Alberta Camping Association

Accreditation Season final week highlights! 🚐

We finished off with visits to some of our most Southern Alberta camps. Surrounded by foothills and mountain views.

Mill Creek Baptist Camp – Tucked away in the beautiful foothills near Pincher Creek, offering a warm, welcoming community, unforgettable camp experience and a ship! Check out an image of it in our post.
Canyon Church Camp – Operating for the first time in nearly a decade following the devastating Waterton fire. Thanks to unwavering community support and some very positive, unrelenting stubbornness, they brought this beloved camp back to life. Visiting the site, it truly felt as if they’d never missed a beat!
Camp Columbus – Nestled right on the edge of Waterton Lake, we were thrilled to have our very first ACA accreditation visit at this wonderful new member camp property, celebrating their long history of bringing youth together in nature!

What an incredible summer of visits across Alberta, getting to witness firsthand the dedication, heart, and hard work that goes into making ACA-accredited camps so special and unique! Thank you to all the directors, staff, board members, and volunteers who welcomed us with open arms this season and those who joined us on our visits.

Want to learn more about these or any of our member camps across the province? Check out their details and links to their websites @ albertacamping.com/find-a-camp

And that is Week 5 of Accreditation visits! 🚐

We had another fantastic week visiting 3 more of our member camps, each offering unique, impactful programming and welcoming communities for campers across Alberta. Here’s a quick look at where we went:

Project Kampfire – An amazing program bringing outdoor learning, connection, and meaningful camp experiences to life on the Camp Connect property!
Camp Amicus Day Camp (Calgary) – Providing an extraordinarily supportive, structured, and fun environment tailored to help kids with LD and ADHD build confidence and lasting social connections.
Camp BB Riback – Nestled on a beautiful Lake in central Alberta, this vibrant Jewish camp is rich in traditions, incredible energy, and a wonderful community spirit that makes everyone feel right at home.

One week and 3 visits to go!
Check out details and links to our member websites here: albertacamping.com/find-a-camp 🌐

We had a great discussion yesterday diving into what camp leaders are seeing on the ground this season. Two topics stood out, and we’d love to hear from others on:

Building a Homesickness Process (Not Just Tools): Do you follow a structured step-by-step process or a flexible guideline? What’s your policy on phone calls home? And how do you determine when it's time to send a camper home?

First-Time Camper Age Shift: Several camps have noticed an increase in the age of first-time campers. What is your Camp seeing and why do you think this shift is happening?

Drop your camp's insights and experiences in the comments below! 👇

ALSO Keep an eye out for details on our Fall Fireside Chat!

Join us TOMORROW! Whether you’re right in the thick of the mid-summer grind or starting to wind things down, you deserve a quick breather!

Join us for 60 minutes to connect, share stories, and refuel alongside your fellow camp professionals. It’s a low-pressure space to support one another and swap notes on how the summer is going.

ALL camp leaders are welcome!

No RSVP needed, just grab the link in our bio, Newsletter or join directly here: http://meet.google.com/xqw-kdhg-yus

The August ACA Newsletter has arrived!

Catch up on our accreditation visit highlights, info about our next Fireside chat happening THIS WEEK and lots of other great things!

Check it out via the link in our bio or head to https://mailchi.mp/27beedee9b7d/aca-august2026-newsletter

Big post incoming with Weeks 3 & 4 of Accreditation visits highlighted below!

In the last two weeks we visited 8 incredible member camps in nearly all the corners of the province, celebrating the amazing variety of programs. From energetic day camps to mountain wilderness adventures. Here’s a look at where we went:

CFMWS Day Camp: Edmonton (not pictured) – Bringing high-energy, fun, and supportive day camp programming to military families in the Edmonton area!
Southern Alberta Bible Camp – A stunning camp situated on a beautiful and unique waterfront with dynamic activities and incredible team energy
Crowsnest Lake Bible Camp – Tucked into the breathtaking Crowsnest Pass, offering unforgettable mountain adventure and wilderness experiences
Camp Maskepetoon – Nestled on the shores of Pigeon Lake, rich in outdoor tradition, community spirit, and classic camp magic
Whispering Pines Bible Camp – A serene and welcoming retreat amongst the pines where campers build lasting connection
Camp Jean Nelson (Hosted at Camp Kindle) – A meaningful camp program creating safe, supportive, and empowering experiences for children with type 1 diabetes
Camp Evergreen – Packed with exciting outdoor adventures, from archery and horses to challenge courses, and a wonderfully intentional team. Not to mention one of the best frisbee golf courses of any camp!
YMCA Camp Chief Hector – An iconic Kananaskis staple steeped in rich history, outtripping traditions, and deep connection to the outdoors.

