|
Accredited by the American Camp Association | Questions To Ask Camp Directors
ACA Accreditation assures parents that the camp has had a regular, independent
safety audit that goes beyond regulations in most states.
Accreditation is different than
licensing.
- Licensing, with surprise inspections, focuses on enforcement of minimum
regulations - often in just sanitation and food service. Accreditation,
with scheduled visits, focuses on education - supporting best practices
in all aspects of camp operation
- Licensing varies significantly from state to state. Accreditation
standards and processes are nationally developed, tested, and accepted,
both by camp professionals and legal/regulatory authorities
- Licensing is required and imposed. Accreditation is voluntary. Camps
that are accredited have demonstrated their commitment to providing
safe and nurturing environments for children
To achieve accreditation, camps must demonstrate
compliance with any mandatory standards applicable to their specific
programs, as well as substantial compliance with an additional body
of standards in ten operational areas that specifically address the
delivery of a quality camp program.
- Five operational management areas such as facilities and staffing
- Five program areas such as aquatics and trips
No accreditation process, no licensing program, no set of regulations
or laws can guarantee safety. However, accreditation is the best evidence
for parents that a camp is committed to providing a safe and nurturing
environment for their children.
Accreditation helps parents select camps that meet government-recognized
best practices.
Parents can (and should) verify the accreditation status of any camp
at any time. This may be accomplished through ACA's Web site at www.ACAcamps.org
or by calling 1-800-428-CAMP.
Top of page.
Accredited
by the American Camp Association
What does it mean?
The
American Camp Association is the advocate
for the accredited-camp experience.
ACA Standards are continually revised
and updated to reflect the needs of
camps, the public, and the changing
body of laws and regulations. The main
purpose of the ACA-accreditation program
is to educate camp owners and directors
in the administration of key aspects
of camp operation, particularly those
related to program quality and the
health and safety of campers and staff.
The second purpose of ACA accreditation
is to assist the public in selecting
camps that meet industry-accepted and
government-recognized standards.
Although many state and federal laws and regulations address basic sanitation
and food service concerns, the ACA Standards go a step further in addressing
the specific areas of programming, personnel, health care, and management
practices. Separate standards are applied to activities such as aquatics,
horseback riding, adventure challenge activities, and travel and trip
programs.
ACA accreditation is the best evidence parents have of a camp's commitment
to a safe and nurturing environment for their children. This voluntary
accreditation assures parents that camp practices have been measured
against national standards and go a step beyond a state's basic licensing
requirements. Accreditation is based on a commitment by the camp to best
practices.
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 applicable standards.
The ACA has developed up to 300 standards that cover the various aspects
of camp operations in ten specific areas.
- 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 recordkeeping
- 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
Few fields combine such a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, as
does organized camping. Camp directors are required to have expertise
in very technical fields such as nutrition, food service, facility design
and maintenance, risk management, marketing, personnel and business management.
Being a camp professional also necessitates the blending of the principles
of social group work, recreation, child development, physical education,
health and wellness, psychology, and education. Camping provides the
unique opportunity to integrate these disciplines by working with people
in a stimulating outdoor setting.
Top of page.
Questions
To Ask Camp Directors
When
you receive a camp's brochure, you
will invariably have questions for
the camp director. From that first
phone call or letter, you begin developing
an impression of what a particular
camp is like and how it is run. A camp
may be described in nothing less than
glowing terms in its brochure. The
setting may be absolutely breathtaking.
Activities may run the gamut from racquetball
to modern dance. In the end, however,
it's the human equation of how those
activities are operated and conducted
that determines the quality of the
camp program. Get to know the camp
director as a person through telephone
conversations, correspondence, and
a personal visit. Have the director
describe the camp's philosophy and
how the staff implements it.
What is the camp's philosophy
and program emphasis?
Each camp has its own method of constructing programs based on its philosophy.
Does it complement your own parenting philosophy? Many camps actively
promote competition and healthy rivalry among camp teams, as reflected
in team sports. For many campers this is pure fun. Some parents feel
that learning to be competitive at an early age teaches essential survival
skills. However, other parents and educators are in favor of cooperative
learning. Knowing your child's personality and style of learning is valuable
in selecting the right camp.
What is the camp director's background?
ACA minimum standards recommend directors possess a bachelor's degree,
have completed in-service training within the past three years, and have
at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming the
responsibilities of director.
What training do counselors receive?
At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency
procedures and communication, behavior management techniques, child abuse
prevention, appropriate staff and camper behavior, and specific procedures
for supervision.
What is the counselor-to-camper
ratio?
ACA standards require different ratios for varying ages and special needs.
Generally, the ratios at resident camps range from: One staff member
for every five campers ages 4 and 5; one staff member for every
six campers ages 6 to 8; one staff member for every eight campers
ages 9 to 14; and one staff member for every 10 campers ages 15 to 17.
At day camps the ratios range from: one staff member for every six
campers ages 4 and 5; eight campers ages 6 to 8; one staff member for
every 10 campers ages 9 to 14; and one staff member for every 12 campers
ages 15 to 17.
What are the ages of the counselors?
ACA standards recommend that 80 percent or more of the counseling/program
staff be at least 18 years old. Staff must be at least 16 years old and
be at least two years older than the campers with whom they work. In
special needs camps, 100 percent of the counseling/program staff must
be at least 18 years old.
What are desired qualities in
camp staff?
The same qualities of trustworthiness and dependability sought by any
employer are valued commodities in camp employees. Also, the ability
to adapt to a variety of situations, empathy for and ability to work
with camp clientele, a strong self-image and an outgoing personality
are important characteristics for camp staff.
What percentage of the counselors
returned from last year?
Most camps have from 40-60 percent returning staff. If the rate is lower,
find out why.
How are behavioral and disciplinary
problems handled?
This
is where the director's philosophy
comes through loud and clear. Positive
reinforcement, assertive role modeling
and a sense of fair play are generally
regarded as key components of camp
counseling and leadership. Rules are
necessary in any organization and the
disciplinary approach taken should
be reasonable and well communicated.
If penalties are involved for violations,
they should be applied quickly, fairly,
calmly, and without undue criticism
to campers.
How does the camp handle special
needs?
If your child has special requirements, ask the camp director about needed
provisions and facilities. Is there a nurse on staff? Do they have a
designated place to store insulin or allergy medicine? Are special foods
available for campers with restricted diets? Every question and each
answer is important.
How does the camp handle homesickness
and other adjustment issues?
Again, the camp's philosophy on helping children adjust is important.
Be sure you are comfortable with the camp's guidelines on parent/child
contact.
What about references?
This is generally one of the best ways to check a camp's reputation and
service record. Directors should be happy to provide references.
Does the American Camp Association
accredit the camp?
It is only logical that members of your family attend an ACA-accredited
camp. Accreditation visitors ask the questions -- up to 300 of them -- regarding
essential health, safety, and program quality issues important to a camp's
overall operation. This does not guarantee a risk-free environment, but
it's some of the best evidence parents have of a camp's commitment to
a safe and nurturing environment for their children.
|
