Accreditation Standards for Camp Programs and Services

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Accreditation Standards for Camp Programs and Services is written by American Camping Association and published by American Camping Association. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 0876031599 (ISBN 10) and 9780876031599 (ISBN 13).

The American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation program aims 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, and to assist the public in selecting camps that meet industry-accepted and government-recognized standards. This book explains the accreditation program to camp owners and directors, and helps them prepare for accreditation. The introductory section describes eligibility requirements and administration of the standards program, including preparation for the visit by the local section of the ACA. The types of camps or camping operations the standards apply to; differences in levels of requirements, such as which standards are mandatory; and which materials must be reviewed in writing are also covered in the introduction. Section 2 discusses requirements for the following standards: site and food service, transportation, health and wellness, operational management, human resources, and programs. Program standards cover leadership qualifications, safety regulations, and procedures for both general and specialized activities such as aquatics, adventure activities, horseback riding, and trip/travel camping programs. Each standard begins with a relevant question about camp practices, includes interpretation and the means of demonstrating compliance, and may include a "mandatory" signal or a "does not apply" statement. Section 3 presents additional practices accepted by camping professionals as basic to camp operation, but not currently required by the standards. Twenty-one appendices discuss additional selected topics that may need further clarification. (Contains a glossary and an index.) (TD)