GOLD2024

AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION INC

aka American Camp Association   |   Martinsville, IN   |  www.ACAcamps.org

Learn how to support this organization

Mission

The mission of the American Camp Association is "empowering camps to create quality experiences." The vision for the American Camp Association is "Building a world of belonging and growth." The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Because of our diverse 12,000 plus membership and our exceptional programs, children and adults have the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living lessons that can be learned nowhere else.

Ruling year info

1976

President/CEO

Tom Rosenberg

Main address

5000 State Road 67 North

Martinsville, IN 46151 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

35-0962419

NTEE code info

Professional Societies, Associations (O03)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Register now

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Young people live in a world marked by constant change and uncertainty. Children are growing up faster than ever. Pervasive technology and social media as well as other influences have contributed to children and teens that lack relationship, problem-solving, and innovation skills they need to thrive in the future. The skills associated with social-emotional learning — self-awareness, self-motivation, empathy, emotional regulation, etc. — can’t be mastered through individual study. To stem the tide of depression, anxiety, and lack of connection among youth, these skills must be taught through shared experiences that allow children to practice, take safe risks, and learn from their failures and successes. Recent research confirms that these skills can be learned through quality out-of-school-time experiences. Day and resident camps provide enriching experiences during out of school time that nurture positive youth development.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Accreditation

The main purpose of the ACA-accreditation program is to educate camp owners and directors in the administration of key aspects of camp operation, particularly those related to program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff. The standards establish guidelines for needed policies, procedures, and practices. The camp, then, is responsible for ongoing implementation of these policies.
The second purpose of ACA accreditation is to assist the public in selecting camps that meet industry-accepted and government-recognized standards. ACA's Camp Database provides the public with eleven separate ways to search for the ideal ACA-accredited camp.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Camp and youth development education reflects ACA's community of parents and professionals who join together to share knowledge to enhance human development. As a result of ACA educational programs and services, youth and adults learn powerful lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living. A primary vehicle for disseminating education and information to camp professionals is through the annual ACA national conference and numerous local events and conferences. In addition, online education, including asynchronous courses, webinars, and certificates of added qualification, extend professional development opportunities to non-traveling learners.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

Camper Scholarships provide financial assistance to persons not otherwise able to afford a camp experience and facilitate interaction in a camp setting of persons from different social, economic, racial, national, and cultural backgrounds. Campers learn intimacy with nature, build healthy personal relationships, and get to exercise their minds and bodies in way that create healthy habits.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

Public relations and awareness actively provides information and resources to the general public through print, broadcast, and electronic media. A website for families is maintained that answers questions about camp from the parent/guardian perspective. Many ACA resources are available to the public to help find the right camp for every child, youth, and adult.
An ethics commission manages the interface with the public consumer, paving the way toward better camping by allowing parents a forum in which to address concerns and receive mediation and guidance on those issues impacting the camp professional.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The American Camp Association® (ACA) advocates for the children and youth of the United States through advancing the reach and relevance of camp by expanding equitable access to camp experiences for all children and youth. Our focus on voluntary accreditation and educational resources to drive high-quality camp experiences through evidence informed best practices, industry-leading evaluation tools champions quality while expanding access and awareness through public communication venues.

The ACA’s 2020–2024 strategic plan gives substance to our 20/20 vision. It sets a promising five-year agenda for ACA on behalf of the field of organized camps. The plan calls for a bold investment in a future where all children, youth and adults have access to high-quality camp programs.
We will accomplish this by focusing on the following overarching strategic goals.

• Be a leading voice for youth education and development
• Expanding reach, relevance, and equitable access
• Championing quality
• Accelerating organizational growth and sustainability
More information about the ACA’s overarching strategic goals and priorities and the action items within our strategic plan at https://www.acacamps.org/about/who-we-are/strategic-plan

The ACA is led by a staff of 47, 600 volunteers and 12,000 members who focus on providing a network of 3,100 diverse camps with:

• A leading voice and advocate for the benefits of quality camp experiences
• Development and delivery of resources, professional development, and services for camp leaders
• Accreditation to support a commitment to the health, safety and overall well-being of campers and camp staff
• Advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity so that all youth have access to a quality camp experience

For more than 100 years the American Camp Association® (ACA) has served the organized camp community through educational resources, professional development, a voluntary accreditation process and robust research into the positive outcomes of the camp experience. Our research has proven that camp has lasting positive outcomes for campers, camp staff and camper families through immersive camper experiences, time away from technology, opportunities to try new things in safe ways and experiences with campers from diverse backgrounds. These experiences help former campers thrive in school, through young adulthood and into their careers.

Next – helping every parent understand that camp isn’t something every child could do – it’s something every child should do.
Creating equitable access to quality camp experiences for every child in the US.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome

Financials

AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION INC
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more about GuideStar Pro.

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION INC

Board of directors
as of 03/21/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Lizabeth Fogel

DoGoodery, LLC

Term: 2022 - 2025

Anthony Stein

Camp Echo Lake

Elizabeth Bagley

Project Drawdown

Meg Clark

Summer Camp

Ju'Riese Colon

U.S. Center for SafeSport

Aaron Dworkin

National Summer Learning Association

Elizabeth Sosnow

Bliss Integrated Communication

Dayna Hardin

CampGroup, LLC

LeeKeshia Williams

The University of Texas at Austin

Rafael Alvardo

Keybees Camp

Scott Brody

Camp Kenwood & Evergreen

Deborah Clair

CAMP 1302

Suzanne Le Menestrel

National CASA/GAL Association for Children

Dan Mathews

Camp Twin Lakes

Andy Shlensky

North Star Camp

Sarah Horner Fish

Tom Sawyer Camps

Patrick D'Amelio

Friends of Camp Gallagher

Betsy Kelder

Jewish Family & Children's Services of Greater Boston

Sheely Mauck

Forum for Youth Investment

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/19/2024
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 06/11/2020

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.