It has been a long tradition of the American Camp Association, Southern California / Hawaii area to pay tribute to those who make an extraordinary contribution to the advancement of the camp movement, and who play an important role in ACA. It is crucial as an industry and profession that we take the time to celebrate our successes and the individuals and organizations that have helped to make the camp experience happen in the lives of children, families and their communities. Awards will be presented at the Spring Leadership Conference.
Please take a minute to consider your colleges and camp programs that deserve recognition! Make your nomination today! Nomination deadline March 15, 2024.
Brian Crater Scholarship
The Brian Crater Scholarship is available to American Camp Association members requesting assistance meeting the costs of attending American Camp Association professional development opportunities. Brian is remembered for being a great educator, mentor, leader and supporter of camp.
ACA, Southern California/Hawaii has limited funds available to provide financial support to professionals who would like to attend the Spring leadership Conference but aren't financially able to do so. First priority will be given to camp and youth development professionals living in Southern California/Hawaii followed by those living in other parts of ACA’s Western Region (Evergreen, Northern California, Oregon Trail, Rocky Mountain, Southwest.) The deadline to submit is Friday, February 23, 2024. Applicants will receive notification of their status by March 1, 2024. For additional information, contact Betsy Thamert, bthamert@ACAcamps.org, 765-342-1349.
2024 Spring Leadership Conference Brian Crater Scholarship Application
The Rising Star Award
2023 Recipient: Mark Pincumbe, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times
This award is given to recognize individuals who are new to service in organized camping and the local area.
To qualify for nomination:
- The candidate must be a member of Southern California/Hawaii.
- The candidate must be new to local service.
- There is no age criteria for this award.
List of Rising Star Award past recipients
Nominate a candidate for the Rising Star Award
The Paul Somers Golden Acorn Award
2023 Recipients: Tate Castro, Tumbleweed Day Camp, Michael Heiman, Monarch Camps, Natalie Corrall, YMCA of San Diego County
This award is for members of the camp community - volunteers, public officials - who contribute to the field of organized camping on a short term or long term basis.
To qualify for nomination:
- The candidate may be a non-member of ACA
- The award may be presented to an individual, a group of individuals or an organization or company.
List of Paul Somers Golden Acorn Award past recipients
Nominate a candidate for the Paul Somers Award
The Southern California/Hawaii Service Award
2023 Recipients: Shannon Edwards, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, Tori Barnes, Church Mutual Insurance Company
The Service Awards is given to recognize exceptional service to camping and the local area.
To qualify for nomination:
- The candidate must be a member of ACA, and served Southern California/Hawaii for not less than 5 years.
List of past Service Award recipients
Nominate a candidate for the Southern California/Hawaii Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award
2023 Recipients: Nick Coffing, Canyon Creek Summer Camp
The Outstanding Service Awards is the highest honor presented to a member of ACA, Southern California/Hawaii. It honors individuals who have given outstanding and exceptional service to camping and local ACA efforts.
To qualify for nomination:
- The candidate must be a member of ACA Southern California/Hawaii for not less than 5 years
- Contributions should of exceptional benefit to local ACA efforts
- The benefits of the candidate's service should go beyond the local area to ACA on a regional and/or national level or other noted organizations.
List of past Outstanding Service Award recipients
Nominate a candidate for the Outstanding Service Award
The Program Excellence Award
2023 Recipient: C5LA, Outpost Summer Camp, Camp Stevens
This award is given by ACA, Southern California/Hawaii to honor programs that develop effective, creative responses to the needs of a community and/or societal problems using the camp environment and to present the public examples of positive contributions camp can make to the well-being of individuals and society.
To qualify, camp programs will demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Understand and make use of inter-grouping - combining groups that have differences (e.g., physical abilities, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, religion, and home environment).
- Develop programs suited to the needs and interests of teenage campers.
- Broaden the range of services to persons with disabilities.
- Emphasize awareness of interpersonal relationships and development of interpersonal skills.
- Conduct innovative and effective staff-development programs.
- Offer support activities or leadership that significantly expands opportunities for human growth and enrichment through camping (for non-camp organizations)
- Program must have been in operation for at least one year (excluding planning and development time). ACA membership is not required for eligibility. Nominations will be judged on creativity and imaginative planning, relevance to the needs of participants; involvement of the target participants in the planning and implementation; adaptability and potential for replication; cooperative efforts with other organizations, agencies, or camps; and ability for the program to meet stated objectives.
List of past Program Excellence Award recipients
Nominate a camp for the Program Excellence Award
The Shirley Walch Recognition for Excellence in Standards Award
2023 Recipient: Sam Brasted, Camp Stevens
This award is presented to an individual, group or camp leadership team that has, in the eyes of the ACA Southern California/Hawaii Standards Leadership Team, advanced the cause of camp accreditation by going above and beyond the call of duty to embody the underlying principles – education, objectivity and support – of the ACA standards program.
To qualify for nomination:
- The candidate must have contributed to the standards program locally.
- The candidate may be an individual, group or camp leadership team.
- There is no age limit on this award.
List of past Shirley Walch Recognition for Excellence in Standards Award recipients
Nominate a candidate for the Shirley Walch Award
Learn more about Shirley Walch.
Membership in the Legacy Circle
2023 Members: Audrey and Steve Monke, Gold Arrow Camp and Sara and Steve Kuljis, Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp, Stuart Jones, Outpost Summer Camp
This awards honors the vision and support of individuals who have been committed to the field of organized camping and ACA for more than 30 years. They have served in leadership capacities in Southern California or Hawaii and have made significant contributions to the camp industry.
To qualify for nomination:
- The candidate must be a member (or former member) of ACA, Southern California/Hawaii.
- The candidate must have contributed to the camping industry for more than 30 years.
- There is no age limit on this award.
Nominate a candidate for the Legacy Circle
Certificate of Appreciation
2023 Recipients: Michele Branconier, Jami Foster
This awards honors contributions to ACA Southern California/Hawaii or the camping industry at large.
To qualify for nomination:
- There are no membership requirements.
- There are no geographical requirement.
- The candidate must have contributed to ACA or the camping industry in a significant way.
- There is no age limit on this award.
Questions about awards? Please contact John Beitner, ACA Western Region Director