American Camp Association Announces Re-Accreditation Of 24 Summer Camps

ORINDA, CA -- The American Camp Association (ACA), Northern California, has re-accredited two-dozen summer camps this year.

ACA accreditation means that the camp cares enough to undergo a thorough (more than 300 health and safety standards) review of its operation from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. Accreditation is voluntary, and the camps must reapply and be reviewed every three years. Presently more than 100 camps in Northern California are accredited by the ACA.

“ACA accreditation is a mark of distinction,” said Andrew Townsend, president of ACA Northern California. “Accreditation is the best evidence parents have that a camp is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for their children. We strongly encourage parents to pay attention to the ACA accreditation status when looking for a camp.”


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Accreditation is different than licensing, which focuses on enforcement of minimum regulations. Accreditation focuses on education, supporting the best practices in all aspects of the camp operation. The ACA accreditation standards and processes are nationally developed, tested and accepted, both by camp professionals and legal and regulatory authorities.

Northern California Camps Re-accredited by the ACA

The re-accredited camps include both day and resident camps. Some provide the traditional outdoor camp experience, while others are more specialized. Several offer family camps. The camps are:

Bearskin Meadow Camp (Sequoia National Forest)
Camp Doodles (Marin County)
Camp Kochav (JCC) (San Francisco)
Camp Lodestar (Calaveras County)
Camp ReCreation (Susanville)
Camp Shelanv - Co Co JCC (Contra Costa County)
Camp Wasiu II (Sierra County)
Community of the Great Commission (Placer County)
Coppercreek Camp (Plumas County)
Deer Crossing Camp (El Dorado County)
Douglas Ranch Camps (Monterey County)
El Camino YMCA (Santa Clara County)
Embarcadero YMCA (San Francisco County)
Marin YMCA Day Camp (Marin County)
Mountain Camp (El Dorado County)
Palo Alto YMCA (Santa Clara County)
Peninsula Family YMCA Day Camp (San Mateo County)
Plantation Farm Camp (Sonoma County)
Sequoia YMCA (San Mateo County)
Shasta Camp Cherith ((Nevada County)
Skylark Ranch (Santa Cruz County)
Snow Mountain Camp (Nevada County)
Walton’s Grizzly Lodge (Plumas County)
YMCA Jack Hazard (Stanislaus County)
Online Database of ACA-accredited Camps
An online database (http://www.ACAnorcal.org) makes it easy for parents to find an ACA-accredited camp. Parents can search for a camp by criteria such as location, specialization, age, gender and cost. Besides traditional camps, the database includes family camps, special-interest camps and camps for special populations, such as children with disabilities. Several camps have expanded programs for teens, and many have sliding-scale fees or scholarships.

About the American Camp Association

The American Camp Association works to preserve, promote and enhance the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-accredited camp programs ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally challenging learning opportunities.

To find an ACA-accredited camp in California and to access other resources, visit http://www.ACAnorcal.org and click on “Find a Camp,” phone 415-453-1832 or e-mail info@acanorcal.org. For more information about summer camps in general, visit www.campparent.org and www.ACAcamps.org.