Disclaimer: The American Camping Association (ACA), Inc. provides guidelines, but cannot and does not specifically monitor continued adherence to those guidelines. Nor does ACA, Inc. warrant, guarantee, or insure that adherence to guidelines will prevent any or all injury or loss; nor does ACA, Inc. assume any responsibility or liability for any such injury or loss. Further, ACA, Inc., hereby disclaims any responsibility, liability, or duty to persons or organizations using these resources for any such liability arising out of use of these materials. In addition, ACA, Inc. is not in a position to independently verify that use of these policies or procedures will alone provide a basis for adequate compliance with ACA standards. Such compliance can only be verified by comparing the policies and their implementation to current practice in the camp(s) in question by an on-site visit. Read the full disclaimer.
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Standards at a Glance, 2019 Edition (November 2019)
Below is a list of the standards. To get a full version of the Standards at a Glance, you will need to fill out this short form.
Download the Standards at a Glance
Standards that are italicized and with an asterisk * are mandatory, and as they apply to camps, they must comply with these standards to be accredited by the American Camp Association.
CR.1 Rights and Dignity of Campers/Staff
CR.2 Goals and Outcomes
CR.3 Camper Development
CR.4 Environmental Activities
Administration: Site/Transportation
* AD.1 Local Emergency Response
* AD.2 Emergency Medical Transportation
AD.3 Private Vehicle Use
AD.4 Arrival and Departure
AD.5 Transportation Information for Parents
AD.6 Accident Procedures
AD.7 Transportation Safety Procedures
AD.8 Transportation Orientation
AD.9 Driver Requirements
AD.10 Leased, Rented, or Chartered Vehicles
Administration: Health and Wellness
AD.11 Special Health Needs
AD.12 Record Maintenance
Administration: Risk Management
AD.13 Risk Management
AD.14 Incident Reporting and Analysis
AD.15 Insurance Coverage
AD.16 Personal Property Policy
* AD.17 Non-Program Firearms Control
AD.18 Camp Security and Active Threats
AD.19 Safety Orientation and Emergency Plan
AD.20 Missing Person Procedure
AD.21 Emergency Communications
AD.22 Campers in Public Areas
AD.23 Camper Release/Verification
Administration: Human Resources
AD.24 Hiring Policies
* AD.25 New Staff Screening (year-round/seasonal staff)
* AD.26 Subsequent Criminal Background Check Screening (year-round/returning seasonal staff)
* AD.27 Annual Screening for All Staff
AD.28 Job Description/Information
AD.29 Personnel Policies
AD.30 Staff Time Off
Administration: Program
AD.31 Camp Experience Evaluation
AD.32 Program Eligibility for Camp Programs
AD.33 Activity Information and Permission
Administration: Trip or Extended Trip/Travel Standards
AD.34 Emergency Assistance
AD.35 Trip Itinerary/Details and Designated Person
AD.36 Extended Trip/Travel Procedures
Administration: For Camps That Serve Rental Groups
AD.37 Rental Group Agreement
AD.38 Rental Group Responsibilities
AD.39 Rental Group Food Handling Procedures
AD.40 Rental Group Appropriate Dishwashing Procedures
AD.41 Rental Group - Conditions
* AD.42 Emergency Care Personnel
AD.43 Healthcare Planning
* AD.44 Health Information
Administration: For Vendor Provided Specialized and Aquatic Programs
AD.45 Vendor Provided Specialized Activities
* AD.46 Vendor Provided Swimming
* AD.47 Vendor Provided Watercraft Activities
Facilities: Site and Food Service
* FA.1 Emergency Exits
* FA.2 Care of Hazardous Materials
FA.3 Utility Systems
FA.4 Water Testing
FA.5 Electrical Evaluation
FA.6 Fire and Safety Equipment Evaluation
FA.7 Power Tools
FA.8 Playgrounds
FA.9 Permanent Sleeping Quarters
FA.10 Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
FA.11 Bunk Guardrails
FA.12 Healthcare Center
FA.13 Access of Specialized Activity Areas
FA.14 Handwashing Facilities
FA.15 Food Service Area
FA.16 Refrigeration
FA.17 Food Temperature
FA.18 Sanitized Utensils and Surfaces
FA.19 Dish Washing
FA.20 Dish Drying and Storage
Facilities: Transportation
FA.21 Nonpassenger Vehicles
FA.22 Emergency Equipment
FA.23 Mechanical Evaluations
FA.24 Safety Checks
* HW.1 Camper Health History
HW.2 Permission to Treat
HW.3 Contact Information
