United Camps, Conferences & Retreats Guides Three Facilities through American Camp Association Accreditation

December 10, 2019

United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR), a camp and retreat facility management organization, announces renewed American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation at three of their camp properties. Hartman Center in Pennsylvania, Camp Cazadero in Northern California, and Templed Hills Camp in Ohio have all received ACA accreditation approval.  

The American Camp Association’s accreditation program at camps provides standards and guidelines for health and safety, as well as education for Site Directors in key administrative aspects of camp operations. Accreditation provides a strong baseline for best management practices. 

Melissa Sorrick, Site Director at Camp Cazadero says she feels confident in UCCR, as the standards set forth by UCCR often exceed the ACA standards.  “I spent about five hours going through the property with the ACA accessor.” Sorrick continues, “It was a pleasant experience and there were no surprises.”  

ACA Standards cover a wide range of fundamental criterion for camp facilities such as emergency procedures, food safety, and risk management. UCCR values the relationship with ACA in establishing a basis for creating camp properties that are safe and welcoming for guests and staff. ACA has two separate accreditation tracks for both camp programs and camp facilities. UCCR receives only the facility accreditation as the organization, in general, does not run program at their sites. 

Camp professionals who are trained as “ACA Visitors” visit and assess camp facilities according to health & safety standards. Mike Carr, UCCR President, has been an ACA visitor for many years. "Mike’s knowledge base is an enormous help to our Site Directors and camp facilities. He knows all the details about safety protocol and risk management, being an ACA visitor himself,” states Tina Heck, UCCR Director of Reservations & Communications. 

UCCR manages 12 camps and retreat sites across the United States. You can learn more at www.UCCR.org