{"id":3258,"date":"2014-02-25T09:56:23","date_gmt":"2014-02-25T14:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=3258"},"modified":"2014-02-25T10:03:20","modified_gmt":"2014-02-25T15:03:20","slug":"18-camps-one-important-accreditation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/18-camps-one-important-accreditation\/","title":{"rendered":"18 Camps, One Important Accreditation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-3276\" alt=\"campcounselors\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/02\/campcounselors.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/02\/campcounselors.jpg 520w, https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/02\/campcounselors-300x256.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/>Amanda Zoellner, who works at <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/get-outdoors\/summer-camps\/wildwood\" target=\"_blank\">Wildwood<\/a><\/strong>, Mass Audubon&#8217;s overnight camp in Rindge, New Hampshire, sheds light on the importance of a summer camp being accredited by the American Camp Association.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>What do camp directors do in the winter? Most Mass Audubon camp directors coordinate and teach other sanctuary programs during the school year, but they also spend significant time preparing for the upcoming camp season\u2014including maintaining their camps\u2019 <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acacamps.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">American Camp Association<\/a><\/strong> (ACA) accreditation.<\/p>\n<p>All 18 <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/get-outdoors\/summer-camps\" target=\"_blank\">Mass Audubon summer camps<\/a><\/strong> are ACA-accredited (that includes <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/get-outdoors\/summer-camps\/day-camps\" target=\"_blank\">day camps<\/a><\/strong> and our overnight camp, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/get-outdoors\/summer-camps\/wildwood\" target=\"_blank\">Wildwood<\/a><\/strong>). Accreditation helps our camps reach a higher level, beyond the minimums required by state licensing. Accredited camps uphold up to 300 standards for camp operation, program quality, and the health and safety of campers and staff. For a large organization like Mass Audubon, the standards help ensure consistency among our diverse camps\u2014each has unique attributes, but all adhere to the same standards.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/var\/ezdemo_site\/storage\/images\/media\/departments\/camp\/images\/aca-logo\/151671-1-eng-US\/aca-logo_small.jpg\" width=\"100\" height=\"62\" \/>ACA accreditation is a valuable tool to assist camp directors in thinking critically about our programs, continually refining our policies and procedures to ensure smooth, safe operations, as well as quality camp experiences for campers and staff. The ACA standards are updated regularly as the best practices for camp operations evolve, and camp directors are guided by the standards as they plan programs for the upcoming summer, hire staff, and participate in professional development.<\/p>\n<p>Every three years, each accredited camp hosts an accreditation visit. After reviewing the camp\u2019s written materials before the summer begins, a team of ACA-trained visitors spends a day at camp to observe the program in action. A camp\u2019s accreditation visit is an exciting day for camp staff and for its ACA visitors. The visitors verify that the camp is upholding its standards and following appropriate policies and procedures, but it\u2019s also a welcome opportunity for our camp staff to introduce others to the programs we are proud of, and to learn from our peers in the camp professional community.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve volunteered as an ACA accreditation visitor since I was trained in 2007 and have visited several camps each summer since. Several other Mass Audubon camp professionals are also trained as visitors, and we agree that accreditation is a worthwhile process, for visitors as well as for the camps being visited. I have never visited a camp without learning about something I can take back to my own camp\u2014and when you love camp like I do, it\u2019s just plain fun to see other camps! When it\u2019s my camp\u2019s turn to have an ACA visit, I am always proud to share the programs at my camp.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more online about <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.campparents.org\/funsafety\" target=\"_blank\">ACA accreditation<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0or speak with the camp director at your nearest <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/get-outdoors\/summer-camps\/day-camps\/day-camps-map\" target=\"_blank\">Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amanda Zoellner, who works at Wildwood, Mass Audubon&#8217;s overnight camp in Rindge, New Hampshire, sheds light on the importance of a summer camp being accredited by the American Camp Association. What do camp directors do in the winter? Most Mass Audubon camp directors coordinate and teach other sanctuary programs during the school year, but they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,8,15],"tags":[35],"class_list":["post-3258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ecokids","category-get-outdoors","category-wildlife-sanctuaries","tag-camp"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-Qy","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1905,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/12-reasons-mass-audubon-camps-rock\/","url_meta":{"origin":3258,"position":0},"title":"12 Reasons Mass Audubon Camps Rock","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"When you choose a summer camp for your child, we know there\u2019s no shortage of options. We also know that as parents, you\u2019re always looking to provide your kids with the best possible experiences. Perhaps we\u2019re a bit biased, but we think our camps are the bee\u2019s knees, the snake's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;EcoKids&quot;","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/03\/CampPic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14950,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-power-of-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":3258,"position":1},"title":"The Power of Camp","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"November 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is\u00a0Summer Camp\u00a0Day of Action\u00a0for Black Lives.