* HW.4 Health Information for Short-term and Family Camp Participants
HW.5 Health Exam
HW.6 Health Screening for Resident Camps
HW.7 Health Information Review and Screening for Day Camp and Short-Term Camp
HW.8 Parent Notification
HW.9 Healthcare Policies and Treatment Procedures
HW.10 Inform Staff of Specific Needs
HW.11 Healthcare Equipment, Supplies, and Emergency Assistance
HW.12 Availability of an AED
* HW.13 Medication Storage and Administration
HW.14 Recordkeeping
HW.15 Staff Health History
HW.16 Contact Information for Staff Members Who Are Minors
HW.17 Health Screening for Resident Camp Staff
HW.18 First-Aid Kits
Staff and Supervision: Staff Qualifications
ST.1 Food Service Supervisor
ST.2 Healthcare Provider
* ST.3 First-Aid and Emergency Care Personnel
ST.4 Healthcare Away from Main Camp
ST.5 Director Qualifications
ST.6 Special Needs Staff Requirements
* ST.7 First Aid, CPR/AED for Specialized Activities and Aquatics
ST.8 Supervisor Qualification, Specialized Activities
ST.9 Adventure/Challenge Activities Supervisor Qualifications
ST.10 Horseback Activities Supervisor Qualifications
ST.11 Aquatics Supervisor Qualifications
* ST.12 Swim Lifeguard Certification and Skills Verification
* ST.13 SCUBA Diving Activities
ST.14 Instructional Swimming Activities
* ST.15 Watercraft Guard Certification and Skills Verification
ST.16 Extended Trip/Travel Leader Qualifications
* ST.17 Extended Trip/Travel Aquatic Supervisor Qualifications
Staff and Supervision: Staff Training
ST.18 Vehicle Nondriver Training
ST.19 Training for Drivers
ST.20 Motorized Watercraft Training
ST.21 Staff Training for Role in Healthcare
ST.22 Camp Security Training and Rehearsal
ST.23 Emergency Plan Training and Rehearsal
ST.24 Missing Person Training and Rehearsal
ST.25 Precamp Staff Training
ST.26 Job Training Specific to Role
ST.27 Supervisor Training
ST.28 Camp Staff Supervision for General Camp Activities
ST.29 Staff–Camper Interaction Training
ST.30 Behavior Management and Discipline Training
ST.31 Sensitive Issue Policy
ST.32 Extended Trip/Travel Staff Training
Staff Skill Verification and Observation
ST.33 Staff Skill Verification
ST.34 Staff Observation
Camper Supervision and Ratios
ST.35 General Camp Activities Supervision Ratios and Staff Age
* ST.36 Training on 1:1 Camper-to-Staff Interactions
ST.37 Health Center Supervision
ST.38 Camper Supervision Away from Camp or At Vendor-Provided Programs
ST.39 Transportation Supervision
ST.40 Supervision Ratios for Specialized Program Activities
ST.41 Supervision Ratios for Trips of Any Length
ST.42 Aquatic Activity Supervision Ratios (all aquatic activities)
Program Design and Activities: Program General
PD.1 Program Progression
PD.2 Program Equipment Maintenance and Safety Checks
* PD.3 Program Safety
PD.4 Documentation and Emergency Information for All Trips
Program Design and Activities: Program, Specialized Activities (Including Challenge/Adventure and Horseback Riding)
PD.5 Safety Orientation for Specialized Activities
PD.6 Spotters and Belayers
PD.7 Safety and Emergency Procedures
* PD.8 Archery Safety
* PD.9 Rifle, Pellet Gun, and Air Gun Safety
PD.10 Go-Kart Safety
PD.11 ATV Safety
* PD.12 Protective Headgear
PD.13 Safety Apparel
PD.14 Annual Inspection of Adventure/Challenge Course Elements
Program Design and Activities: Program Horse/Livestock
* PD.15 Protective Headgear for Horseback Riding
PD.16 Pony Rides
PD.17 Riding and Livestock Facilities
PD.18 Horse and Livestock Medication
PD.19 Safety Apparel for Horseback Riding
PD.20 Classifying Horses
PD.21 Horse Soundness
PD.22 Rider Classification
Program Design and Activities: Program Extended Trip/Travel (Three Nights or More)
PD.23 Trip Procedure
* PD.24 Trip Orientation
Program Aquatics: General and Swimming
PA.1 Lookouts
PA.3 Emergency Procedures
PA.4 Safety of Persons with Impaired Mobility (Permanent and Temporary)
PA.5 Safety Systems
PA.6 Participant Classifications
PA.7 Swimming Pool
PA.8 Natural Body of Water Use for Aquatic Activities
PA.9 Aquatic Sites
* PA.10 Staff Swimming
Program Aquatics: Watercraft Activities
* PA.11 Watercraft Safety for Staff and All-Adult Groups
* PA.12 Personal Flotation Device (PFDs)
PA.13 Personal Watercraft
PA.14 Watercraft Activity Orientation
PA.15 Watercraft Instruction
PA.16 Watercraft Maintenance