Accreditation

Become Accredited Through the OCA: For Camp membership, there is an accreditation process to pursue.

Camps seeking Camp membership must follow the process for camp accreditation outlined below. Please note:

  • This is a general description only, and does not include the exceptions which may be made in the course of a normal application.
  • Before a camp can apply for membership, it must have been running for 100 camper days, which is the number of campers multiplied by the number of days. So, if you have 25 campers, and your camp has been running for 4 days, you have 100 camper days.

Process of Accreditation:

  1. The owner/operator or designate applies for membership by sending in the OCA Application Package, as well as three letters of reference by March 28, 2009. (Applications for Provisional Membership may be requested from the OCA Membership Secretary at charlie@ontariocamps.ca.)
  2. Once the OCA Membership Committee determines that the application is complete, the OCA Board reviews the application and references. If everything is in order, the camp will be admitted to the OCA as a Provisional Member, and will start the two-year accreditation process.
  3. During the summer following the camp's successful application, an OCA Standards Visitor visits the camp and conducts the camp's first Standards Visit. The following autumn, the OCA Standards Committee reviews the results of the first visit, and reviews any areas of concern.
  4. The following summer, a second Standards Visit takes place, with a different Standards Visitor. Once again, the following autumn, the Standards Committee reviews the results of the visit. If the camp answers YES to a minimum of 90% of all standards questions, and to 100% of all applicable major standards, it is then eligible for approval by the OCA Board as a fully accredited member, and the owner/operator as a camp member.
  5. If the camp does not answer YES to 90% of the standards, the Standards Committee will review the camp's application. The review will involve personal contact with both the camp's owner/operator and the visitor. The contents of the review, the evaluation of the Standards Committee, and its recommendation will be brought before the OCA Board. The Board will do one of the following:
    • accredit the camp and accept the owner/operator as a Camp Member.
    • refuse to accredit the camp, in which case the camp remains a Provisional Member.
    • accredit the camp, but require that it be visited the following year.
    • require the owner/operator to show evidence of the camp's compliance with OCA standards before accreditation is given.

An accredited camp is visited every four years or when there is a significant change in the camp ownership, site or program or if the Board determines that a visit is desirable.



Important Information For Upcoming Visits


Camp Answer Sheets Click here

Director Summation Form Click here

Director Visit Checklist Click here

Visitor Summation Form Click here

Visitor Checklist Click here

Jr. Visitor Summation Form Click here

Jr. Visitor Checklist Click here

Interested in becomming a volunteer visitor? Click here

Conference Call Information


Accreditation Power-Point Presentation Click here

Accreditation PDF Presentation Click here