\u00a0 As a statewide conservation organization that operates\u00a019\u00a0nature\u00a0day camps and a residential summer camp\u00a0serving\u00a0more than\u00a015,000 campers, we stand with our colleagues and friends in the camp world\u00a0affirming\u00a0that\u00a0Black Lives Matter at Camp.\u00a0\u00a0 Nature itself is untainted with prejudice; however,\u00a0too many Black and Brown community members\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kids at camp","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":277,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/lazy-hazy-days-of-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":3258,"position":2},"title":"Lazy, Hazy Days of Camp","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"July 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"These are the first weeks of summer camp at many of our wildlife sanctuaries. Seeing all the campers with their lunches in tow, I can\u2019t help but remember my own summer camp experience. Growing up in Maine, I was no stranger to the woods and, to me, camp was an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;EcoKids&quot;","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/06\/Campers-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7841,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/getting-fired-up-for-summer-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":3258,"position":3},"title":"Getting Fired up for Summer Camp!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the next few weeks, Mass Audubon will be welcoming new and returning campers across Massachusetts\u00a0and in Rindge, NH. Last week, Wildwood overnight\u00a0camp\u00a0hosted 140 new and returning Mass Audubon camp counselors from Pleasant Valley in Lenox to Joppa Flats in Newburyport and everywhere in between for the annual Field School.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Young Explorers&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Young Explorers","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/young-explorers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Counselors learned about the life cycles of butterflies and dragonflies, lessons they can share with their campers this summer, and went on a Bug Hunt. This counselor captured something neat in her bug cup! What could it be?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/DSC_0205.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/DSC_0205.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/DSC_0205.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/DSC_0205.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/DSC_0205.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/DSC_0205.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12284,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/what-is-nature-camp-and-why-should-you-try-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":3258,"position":4},"title":"What is Nature Camp? And Why Should You Try It?","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"January 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"It is summer camp registration season, and that means it\u2019s decision time! Summer is an ideal time for children to be outside, but choosing between camp opportunities can be overwhelming. How do you pick between dozens of options? And why should you consider nature camp? Photo: Phil Doyle Why Nature\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Get Outdoors&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/Arcadia-Camp-Photos-2019_CREDIT-PHIL-DOYLE-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/Arcadia-Camp-Photos-2019_CREDIT-PHIL-DOYLE-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/Arcadia-Camp-Photos-2019_CREDIT-PHIL-DOYLE-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/Arcadia-Camp-Photos-2019_CREDIT-PHIL-DOYLE-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5039,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/five-reasons-kids-love-our-camps\/","url_meta":{"origin":3258,"position":5},"title":"Five Reasons Kids Love Our Camps","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"At Mass Audubon camps, we celebrate the long, warm days of summer by exploring our natural surroundings, from the wooded hillsides of Lenox to the sandy beaches of Wellfleet Bay. Year after year, families tell us how happy they are to have found us because of the people they meet,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;EcoKids&quot;","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/03\/Stony-Brook_Camp_2014_Heather-Cooper-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/03\/Stony-Brook_Camp_2014_Heather-Cooper-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/03\/Stony-Brook_Camp_2014_Heather-Cooper-7.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3258"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3284,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3258\/revisions\/3284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}