D S C 8033

Why Choose an Accredited Camp

ACA Accreditation

There is nothing more important than making sure your child is safe.  When beginning your camp search, the best evidence a family or caregiver has about a camp’s commitment to safety is by choosing a camp that is Accredited by the American Camp Association.  ACA Accreditation means that your child’s camp is fully invested in understanding and implementing policies that reflect industry recognized standards in the health, safety and risk management of camp operations.   The American Camp Association is the only nationwide accrediting organization for summer camps.

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1,200 +
Individual Members
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800 k+
Monies Given in Support of Camps since 2020
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100 +
Professional Development Hours

Why It Matters

ACA Accreditation means that a camp continuously chooses to undergo a thorough review of its operation with standards focused on aspects such as:

B Z M T Staff By Pool

Staffing

Staff qualifications, background checks, staff training, staff to camper ratios, supervision and behavior management guidelines

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Health Care

Medical staff available, staff and facility requirements, medication management, required health information and recordkeeping

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Program

Goals for camper development, orientation and safety policies for general and specialized programs including aquatics, challenge courses, trips and horseback riding

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Transportation

Emergency transportation available at all times, transportation safety, driver and vehicle requirements, traffic control

Staff Training

Operational Management

Safety and security regulations, staff emergency training, crisis communications, insurance, planning

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Site/Food Service

Fire protection, maintenance, sleeping areas, bathing/toilet facilities, food service areas and practices

Accreditation Goes Beyond State Licensing

Accredited camps go beyond the state’s basic licensing requirements and address specific areas of programming, personnel, health care, emergency response, management practices, and youth development.

Accreditation Goes Beyond State Licensing

Accredited camps go beyond the state’s basic licensing requirements and address specific areas of programming, personnel, health care, emergency response, management practices, and youth development.

Look for the Accreditation Logo

When doing your camp research, look for the Accreditation logo on a camp’s website and ask the camp director if they are Accredited by the American Camp Association.  You can also search our Find-A-Camp database to find the right Accredited camp for your child.

Choose an Accredited Camp

While there is no such thing as a risk-free environment, some of the best evidence a parent has of a camp’s commitment to a safe and healthy camp environment is choosing a camp that is Accredited by the American Camp Association.