Accreditation
Timeline for On-Site Visits
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.
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Fall-Winter |
Accreditation Process Workshop Complete this workshop as early as possible. It is required that at least 1 person from the camp team takes this in the year of the visit. |
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January |
Sign annual Statement of Compliance (currently accredited camps) |
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February 1 |
New or non-accredited camp application and fee due Application and fee must be received to move forward with the accreditation process. Camp Information Form* |
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March |
Visitor assignments sent via e-mail* |
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April 1 |
Accreditation Process Workshop Camps not currently accredited must complete both requirements by April 1 to move forward with a site visit |
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June-August |
On-site peer-review visit (most visits take place during the summer months). The on-site visit date is determined with your visit team and occurs on a typical program day (not the opening or closing day of a camp session), and often requires a full day. The peer review is conducted by a team of ACA-trained volunteers who will spend the day observing the camp and working with the director in the scoring process. This visit must occur when the camp is in full operation during the camp's primary business season. |
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November |
Camp notified of accreditation status |
Reminder: Ensure fees are current to avoid resource interruption.
Camps Preparing for an On-Site Visit
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.
Learn about the important due dates, requirements and estimated time investment to prepare for an on-site visit through maintaining your accreditation.
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.
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.
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 Related Trainings
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.
Visit Assignment Tools & Resources
Resources
- Written Documentation Review forms if not providing feedback in the accreditation portal
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- 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
Maintaining Accreditation
Non-Visit Year Timeline
| Fall-Winter | Review any revised or new standards Refresh information on Find-a-Camp Consider training to become a Visitor |
| December |
Annual Accreditation Report available Review your camp's compliance with the Standards. |
| January | Review your camp's compliance with the Standards. Review and sign the annual Statement of Compliance |
| February 1 | |
| Annually | Ensure accreditation fees are current |
Annual Accreditation Report
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
After achieving ACA accredited status, the camp may use the ACA accredited camp logo and will receive an accredited camp sign. Additionally, check out the marketing tools resources to tell your accreditation story. The use of ACA accreditation signs and logos is a privilege reserved for currently accredited camps. All indications of ACA accreditation are protected by U.S. patent and copyright laws. To maintain Accreditation and use the ACA accredited camp logo, all camps must keep membership fees current annually. For assistance with your renewal, contact the membership team at 1- 800-428-2267 option 2 or email [email protected].
