Team.