Accreditation
Program Overview of Accreditation
Overview of Standards and Accreditation
For 50 years the accreditation process has grown to keep pace with changes in the camp industry, expectations of the public, and the challenges of operating a business in today's highly regulated society.
American Camp Association standards help you with every aspect of your camp management and operation:
- Core/Foundational: Standards included in this section are “core” to a camp accredited by the American Camp Association. Users expect clean and repaired facilities and to be treated with respect and dignity. For day, resident, and short-term camps, clearly articulated goals, outcomes, and activities designed to assist in camper development are core to guiding the camp’s focus and programming.
- Administration: Administrative standards include policies and procedures for which key administrative staff are most typically responsible for writing and distributing. Topics include transportation, risk management, emergency procedures, policies related to camp staff, and various program areas. For some key topics, the writing and maintaining of the policy/procedure is addressed in this section of standards, and the training and implementation of the procedure is in the staff training standards.
- Facilities: The camp’s facilities, safety protocols, vehicles, and foodservice safety should promote health and safety and minimize risk. Facilities make an important contribution to the overall experience and significantly affect the safety of participants.
- Health and Wellness: All camps need a well-thought-out healthcare plan that provides for the needs of campers, staff, and rental groups. Potential health risks to the clientele need to be identified and evaluated, and plans for prevention and care need to be specified.
- Staff Training, Qualifications, Supervision Standards: Staff qualifications, training, supervision ratios, and procedures. Camp personnel are expected to assume many responsibilities, deliver a wide range of services, and complete numerous tasks in an environment of constant close human interaction, all with quality results. Some persons may work with the site operation, some with the program, and some with both.
- Program Design: The camp provides program activities as a means of achieving its developmental goals and outcomes, conducted in ways that protect the health, safety, and well-being of its campers.
- Program Aquatics: Swimming and boating activities take place in and on pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, ocean fronts, and creeks. Safety is a central concern in all aquatic activities, and the purpose of the aquatic standards is to set an expectation for trained and certified supervision (scored in the Staff and Supervision section), appropriate safety precautions, and well-planned emergency procedures.
Mandatory Standards
Compliance with the mandatory standards is required for accreditation to be granted, regardless of scores achieved in other areas of the standards. If a standard has more than one “part” only the mandatory part of the standard is listed. The complete standard along with the Contextual Education can be found in the full Accreditation Process Guide, 2019 Edition. Current fee-paying camps can also access the standards through the Accreditation Portal.
To see a brief summary of the standards, take a look at the Standards At A Glance.
What Accreditation Can and Can't Do
While standards focus on health, safety, and risk management practices, accreditation cannot guarantee that the camper will be absolutely free from harm. Accreditation can indicate to the public that the camp administration has voluntarily allowed its practices to be compared with the standards established by professionals in the camping industry. At least once every three years an outside team of trained camping professionals visits the camp to verify compliance with the standards.
Unlike inspections by state licensing bodies, ACA accreditation is voluntary. ACA cannot close or otherwise penalize an entity that is not meeting its accreditation criteria, except for the removal of the accreditation status. Licensing focuses on the enforcement of minimum standards. Accreditation focuses on education and evaluation of one's operation and can help you go beyond the minimum requirements of licensing.
ACA standards identify practices considered basic to quality camping. However, they do not require all programs to look alike. The ACA accreditation program serves a broad range of facilities from primitive to highly developed and programs from basic to highly advanced. Each will have addressed in its own way the concerns identified by the standards.
Many types of camps and programs seek ACA accreditation such as camps that operate day and resident camp sessions, travel and trip programs, school camps and environmental education programs, and camps with special program emphases (e.g., sports, academic, therapeutic, religious). Many of these camps also offer facilities and services to other program operators.
Questions? Call us 1- 800-428-2267
Camps Seeking Accreditation
Exploring Accreditation - Ready. Set. Go.
We recommend you know as much about accreditation as possible before getting started. Please attend the free one-hour webinar called Exploring Accreditation Webinar. to learn more about what to expect. You can read more about the accreditation program and its benefits also.
Deadlines for Camps Seeking Accreditation
To Do List — To receive an accreditation visit, a camp must do the following.
- Fall - Attend an Exploring Accreditation Webinar. Submit an application and fees as early as possible. We suggest no later than September or October. If you submit your application after February 1, your camp will not receive a visit that summer. If your program occurs primarily outside of the summer months, please contact ACA.
- Fall/Winter - Complete an Accreditation Process Workshop as soon as possible. The sooner, the better. If you haven't taken a course by March 31, your camp will not receive a visit that summer.
- Fall/Winter - Prepare materials and written documentation required by the standards; review and evaluate each area of your camp's operation using the guidelines noted in the standards.
- Fall/Winter - Take advantage of all preparation resources in the Accreditation Academy to support your work in preparing materials.
- Spring - By mid to late March, you'll have your visitor assignment.
- Spring - Submit the written documentation required in the Written Documentation Review before April 1.
- Summer - Participate in the peer review process (the "visit").
- Fall - In early November, you'll receive notification of your accreditation.
Reminders
- Begin early! It can take up to 18 months to prepare for your first ACA accreditation visit. Significant written documentation is required.
- Your ACA accreditation visitor will reach out to you about your Written Documentation Review and to set a visit date.
- ACA's Accreditation Program is not intended to circumvent the licensure required to operate your primary business.
- Compliance with legal requirements of the jurisdictions within which a camp/program is located is the responsibility of the camp.
Application Details
Applications for accreditation must be received by ACA by February 1 if you are seeking a visit in the upcoming summer. We encourage you to apply sooner so you have access to all the resources.
If your camp is interested in seeking accreditation and have any questions, please contact the membership team.
- We will help you understand the requirements, time commitment, and work involved
- We will discuss eligibility with you
- We will discuss camp fees and the application process with you
We look forward to assisting you! Send us an email or call us at 765-342-8456 press 1.
Paying Your Renewal Dues/Fees?
Please do not pay with the online application.
- Have your renewal notice and are ready to pay? You can pay online.
- Don’t have your renewal notice, contact [email protected].