What does camp accreditation mean?

Approximately 10 million kids attend camp each summer, but only a small percentage of them attend camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).

Choosing an ACA accredited camp is your best assurance the camp meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to camper health, safety and supervision, food service, transportation, risk-management, facility maintenance, staff training and program quality, among others.

By choosing an accredited camp your child will be in exclusive company; fewer than 25% of camps in the United States have earned ACA accreditation.

It’s important to note that accreditation is not the same as a license to operate, and accreditation does not guarantee safety. Each state and/or county may have its own licensing and regulations for camps. However, according to the American Camp Association, “accreditation is the best evidence for parents that a camp is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for their children.”

How do you know if the camp you’re considering for your kids has achieved ACA accreditation? Just ask the camp director. If they answer “yes,” you may be found a winner. If the camp is not accredited, you should ask the camp director why not. (Just because a camp is not accredited doesn't mean it's a "bad" camp, but if you're not satisfied with the camp director's answer, perhaps it's time to consider another camp.)

Good luck!