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Accredited by the American Camp Association
What does it mean?

ACA accreditation is the best evidence parents have of a camp's commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for their children. Accreditation assures parents that camp practices have been measured against national standards and go a step beyond a state's basic licensing requirements.

Because accreditation is voluntary, parents know the camp is committed to best practices. Currently, only 25-30 percent of an estimated 10,000 day and resident camps seek accreditation. Accreditation is an educational process-providing training, guidelines, programs, and publications for camp directors and staff.

ACA standards are recognized by courts of law and government regulators as THE standards of the camp industry. The ACA accreditation program has a 50 year history and is continually evaluated and updated to reflect current best practice in camps. ACA collaborates with experts from many fields such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to be sure required practices are current and sound. ACA standards are revised based on research in the public, legal, youth development, and camp arenas.

No environment is risk free. However, ACA camps voluntarily go through a rigorous risk management process to prevent illness or injury to campers-and to have solid crisis plans if an emergency does occur. Camp provides a supervised, positive environment with controlled boundaries to help children grow.

At least once every three years, an outside team of trained professionals observe the camp in session to verify compliance with up to 300 standards. Accreditation standards cover all aspects of camp operation:

 

  • Site/Food Service: Fire protection, maintenance, sleeping areas, bathing/toilet facilities, food service areas and practices
  • Transportation: Driver and vehicle requirements, traffic control, transportation safety
  • Health Care: Staff and facility requirements, medication management, required health information and record keeping
  • Management: Safety and security regulations, staff emergency training, crisis communications, insurance, planning
  • Staffing: Staff qualifications, training, ratios, supervision and behavior management guidelines
  • Program: Goals for camper development, orientation and safety policies for general and specialized programs, including aquatics, challenge courses, trips, and horseback riding

The Directory to Virginias Section ACA Accredited Camps is an annual publication which includes all the camps in the Virginias Section - Virginia and West Virginia. This directory is available free of charge by emailing us at acavirginias@acacamps.org or calling 1-800-347-7523   

Information for Camp Directors

Camps who will be visited for Accreditation are required to attend a Standards Orientation, open to camp directors, program directors, board members and other interested participants. All courses for the summer of 2009 have been completed.  Courses for 2010 will begin in October and will be posted here. 

Click here for a list of visitor assignments for 2009.  For contact information for visitors or camps, call the section office, 1-800-347-7523 or acavirginias@acacamps.org

 

There are many resources available to help camps prepare for a visit, including the Resource CD contained in the Accreditation Process Guide and the ACA national website:

http://www.acacamps.org/accreditation/hyes.php

 

For camps first pursuing accreditation, this link will also be helpful:  http://www.acacamps.org/accreditation/hnovisit.php

 

Questions?  Contact ACA Virginias Standards Co-Chairs:

John Edwards, wvcampdirector@hughes.net 804-457-4210

Rev. Roy Quist,  deerg8@oregoncoast.com 540-636-6737

Associate Visitor Training

 Any ACA member who wishes to volunteer to become an ACA Standards Visitor may attend Associate Visitor Training.  Requirements include:

  • Current ACA membership
  • Minimum age 21
  • Willingness to participate in at least 1 standards visit each year including a Written Documentation Preview and the camp visit (2 days total)
  • Attendance at Standards Course (one day) and Associate Visitor Course (2 days)
  • Attendance at Visitor update as regularly announced

This course will be offered in December, 2009.  Contact the Section Office for details.

 

 

 

 

   

Transition from 1998 to 2007 Standards:  For a chart of changes in the numbering of standards, click here.  

The new/ revised standards went into effect in 2007 for those camps due a visit in 2008.  Camps should immediately begin a transition to new standards; however, the Annual Statement of Compliance holds a camp accountable to the standards under which they were last visited.  All future visits will be based upon the new/revised standards.

   
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ACA, Virginias Contact Info
P.O. Box 697
Clarksville, VA 23927
Linda G. Pulliam, Executive
acavirginias@acacamps.org
P: 800-347-7523
P: 919-603-0445 (For states outside of VA, WV, MD, DC)