Standards and Accreditation

Look for the Accredited Camp logo!  It is your guarantee that the camp meets or exceeds all mandatory standards, and is maintaining best practices for organized camping in Alberta.

The Alberta Camping Association develops and maintains standards for organized camping in Alberta. It is through the Standards and Accreditation program that we help the general public identify safe, healthy, well-run camps.  There are currently 117 accredited camps in the province.   Each camp undergoes a formal accreditation visit once every three years. The ACA Accreditation Coordinator is an ACA staff person who visits the member camp to ensure they continue to meet all mandatory standards. The Accreditation Coordinator reviews a detailed checklist of all applicable standards with a representative from the camp. They also see these standards in practice through a tour of the camp during a typical day of activity.   New ACA Camp members have two years to achieve accredited camp status.

The ACA Standards Manual covers all aspects of camp operations ranging from sound financial practices to ensuring safety in various program activities to recommended environmental standards. The manual is continually revised and updated to meet the dynamic camping environment of today.

Specific sections covered include:

• Camp Administration
• Human Resources
• Site, Facility & Equipment
• Transportation
• Year-round Camping
• Camp Health Care, Medical & First Aid
• Camp Programs / Land Based
• Camp Programs / Water Based
• Adventure Based Programs
• Appendix of Applicable Provincial & Federal Legislation
  

To order your copy of the ACA Camping Standards Manual, email info@albertacamping.com, or become an ACA member and you'll have instant access to the manual in the members-only section of our website.