ACA Accreditation
Why Is This Important?
From ACA’s website:
“ACA is the only national accrediting body for camps of all types. ACA’s accreditation standards focus on health, safety, and risk management, and are used as benchmarks by government entities. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s commitment to the well-being of campers and staff”
Mary’s Land Camp takes our ACA accreditation very seriously, ensuring that all campers remain safe throughout their time at camp.
1. We keep our camper to counselor ratio low so ensure that all campers can easily be accounted for at all times.
2. Our counselors and staff are all over the age of 18 and have completed CPS background check and trainings.
3. Counselors are with campers at all times and attentive to their groups.
4. We document everything we can from band-aid applications, wasp bites, etc. and try to communicate with parents as soon as possible when needed.
5. We submit an extensive amount of documentation and protocols to ACA each year to keep our license active.
Read our recent blog on the Importance of an ACA Accredidation when choosing a camp for your child!
ACA Press Release
January 10, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thomas Cunningham
(410)849-4316
[email protected]
4979 Sheppard Lane
Ellicott City MD 21042
Mary’s Land Farm
Earns ACA-Accredited Camp Status
Ellicott City, Md – The American Camp Association® (ACA) announced today that Mary’s Land Camp has received ACA-Accredited® Camp status.
“ACA Accreditation means that Mary’s Land Farm submitted to a thorough (up to 290 standards) review of its operation by the American Camp Association (ACA) — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management — and complied with the highest standards in the industry,” said Judith Bevan, National Standards Commission.
“Parents expect their children to attend accredited schools. They also deserve a camp experience that is reviewed and accredited by an expert, independent organization,” Bevan said.
“Mary’s Land Farm and ACA form a partnership that promotes summers of growth and fun in an environment committed to safety,” said Thomas Cunningham, Camp Director, “ACA accreditation demonstrates our commitment to quality camp programming.”
Mary’s Land Farm is a working farm and orchard. The food grown is certified naturally grown and nurtures the land that it’s grown upon. More than just a sustainable farm system, we aim to build a farm system that regenerates man and nature. What makes us unique is that we also use our food and farming practices to educate adults and children regarding regenerative farming practices. Our camp provides unique, hands-dirtying opportunities for learning, growing, and fun – all at our working farm on 160 acres in Howard County, Maryland. Every day, the campers go home with exciting stories about their adventures with chickens, playing in the stream, or planting a seed.
Mary’s Land Farm Camp was founded in 2015 and is located in Ellicott City, MD. The camp is in operation from June to August and offers weekly sessions. For more information, parents can contact the camp at the camp’s Web site at www.maryslandcamp.com.
ACA is the only independent accrediting organization reviewing camp operations in the country. ACA’s nationally recognized standards program focuses primarily on the program quality, health and safety aspects of a camp’s operation. ACA collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at the camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. For more parent-focused information about accreditation, visit www.ACAcamps.org.