|
Questions in this column will be answered
by either ACA staff members on the Standards
Team or by National Standards Commission
members. If you have a question, please submit
it to: accreditation@ACAcamps.org
- Gosh,
the new interpretations look really good – but
I can't print all of the pages off
front to back. Can you produce a document
so we can do that?
YES! We can produce a
document so both sides of a page that has
revisions will be posted. The challenge?
Having our wonderful graphics team work
that into an already very busy schedule
this time of year. In the mean time, here
is an idea (This makes more sense if making
more than one copy.): Print the revised
interpretations from the Web site. Go through
your APG and pull the page that has the
revision. Using the NEWLY revised page
AND the appropriate side of the page you
pulled from your APG, make a NEW front-to-
back copy using the correct to pages (Example:
Page 94 has revisions. I pull my pages
93/94. Using the revised page 94 and the
correct page 93, I make a new. two-sided,
page 93/94). While this is not nearly as
efficient, if you are making several copies,
it does work (and helps keep your APG the
same "thickness.")
AND, we will let you know when the new
document is available.
- Why does the most recent
set of Revised Interpretations not have
the changes highlighted?
The entire revised
interpretations should be the focus and
not just the revisions. A camp has to meet
the standard, not just the revisions.
- How often will there be revisions to the
standards?
The National Standards Commission
is committed to maintaining a relevant
and current Accreditation Standards program.
It is anticipated that appropriate revisions
will be made on a yearly basis.
- In
the current technological age, most camps
have and maintain Web sites. The participants
in our recent Visitor Update Course suggested
that we ask our visitors to check out Web
sites as well as brochures when preparing
for a visit. Some concerns came up when
visitors noted differences between what
the Web site advertised and what the camp
director was telling them on the phone.
What do visitors do when they "observe" photos
on the Web site of kids without helmets/lifejackets,
etc.?
It's fine to encourage visitors
to look at camp Web sites to gather further
information about a camp they are assigned
to visit. We often do that to sort out
questions on applicability and mode. If
visitors have questions, they should then
clarify with the director (preferably before
the on-site visit) any discrepancies that
may affect the visit — such as specialized
activities offered, or facility rental
to groups, etc. However, visitors should
not automatically assume that camps are
deliberately hiding or attempting to mislead.
Our experience says that sometimes camps
advertise activities early on and then
don't offer them
because of lack of interest or lack of
qualified leaders, or sometimes the marketing
end of their operation has not always kept
up with the "real" operation.
Therefore, visitors should not penalize
camps on the score form based solely on
violations of standards seen on the Web
site (e.g., no helmets). However, the visitor
can certainly ask about information or
photos seen — and
perhaps advise the camp of their vulnerability
when their advertised image does not match
current practice. During the visit, the
visitor should take the normal steps (observation,
talking with staff and campers, looking
at operating procedures) to verify compliance.
- Have you seen this
logo?
Please help
promote use of the ACA-Accredited® camp
logo! American Camp Association® (ACA)
logos play an integral part in our association's
identity. They are a visual representation
of the work that we do and how we do it.
The accreditation logo is the symbol to
the public of a camp's commitment
to excellent professional practices for
the safety and well-being of its campers.
Our logos are our brand. We all need to
do our part to promote their use and to
protect them with pride!
Sometimes an ACA
visitor is the only live connection a camp
may have with ACA. As ambassadors of ACA,
standards chairs and visitors are encouraged
to comment on the ACA-accredited camp logo
usage by:
- Making
positive remarks where they see the
logo in use;
- Making constructive remarks
where they see the logo not used correctly;
- Encouraging
camps to use the logo if they are not,
affirming that they have earned the
right and that they should be proud
to show they are part of a national
organization committed to high standards.
Use of the ACA-accredited camp logo
is a privilege for camps that currently
meet requirements for ACA accreditation.
A camp may not display the accreditation
logo if:
- The camp fails to meet
the minimum requirements of the ACA standards
program and has not been approved by its
Section Board of Directors;
- the
ACA Liaison membership has lapsed and/or
the camp fee has not been paid, or
if the ACA Liaison has not signed the
Statement of Compliance for the current
year.
Camps must be reminded that it
is a violation of federal trademark
law to improperly display the ACA logo
or to misrepresent oneself as ACA-accredited.
While it is the responsibility of the
ACA national office to handle the administrative
tasks related to trademark compliance,
it is the mutual responsibility of
the national and local offices to proactively
monitor the proper usage of the ACA
logo on brochures, advertising, and
stationery, as well as its display
on signs and Web sites. If ACA fails
to monitor logo use and protect our
rights under federal trademark law,
we not only confuse the public but
also diminish our rights under the
law to retain exclusive use of those
logos.
ACA's
Graphic
Identity Standards Manual (PDF) addresses
nearly every aspect of ACA trademark
usage. Accredited camps having a desire
to use the ACA-accredited logo are encouraged
to refer to this manual prior to publicly
displaying the logo. The consistent,
correct use of ACA trademarks is essential
to creating one single, unified association.
Camps may obtain the ACA-accredited logo
and information pertaining to it at
www.ACAcamps.org/logos.
Top of page |
 |
|
