The American Camp Association Increases Inclusivity and Applicability to Its Accreditation Program

Indianapolis, IN: After two years of information gathering, planning, and testing, the American Camp Association® (ACA) has revised and reorganized its standards for accreditation, the only standards for health and safety in the camp industry. The improvements to ACA’s 70-year-old accreditation program are designed to be more inclusive and applicable to a wider variety of camps.

In addition to traditional day and overnight summer camp, more camp programs are hosted on college campuses, in community centers, at public schools, and on a variety of private properties. The ACA accreditation update has been designed to open the door for all camps to commit to the highest standards of health and safety in the camp industry. The updated standards include improved organization to eliminate redundancy and improved technology to support camps. The revisions are also geared toward camp operators who do not own their own property, as well as camps that host programs at many sites.

“ACA standards have been streamlined through consolidation and reorganization to better serve our current and emerging audiences. The rigor and integrity of the accreditation program remains,” explains ACA President/CEO Tom Rosenberg. “Parents will remain assured that an ACA-accredited camp is the best measure of a camp’s commitment to safety in the industry.”

The American Camp Association is the only independent accrediting organization for camp operations in the United States. ACA’s nationally recognized standards program focuses primarily on the health, safety, and risk management aspects of a camp’s operation. Accreditation is administered through a third-party, peer-review process, and ACA collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at the camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. To find ACA- accredited camps near you, check out ACA’s Find a Camp tool.

About ACA:

The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization with more than 12,000 individual members and 3,000 member camps. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy and evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accredits approximately 2,400 diverse camps nationally. Accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, and overall well-being of both campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org.