A nonprofit that accredits camps and sets health, safety and risk standards for the US camp industry, providing training, research, family guidance and advocacy.
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The American Camp Association (ACA) is a nonprofit organisation that sets standards for the camp industry in the United States. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in Martinsville, Indiana, with local chapters across the country, it accredits camps, develops professional training, conducts research, and advocates for youth development at national and local levels. Its work spans accreditation and standards development, health, safety and risk management, youth development research, and professional development and training.
ACA's principal programme is ACA Accreditation, which sets the standard for health, safety and risk management in the camp sector and is intended to give families confidence in their camp choices. Alongside accreditation, the organisation runs professional development offerings designed to help camps build safer, healthier environments for children and youth, and maintains an extensive camp database with expert guidance connecting families with quality camps. Research and advocacy work support the camp field and the outcomes associated with youth development.
The association serves more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps across the United States and has more than 10,000 members; the camps it works with reach some 26m young people annually. Operating for over 115 years, it works in the summer camp, youth development, and childhood education and recreation sectors. Its culture is described as community-oriented, with members sharing knowledge and experience, and mission-driven around youth development, belonging and growth.
