Accreditation

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

• Written Documentation Review in the ACA Accreditation Portal
• Written Documentation Review (.docx)
• Standards Planning Tool Includes written documentation tool (.xlsx)

The ACA Accreditation Portal Written Documentation Review (WDR) tool is the preferred method to submit your WDR. You can share links to your written documentation in your cloud file storage and make notes for your visitor to review in this space. Your visitor has access to everything you post and can provide helpful feedback to make sure you're on track for your on-site visit. A summary report is provided of your submission, shared links, and ACA volunteer feedback.

Organization of Written Documentation

We strongly suggest all camps prepare ALL written documentation in a digital format.  Camps need to communicate directly with their ACA visit team once assigned. 

All camps should create and use cloud file storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, box, etc.) to organize ALL written documentation related to accreditation standards. If your camp still uses the practice of printing documentation in hard copy and placing it in a binder to review on the day of the visit, that can continue; however, you should also have the digital organization of the documents.

The other key to great organization is highlighting, tagging, or marking specific elements of your written documentation to make it easy for the visitor team to find your compliance demonstration.

Benefits of digital document organization:

• One of the objectives of having written documentation is that it provides consistency and makes your policies, procedures, and practices easier to disseminate. If only the director or coordinator of your written documentation can access it, how can you ensure that your entire camp community embraces and implements the standards? Having documents that you can share quickly and easily in a digital format allows greater exposure and access to all the work you put into aligning with the ACA accreditation standards.
• When documents are in cloud file storage, they can be easily shared directly with others for collaborative work.
• Paper copies are more likely to be accidentally torn up, are harder to recreate if this is the only version that exists, can be damaged or destroyed between uses, or disappear in leadership transitions. Having your documents in cloud file storage allows you to share the folder with other key team members, so they are less likely to be lost or destroyed from year to year.

In the year of your visit, you will receive an email in the fall reminding you that it's your expected visit year. You can also check your next visit year in the Accreditation Portal. This timeline will help you keep track of key tasks and requirements to complete throughout the year. If you have questions about items on this timeline, contact your accreditation staff member for assistance. The ACA accreditation year is from November 1 through October 31.

Reminder: Ensure fees are current to avoid resource interruption.

On-Site Visit Preparation

For camps that are seeking accreditation for the first time, or maintaining their accreditation with their on-site visit, this in an overview of the steps to take in a visit year.

Timeline

Learn about the important due dates, requirements and estimated time investment to prepare for an on-site visit through maintaining your accreditation.

Written Documentation Review

A fundamental learning opportunity in the accreditation program is receiving feedback from accreditation volunteers on your written documentation. The review and feedback allow the camp to ask questions and make corrections before the on-site visit when scoring occurs and helps verify that the camp is prepared for the on-site visit.

Certification Resources

Finding qualified staff and volunteers is a big task. Check out the resources you can use to help you find the industry experts and providers that meet the standards for certification across aquatics, adventure/challenge, first aid/cpr, horseback riding and more.

Day of On-Site Visit / Camp Tour

Tips and tricks to prepare you and your camp community for the day of the visit.

Accreditation Process Guide 

Accredited camps are responsible not only to meet state and local laws, but also to meet the requirements defined by the standards. The Accreditation Process Guide includes seven sections of standards. The digital version is available to all accredited and accreditation-seeking camps with active membership. 

 

Accreditation Process Workshop Self-Guided Online Learning

This self-guided online course is designed to provide an overview of the ACA Accreditation Process. All camps expecting a visit must have at least one person complete this current online course on behalf of the camp.

Closer Look Video Series

On-demand video library breaking down different topics of standards to explore the meaning and context and gain helpful hints to build your standards knowledge and confidence.

Accreditation Volunteer (formerly the Associate Visitor) Course

The ACA accreditation program is a voluntary peer-review program and process.  Involvement and investment as an ACA accreditation volunteer make significant contributions to the camp community by giving back their time, knowledge, and experience as a peer. Please review the qualifications and responsibilities before applying. This is your chance at the best professional development ever! 

Accreditation Volunteer Update Course

Accreditation volunteers are required to update on a regular basis to maintain active volunteer status. This update must be completed before doing a visit.  All accreditation volunteers are pre-enrolled.  Visit the ACA Learning Center for access.

• Written Documentation Review forms if not providing feedback in the accreditation portal
• Standards Planning Tool  revised 10/2025
• Activity Certification Charts and Resources
• Reminders for Visitor Communication 

Accreditation Volunteer Portal

Portal access is only available for current Accreditation Volunteers, and individual membership fees must be current for access. Access requires individual login. Highlights of the portal include:

• Fully Updated Digital Accreditation Process Guide (APG) v.2025
• My Visits Portal
  • Assigned Visitor Team & Contact Info
  • Camp Information Forms for Assigned Camps
  • Access to tools, resources, and forms
  • Written Documentation Review
  • Digital Scoring

​Accreditation Volunteer Portal

Post-Visit Resources

• Volunteer Reimbursement Form for ACA Local Offices  online submission
• ACA requires all volunteer reimbursements to be paid via electronic fund transfer.
• Volunteer Reimbursement Information for ACA Affiliates - If you are volunteering with ACA,New England, ACA, New York and New Jersey, or ACA, Illinois please contact the appropriate office directly.

Accreditation Process Guide v.2025 

Pull-and-Replace Pages November 2025

The Accreditation program is more than just the on-site visit. In non-visit years there is also a focus on continuous compliance with the standards. This allows for ongoing emphasis on quality improvement throughout the entire accreditation cycle. In non-visit years, camps will demonstrate their compliance with accreditation standards by submitting a narrative report called the Annual Accreditation Report. At least every five years, camps will demonstrate their compliance through an on-site visit.

Accreditation Process Guide

As part of an accredited camp's continued compliance, there should be an annual review and evaluation of the standards in the Accreditation Process Guide and implementation of all updates and necessary changes to a camp's written documentation and practices.

The Accreditation Process Guide should be current and up to date. The Accreditation Process Guide v.2025, located in the Accreditation Portal, is always up to date. If you have a published copy of the APG, make sure you have updated it with the most recent pull and replace pages. Learn more about updating your APG.

Statement of Compliance

Every year, including the year of an accreditation visit, a legal representative from the camp must sign the annual Statement of Compliance indicating its continued compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and permit requirements and all of ACA’s current applicable mandatory standards.

Accreditation Logo