Thank you to our volunteer visitors from Camp Evergreen and Millcreek Camp!

We’ve got 6 visits and 2 weeks left of our accreditation season so keep checking back for highlights.

Check out these camps info and websites here: albertacamping.com/find-a-camp 🌐

Always remember to "Look for the logo!"

Keeping Our Campers Safe This Summer!

It is National Drowning Prevention Week. This week is dedicated to raising awareness about water safety to prevent drowning fatalities.

As camp professionals, we know that water activities are a cornerstone of the summer camp experience. Ensuring we have top-tier safety protocols in place is our highest priority.

Check out this graphic and all the posts from our friends at Lifesaving Society Alberta and Northwest Territories to see the daily safety themes for this week!

We encourage all our member camps and staff to utilize the free, invaluable resources provided by the Lifesaving Society to promote National Drowning Prevention Week in your camp community.

Check out the full campaign details, download safety resources, and learn more about their incredible work by visiting lifesaving.org.

Thank you to the Lifesaving Society ABNWT for all you do to keep Albertans safe. Together, we can prevent drowning.

And that is Week 2 of Accreditation visits! 🚐

We had another great week visiting 4 more of our amazing member camps, all busy creating spaces for adventure, leadership, and connection for kids across our province. Here’s a quick look at where we went:

Gull Lake Centre – Home to a truly outstanding and highly sought-after leadership development program that sets a beautiful standard for camps everywhere!
Frontier Lodge – These folks practically wrote the book on how to run outdoor adventure camps. They are an incredible resource for anyone looking to level up their adventure programming, from outtripping to mountain biking!
Camp Warwa – A camp constantly striving to be as inclusive, accessible, and welcoming as possible. It is truly a beautiful place to find connection and community.
Camp Yowochas – Home to the oldest standing camp building in Alberta (the red building in our photos!) and an eclectic, vibrant culture steeped in challenging campers to push themselves in all the best ways.

ALSO special shoutout to Camp Kuriakos and Camp Valaqua for lending us your Directors to join for a couple of the visits! Want to join us for a future visit? Let us know! Email us at [email protected]

Want to learn more about these or other member camps? Check out their details and links to their websites here: albertacamping.com/find-a-camp

Week 1 of Accreditation visits is officially in the books!

We had an incredible time visiting 4 of our amazing member camps, all busy creating lifelong memories for kids from all across Alberta. Here’s a quick look at where we went:

Camp Alexo – Tucked away in the woods right at the edge of the mountains in Nordegg, rich with unique history.
Bar Harbour Camp – Nestled on the beautiful shores of Buffalo Lake, keeping the camp magic alive for over 100 years!
InterVarsity Circle Square Ranch Halkirk – Home to a well-established, incredibly welcoming equine program.
Tim Horton Children's Ranch (Tim Hortons Foundation Camps) – Quite literally one of the most beautiful facilities you will ever visit, complete with a stellar team and gorgeous mountain landscapes.

Stay tuned each week this summer as we highlight the member camps we’re lucky enough to visit and support through our accreditation process!

Want to join us for a future visit? Let us know! Email us at [email protected]

Want to learn more about our member camps? Check out their details and links to their websites here: albertacamping.com/find-a-camp Always remember to "Look for the logo!"

Happy July!

The latest ACA newsletter just hit inboxes, and it is packed with great things!

The official dates and location for the 2027 Conference are OUT! Start planning your winter professional development.

Summer Fireside Chats: Feeling the summer chaos? Pull up a virtual chair and connect with fellow camp leaders to swap stories and wins.

Accreditation Visits: Our team is hitting the road this month! Check out how to follow along with our summer camp highlights.

Security Alert: Important information on a recent phishing scam targeting our camps.

Don't miss out: Tap the link in our bio or below to read the full issue and get involved!

https://mailchi.mp/e1560bd598b1/aca-may-newsletter-17463365