Many camps like to promote their accreditation status and their relationship to ACA. We encourage you to do this. There are specific words we prefer you use and not use when describing your accreditation or membership.

Camps that Are Accredited: Words to Describe Your Relationship with ACA

  • Camp XYZ is accredited by the American Camp Association. We have chosen to complete this peer review process and meet the requirements for accreditation.
  • Camp XYZ is accredited by the American Camp Association, the only nationwide organization that accredits all types of organized camps.
  • Camp XYZ is a member of the American Camp Association and has achieved accreditation status.
  • Camp XYZ is a member of the American Camp Association and has achieved accreditation status, by completing a voluntary peer review process of standards applicable to our program.

Camps that Are Working to Become Accredited: Words to Describe Your Relationship with ACA

  • Camp XYZ is currently working to become accredited by the American Camp Association and anticipates completing the process in [insert year]. The purpose of ACA accreditation is education, and being accredited means a camp owner/director has chosen to complete a peer review process and has met the established criteria.

Camps that Are Members (including accredited camps): Words to Describe Your Relationship with ACA 

  • Camp XYZ is a member of the American Camp Association. Being a member is not the same as ACA accreditation 
  • Camp XYZ is a member of the American Camp Association (ACA). Membership in ACA provides us with many outstanding resources for our staff and campers. For more information on ACA please visit www.acacamps.org.

Camps that Are NOT Accredited: Words to Describe Your Relationship with ACA

  • If you use the ACA standards in the development of policies and procedures and have them guide your practices, you may state the following: The standards of the American Camp Association inform our policies, procedures, and practices.

Individuals Who Are Members of ACA: Words to Describe Your Relationship with ACA

  • Jane Doe, director of Camp XYZ, is a professional member of ACA.
  • John Rogers has been an individual member of ACA since [date].
  • Sally Jones is a student member of ACA.

I am a professional member of ACA. I believe in the work ACA does to educate camp professionals about quality and safety at camp, and educate the public about the value of camp.

Please do not abbreviate ACA unless you have already spelled out "American Camp Association" in your message. There are other organizations with the acronym "ACA."

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