Accreditation: What Does it Mean for Me?
Accreditation: What Does it Mean for Me?
By Eddie Norgard, District Executive Director, YMCA of Metro Fort Worth
When families choose a camp, they are placing something incredibly important in our hands; their children, their trust, and their expectations for safety and meaningful experiences. At YMCA Camp Carter, we take that responsibility seriously. One of the clearest ways we demonstrate that commitment is through accreditation by the American Camp Association (ACA).
ACA accreditation is not a logo on a website or a box to check. It is a comprehensive, ongoing commitment to excellence that touches every corner of camp operations. As Camp Carter prepares for reaccreditation this year, I am reminded what ACA accreditation really means and why it matters to every person who crosses the threshold of our gates.
First: What Is ACA Accreditation?
The American Camp Association has been the national authority on camp operations, safety, and quality for more than 100 years (1910 to be exact). ACA accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that measures everything from a camp’s policies, procedures, staff training, programs and operations to their daily practices against nearly 300 standards focused on health, safety, program quality, and risk management.
These standards were developed by experts in youth development, medicine, law, risk management, and camp operations. They cover everything from staff screening and training, emergency preparedness, and transportation to aquatics safety, equestrian care, and program design. Accreditation is not based on promises or a shiny website, it is based on documented evidence and real-world practice.
In short, ACA accreditation answers an important question for families and visitors, “Does this camp meet the highest nationally recognized standards for safety and quality?”
The process can be challenging. It requires time, cross-department collaboration, honest evaluation, and sometimes difficult changes. But that is exactly why it is valuable. Accreditation pushes camps to be proactive rather than reactive and the result is a safer, stronger, more intentional operation.
Why ACA Accreditation Matters (It’s Not Easy, and That’s the Point)
Achieving ACA accreditation is intentionally rigorous. Being ACA accredited sets a camp apart because it demonstrates intentionality. Accredited camps don’t rely on tradition or assume that “the way we’ve always done it” is good enough. Instead, they commit to continuous improvement and accountability and they let someone else come in and evaluate them.
For parents and caregivers, ACA accreditation provides peace of mind. It means:
- Staff are carefully screened, trained, and supervised
- Emergency and medical procedures are clearly defined and practiced
- Facilities, equipment, and program areas are inspected and maintained
- Activities are age-appropriate, well supervised, and designed for positive youth development
For organizations like the YMCA of Metro Fort Worth, and specifically Camp Carter, accreditation reinforces our mission. It ensures we are providing equitable, safe, and high-quality experiences, whether a child is attending a week of day camp, swimming at aquatics, riding horses, or staying overnight for the first time.
The process can be challenging. It requires time, cross-department collaboration, honest evaluation, and sometimes difficult changes. But that is exactly why it is valuable. Accreditation pushes camps to be proactive rather than reactive and the result is a safer, stronger, more intentional operation.
A Promise, Not a Label
Accreditation Is Not a “One and Done” event, it may be granted on a three-year cycle, but camps are expected to maintain compliance every single year.
At Camp Carter, this means:
- Conducting annual reviews of all applicable standards
- Updating policies as best practices evolve
- Training new and returning staff consistently
- Incorporating lessons learned from incidents, near misses, and peer feedback
Reaccreditation is not a repeat performance, it is a deeper check-in. Returning camps are expected to show growth, improvement, and organizational learning. This commitment to consistent compliance is what turns accreditation into a living system rather than a static achievement.
ACA accreditation is one of the ways we keep our promise to families, partners, and the community. It affirms that YMCA Camp Carter is committed to creating experiences where children are safe, challenged, supported, and inspired.
At Camp Carter, excellence isn’t accidental. It’s intentional, it’s ongoing, and it’s grounded in nationally recognized standards that guide everything we do.
I hope each of you reading takes time to visit with us, explore Camp Carter and devote a little more time to the outdoors this year than last! We’d love to have you as our guest.
At Camp Carter, excellence isn’t accidental. It’s intentional, it’s ongoing, and it’s grounded in nationally recognized standards that guide everything we do.
