American Camp Association | Summer camps enrich children's lives!

Learn the skills you need to succeed. Camping Magazine is your primary source for the most recent trends in the camp industry, the latest research in the field of youth development, critical management tools, and innovative programming ideas. September/October 2010 articles address education, research, history, 2020 Toolbox, and much more.

2010 September/October Camping Magazine Magazine

Perfect for campers, camp parents, and staff! Single item or quantity orders available. Customize with your camp name.

Stock your camp store . . . Purchase as gifts . . . Share the memories.

T-shirts • Hats • Bags • Posters Brought to you by ACA in partnership with New D

All books and DVDs 25% off on all orders of $75 or more at the ACA Bookstore! Use code LBD-25 at checkout. 

Labor Day Spectacular at the ACA Bookstore

Join more than 1,500 of your colleagues, presenters, and exhibiting personnel at the 2011 National Conference in San Diego. Fourplus packed days of quality education, social and issuesbased networking, professional trade-show access, and special events are designed to boost your professional development.

2011 National Conference in San Diego

Children and youth need a community that:  encourages achievement and builds self-esteem; promotes healthy lifestyles, fitness, and activity; teaches in a classroom without walls; instills appreciation, respect, and responsibility for the natural world around them; and inspires the confidence and courage to become the leaders of tomorrow.

A Voice for Excellence

Find a Camp

Looking for a summer camp? Search over 2,400 ACA-Accredited camps.

Find a Job

Find the perfect summer or year-round camp job. Need Staff? Check Out ACA’s Staff Recruitment Solutions!

Join ACA

Join today and be an integral part of an evolving, versatile, and vibrant organization of people with knowledge to share.


Warning: main(http://www.acacamps.org/include/nav/about/topnav.htm): failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /usr/home/aca/public_html/accreditation/costs.php on line 42

Warning: main(): Failed opening 'http://www.acacamps.org/include/nav/about/topnav.htm' for inclusion (include_path='.:/home/aca/php') in /usr/home/aca/public_html/accreditation/costs.php on line 42

Warning: main(http://www.acacamps.org/include/nav/about/accreditation.htm): failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /usr/home/aca/public_html/accreditation/costs.php on line 62

Warning: main(): Failed opening 'http://www.acacamps.org/include/nav/about/accreditation.htm' for inclusion (include_path='.:/home/aca/php') in /usr/home/aca/public_html/accreditation/costs.php on line 62

Accreditation Fees

What is the fee to seek accreditation?
To seek accreditation, a camp must pay dues and services fees as described on the accreditation application specific to your section of the country. Once annual service fees have been paid, there is no additional charge for accreditation services.

Annual dues and services typically amount to less than one-half of one percent of the program’s operating budget. Service fees are then calculated on a sliding scale and vary from section to section depending on the services available from the section.

Camps will receive a copy of ACA's Accreditation Standards for Camp Programs and Services. There is no further charge for participation in the Standards Course or for expenses of the visitation team.

How do the fees I pay relate to services I receive?
Between one-half and two-thirds of your service fee is passed on to your local ACA section for delivery of local services including the administration of the ACA Standards program.

The portion that remains at the national office is used to finance the ongoing work of a National Standards Board and appropriate staff to maintain this national program. Besides maintenance of the standards program, your service fees support programs that benefit all camps, like our award-winning national public awareness program and our legislative monitoring and action on issues that affect camps on the national level.

Do accredited camps get any exclusive discounts or other "rewards?"
Accreditation isn't cheap and it isn't easy, but camp directors sure do believe it's worth it! In fact, nine out of ten ACA camp directors continue to seek accreditation for their camps because they believe it helps them maintain a safe, quality environment for their campers and staff. (Responses to the question: "Why do you continue to seek accreditation?" 1997 ACA Summer Camp Survey, American Camping Association.)

There are lots of rewards ranging from mentors to national publicity.

American Camp Association | Summer camps enrich children's lives!

Learn the skills you need to succeed. Camping Magazine is your primary source for the most recent trends in the camp industry, the latest research in the field of youth development, critical management tools, and innovative programming ideas. September/October 2010 articles address education, research, history, 2020 Toolbox, and much more.

2010 September/October Camping Magazine Magazine

Perfect for campers, camp parents, and staff! Single item or quantity orders available. Customize with your camp name.

Stock your camp store . . . Purchase as gifts . . . Share the memories.

T-shirts • Hats • Bags • Posters Brought to you by ACA in partnership with New D

All books and DVDs 25% off on all orders of $75 or more at the ACA Bookstore! Use code LBD-25 at checkout. 

Labor Day Spectacular at the ACA Bookstore

Join more than 1,500 of your colleagues, presenters, and exhibiting personnel at the 2011 National Conference in San Diego. Fourplus packed days of quality education, social and issuesbased networking, professional trade-show access, and special events are designed to boost your professional development.

2011 National Conference in San Diego

Children and youth need a community that:  encourages achievement and builds self-esteem; promotes healthy lifestyles, fitness, and activity; teaches in a classroom without walls; instills appreciation, respect, and responsibility for the natural world around them; and inspires the confidence and courage to become the leaders of tomorrow.

A Voice for Excellence

Find a Camp

Looking for a summer camp? Search over 2,400 ACA-Accredited camps.

Find a Job

Find the perfect summer or year-round camp job. Need Staff? Check Out ACA’s Staff Recruitment Solutions!

Join ACA

Join today and be an integral part of an evolving, versatile, and vibrant organization of people with knowledge to share.