ACA Standards
Become an Accreditation Volunteer
Are you ready to become an Accreditation Volunteer? Apply Now!
Do you have questions about becoming an Accreditation Volunteer? Keep reading and/or join us for an Accreditation Volunteer Interest Session. These brief, informal sessions are held September through December.
Get Started
These 2 steps will get you on the path to becoming an ACA Accreditation Volunteer!
- Check the Accreditation Volunteer Course schedule and find a date that works with your schedule.
- Submit an Accreditation Volunteer Application (online) You'll select your preferred course date on the application.
The Accreditation Volunteer Course consists of two parts:
- Part 1 is online, asynchronous, and takes about 4-5 hours to complete based on your individual learning styles and preferences. Part 1 focuses on learning the principles of the accreditation program and functions of being a visitor. It must be completed prior to your attendance at Part 2. You will receive access to Part 1 approximately one month prior to your scheduled date for Part 2.
- Part 2 is a live, synchronous, 8-hour course that focuses on practical application of the knowledge you gain in Part 1. This is interactive and requires active participation throughout. Almost all of the course dates offered are virtual, via Zoom, though some in-person courses are offered. You must complete Part 1 prior to being admitted to Part 2.
Accreditation Volunteer Courses are offered November-April. The annual course schedule is published in early September.
Additional Steps
- Review the ACA Associate Visitor/Visitor Service Description.
- Review and be ready to sign the Volunteer Conflict of Interest and Code of Conduct
- Be a current ACA individual member.
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 information gathering. 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 $110 a year on ACA membership.
Questions? Contact Us:
- ACA Accreditation, American Camp Association | 800-428-2267
- Colette Marquardt, ACA Illinois | 312-332-0833
- Deirdre Riggsbee, ACA New York & New Jersey | 212-391-5208
- Bud Copeland, ACA New England | 781-541-6080
Review the Annual Accreditation Report (AAR)
About the Annual Accreditation Report (AAR)
The Annual Accreditation Report (AAR) allows camps to demonstrate compliance with accreditation standards in non-visit years by submitting a narrative report. The purpose of the report is to:
- Provide evidence of ongoing quality enhancement/improvement efforts as part of the accreditation cycle.
- Provide education and feedback from trained reviewers for camps in non-visit years.
- Provide evidence of continual compliance with ACA standards throughout the accreditation cycle.
Who are AAR Volunteer Reviewers?
Accreditation volunteers (at any level) are eligible to be an AAR reviewer if the following criteria are met:
- Current accreditation volunteer training. Must be trained or updated after September 2022.
- Must have completed at least one (1) on-site visit.
- Current individual membership.
What is the time commitment?
In mid-January, generally, reviewers are assigned randomly to review a camp-submitted AAR. Most camps do not submit their AAR until the due date, February 1. The primary review period is mid-January through February 10. Each review should take approximately 1-hour to complete. We welcome reviewers to accept multiple assignments.
What does it mean to be an AAR Reviewer?
Since the AAR is an educational tool for the camp, this is your opportunity to provide feedback on their policies, procedures, and practices in a non-visit year. This is a vital annual touchpoint for the accreditation program to emphasize ongoing improvement between site visits. Camps respond to a series of questions that change each year, and ACA volunteers review the responses and provide feedback and comments.
Reviewers will rate each camp response, indicating the degree to which their response meets standards as intended. This rating is called "reviewer feedback." To pair with the feedback, reviewers must also provide a comment. The comment provides the camp with additional educational information. Reviewers' feedback and comments are one-directional; the camp submits the Annual Accreditation Report and then it is volunteer-reviewed. The camp and reviewer are notified when the volunteer submits their review.
Do I need to do additional training?
Watching the Closer Look: AAR Reviewer's on-demand video is highly recommended. In less than 15 minutes, this video takes a deeper dive into the AAR feedback rating process and how to craft thoughtful and educational comments.
What resources are available to reviewers?
Resources are available in the Accreditation Volunteer Portal
- Closer Look Video: AAR and the Reviewer
- Closer Look Video: AAR and the Camp
- AAR question preview in .docx and .txt formats
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For feedback preparation assistance, AAR questions with sample reviewer responses
Accreditation Volunteer Portal to Review AARs
Accreditation Process Workshop at the 2022 ACA National Conference
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
Note: Registration for the Accreditation Process Workshop must be completed separately from the conference. Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis so be sure to pre-register.
Accreditation Process Workshop
Who: This workshop is designed for camp representatives who are preparing for accreditation visits in 2021 and beyond. The course is appropriate for those who are new to the accreditation process AND those who have been part of an accreditation visit or completed standards training in the past. Every camp being visited must have at least one person who completes the workshop on behalf of the camp; that person must actively assist in preparation for the accreditation visit, be on site a significant amount of time during the camp season and participate fully in the on-site accreditation visit.
Date: February 7, 2022
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Oregon Convention Center
CECs: 4.0
Cost: No charge, but pre-registration is required.
Date: February 8, 2022
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Oregon Convention Center
CECs: 4.0
Cost: No charge, but pre-registration is required.