SPRING 2019
LIFE CHANGING ADVENTURE FOR ALL ACA ACCREDITATION YEAR This summer at Lutherdale is our ACA accreditation year. There is always a lot to do in preparation for a summer of camp at Lutherdale. There are staff to be hired, program supplies to be purchased, menus to be planned, bible studies to be written, and many, many other tasks to be accomplished. This summer there is an extra item on the “to do” list; ACA accreditation visit. Lutherdale has been an American Camp Association accredited camp for over 25 years, and every few years we undergo an accreditation process which includes training, reviewing, and updating camp practices. What exactly does being an ACA accredited camp mean for our staff, supporters, parents, and campers? Most importantly, being accredited means the camp is held to high standards to be a safe and growth-inducing environment. More specifically, the ACA accreditation means that the camp upholds regulations and benchmarks in specific areas. These specific regulations and benchmarks are called “standards” and there are over 260 in the accreditation process. The following are a few examples of standards that are found at Lutherdale.
Putting systems in place to ensure top of the line staff is crucial for the safety of all who attend camp. With ACA, specific staff training topics are mandated to be covered with all staff, supervision ratios are set for each camper age, and certain companies are approved to certify camp supervisors in such areas as ropes course management, lifeguarding, and CPR and First Aid training. ACA checks to make sure the overall condition of the camp is clean, safe, and structurally sound. Emergency exits, water testing, electrical/utility systems, and more are checked regularly to provide another set of eyes to support our camp in being the best it can be. As per ACA regulations, there is a registered nurse or licensed physician on every ACA site daily as well as a ‘health care center’ for the campers. Staff is also required to do the appropriate health and safety training to be prepared for all situations. Hand washing facilities, proper refrigeration, and the presence of a food service supervisor is expected from the American Camp Association. If there are any concerns about the food that your child receives at camp, you can rest
assured that trained cooking professionals are preparing nourishing meals for your children. The directors and summer staff always approach the ACA visit as a very upbeat and affirming experience! Our feeling is that we simply have a quality program and we are excited to share it. ACA visits are a huge undertaking, make no mistake: every ACA camp knows this! But it carries with it a higher cause and purpose; education. Each time Lutherdale goes through the accreditation process and hosts the ACA visitors (typically other camp directors and staff), we gain invaluable knowledge about our program and site. We hear about the best practices of other camps and are affirmed that we are running a safe camp program. What is the end result of Lutherdale being an ACA accredited camp? A stronger, safer, and higher quality camp program for all of our summer staff, volunteers, campers, and guests that come every year. Lutherdale has a great program centered in the love of Jesus and will continue to learn and grow through wonderful partnerships, like the one with the American Camp Association and their accreditation process.
SPRING 2019 | 262-742-2352 | www.lutherdale.org