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Q & A On New Accreditation Materials
How does the newly published Accreditation Process Guide differ from the 1998 standards edition?
1. There are a number of changes in the new edition. One, you will see that there is more color and pictures in this new edition. Many of the pictures were taken in ACA accredited camps. Pictures with faces and activities bring out the importance of the standards and the impact that they have on the lives of many campers. Each of the different sections is designated by a different color.
2. Icons have been removed to provide greater clarity, and if the standard requires written documentation it is clearly marked at the end of the standards section. Camp modes are now displayed in words in the margins as well as the applicability for which the standard applies.
3. Some sections that were located at the back of the last edition have been prominently displayed at the front to enhance their importance to the camping program. The section named Additional Professional Practices in the prior edition is now referenced as Foundational Practices and has been updated and moved towards the front of the book. A list of all mandatory standards is also located near the front and is referenced in each section. Mandatory standards are clearly identified at the top of the page in bold written words.
4. Resources to support the standards are now part of the package. The ACA Resource Pack has many of the resources used in the past to provide existing and updated resources, as well as new resources and web links. As new resources are created, members will be able to download the resources to their computer.
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With this new release of standards, there are two books being promoted. Which one should I be using?
The Accreditation Process Guide is intended for camp directors and staff, visitors, and other individuals who are involved in the accreditation process. The 3-ring binder format allows newly released information to be inserted, as it becomes available.
The Accreditation Standards for Camp Programs and Services is the same content, but the standards are written in a declarative format rather than a question format. This bound version was published to address the needs of the academic audience such as libraries and educational institutions.
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Why Is the Accreditation Process Guide placed in a 3-ring binder format?
The 3-ring binder format was chosen for several reasons. In many cases, the bound edition had been separated by many camps to partition out to the appropriate program areas. With the binder format, updated information and new materials may be inserted in the appropriate area. In this changing society, we will need to have the ability for rapid response to address legal issues that impacts standards, and new guidelines from authorative resources. The binder format also encourages flexibility in storing bulletins, research articles, and notes on specific standards.
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How will we know when there are new updates?
Update notices will be announced through e-mail, accreditation newsletters, and labeled clearly on the ACA website as new material. We continue to examine a variety of ways to announce these updates and to make sure that this information is delivered to those that are using the new edition.
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How might this new format impact information concerning standards?
With the new format, we anticipate more timely and up-to-date information for ACA members and greater flexibility in keeping information current. On an on-going basis, we will examine areas such as standards interpretations and applicability sections to ensure clarity and currency. Since information that impacts standards grows exponentially almost on a daily basis, it is imperative that we find a variety of delivery systems (both print and electronic) that will provide the ACA membership with current information. New ideas on how to best deliver this critical information is always welcome.
With the Accreditation Process Guide there comes a CD Resource Pack, how does it relate to the Accreditation Guide? Is there a process to keep these resources and websites on the CD up to date?
In the past the ACA Resource Pack has been sold as a separate package. The resources are sorted according to section and labeled with the standard for which it supports. In some cases, a resource may support multiple standards or a standard may have multiple resources. In addition, websites are also included in each section to link to organizations that can provide additional information. These resources have become a standard part of the accreditation materials. In the past, many users were not aware of how these resources could be used and several were not current. The Resource Pack that comes with the Accreditation Process Guide will be updated on a yearly basis providing revised and new resources.
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Are there any new or updated resources that will soon be released?
The standards organizer is being updated with anticipated release in January. At the present, we are also looking at different formats to assist camps in preparing for their visit. New health forms also will soon be released through Healthy Learning and include camper and staff health histories, emergency information, and exemption forms.
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How can ACA members help in fine tuning the Accreditation Guide?
There may be some areas in this new edition that may still need some fine tuning. If there are questions or comments that will help improve the materials, e-mail Kim Brosnan at kbrosnan@acacamps.org. We also encourage individuals who have developed good resources and are willing to share their ideas for future updates to contact Kim.
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