Camp is often the highlight of a kid’s summer. While they’re having fun, they may not even realize they’re gaining vital life skills and enhancing their learning, leaving them ready to confidently take on the coming school year. 

However, not all camps meet the high standards needed to deliver the very best programming possible. As families, schools, and community organizations evaluate summer camps to choose the best option for their kids, accreditation can be a great way to demonstrate your camp’s commitment to safety and quality at every level.

Why does summer camp accreditation matter?

Getting your summer camp organization accredited is a great way to elevate your program and stand out. Let’s take a closer look at two major reasons to consider summer camp accreditation.

1. Accountability to elevate your camp quality

If you know you have room to improve, the accreditation process can help you bring your program up to the level you want to reach. Learn what you need to do to achieve accreditation and use this set of standards to guide your efforts as you shore up safety vulnerabilities, improve hiring practices, or otherwise upgrade the quality of your camp programming.

2. An objective mark of your camp’s quality 

Because accreditation comes through an outside organization, the public rightly puts a lot of stock in this designation. Accrediting bodies are objective in verifying you meet their predetermined standards, and participating in this process is voluntary. By getting accredited, you show an exceptional commitment to quality and safety that can build trust in your organization and lead to higher enrollment. 

Learn more about the importance of ensuring children’s welfare in our blog post, “Safety First: How the Right Youth Program Management Software Can Help You Protect Kids”!

What do the standards look like for summer camp accreditation?

The leading accrediting body for summer camp organizations is the American Camp Association (ACA). This organization has well-respected standards that mainly center around safety and well-being for campers and staff. Their standards are informed by up-to-date research from youth-serving agencies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Red Cross.

The American Camp Association standards fall into the following categories:

• Core
• Administration
• Facilities
• Health and wellness
• Staff and supervision
• Program design and activities
• Program aquatics

Each category includes a list of specific standards a camp must meet and recommended best practices to become accredited. 

How do you get your summer camp accredited?

The accreditation process can take 6-18 months to complete. The process generally follows these steps:

• Conduct a self-assessment

  Start by reviewing the ACA accreditation standards and determine how closely your current practices and policies align with these standards. This will give you an idea of the work you’ll need to put in to achieve accreditation. 

• Submit an application

The next step is to submit a written application and pay the ACA’s annual fee. This action will get the ball rolling on receiving your accreditation.

• Take a standards course

You can attend a course to learn about the ACA’s standards and how best to meet them. This will be helpful information to add to your initial overview of the standards.

• Prepare written materials

You’ll need to carefully document your camp’s policies, demonstrating how they align with the ACA’s standards. This documentation is not only essential for the accreditation process, but also a helpful reference for your staff. Consider putting all these policies together into an online handbook for easily reference.

• Participate in an on-site visit

Finally, you’ll take part in an on-site visit, during which members of the ACA will come to your camp facility to perform an in-person evaluation. If they determine your camp successfully hits the mark, then you’ll be awarded your ACA accreditation!

Streamline your summer camp administration with Arly

There are a lot of logistics that go into running a successful summer camp—especially one that meets the standards for accreditation. Let Arly elevate your administration with our full suite of tools and resources for youth programming. We provide the solutions you need to make your summer camp a success, from registration to family engagement and beyond. Learn more by requesting a demo!