AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION ® STANDARDS INSTRUCTOR COURSE

Purpose of the ACA Accreditation Program © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 2 Education, Education, Education Education, Education...

Purpose of Accreditation © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 3 The main purpose of the ACA Accreditation Program is to EDUCATE camp owners and directors in the administration of key aspects of camp operation, particularly those related to program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff.

Course Objectives © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 4  Demonstrate comfort with standards content  Establish comfort level with materials  Understand learning styles and be able to use a variety of training styles  Demonstrate ability to teach courses  Demonstrate ability to evaluate peer/trainee performance  Demonstrate understanding of ACA structure and accreditation process

© American Camping Association Inc., Trainer Expectations  Ask for help when needed  Know your section of course content  Participate as a student  Be honest and kind in your peer evaluations  Others?

What’s New and Different in 2012 General changes to the APG Fall 2015 NSC Decisions

Changes to Standards 2015/2016 © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 7 Standard #Change HR.3.3 Hiring Policies (‘15) Criminal background check at least every 5 years for year-round staff (MANDATORY) HR.4.3 Annual Staff Screening (‘15) Criminal background check ANNUALLY for all seasonal staff (MANDATORY) HR.8.B 1:1 Camper/staff Interaction (’16) NEW! Requirement for staff to receiving training trained to minimize 1:1 camper/staff interaction when out of sight of others (MANDATORY)

Changes to Standards 2015/2016 © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 8 Standard #Change PD.25 Archery Safety (‘15) Added: Equipment must be locked when not in use, all parts MANDATORY PD.26 Rifle, Pellet & Air Gun Safety (‘15) All parts now MANDATORY PD.29.3 Protective Headwear (‘15) DNA for helmet use on manufactured (man-made) climbing wall when an auto-belay system is used.

APG Changes to Standards and DNAs* © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 9  It is ACA’s responsibility to notify you of revisions  It is your responsibility to have the updates  Revisions will be in effect starting with the 2016 visit season  Two ways to update your current book  Download updates from website  My Accreditation *Always check the Accreditation Resources/Tools page

National Standards Commission Decision Any camp that misses four or more mandatory standards will be required to have a complete visit the following summer (even if the ICA is accepted). 10 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

National Standards Commission Decision When new/revised standards are introduced, camps must come into compliance with the addition /changes the next season. CHANGE: In the past it was only mandatory standards that must be met immediately 11 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

Cannot Rely on Old or Inherited Documents © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 12 CHECK FOR CHANGES Some things are DIFFERENT! You’ll need to prepare.

Camp Information Form Camp Self-Assessment Visit ICA 72- Hour Rule “KEY” Elements to Accreditation 13 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

14 A tool created to assist both the camp designee and the visitor. It includes significant information about the camp. Used by Visitor Is a valuable part of visit process

Camp Self-Assessment © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 15

Camp Self-Assessment © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 16  A camp self-assessment is a required review of the written documentation for twenty pre-identified standards and must be completed prior to the start of staff training for the summer season. Your local office might require an earlier completion date.

Connects Visitor Camp A Tool Organizes Evaluates Reviews Written Documentation Compliance Demonstrations The Camp Self-Assessment (CSA) © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 17

Locating the Camp Self-Assessment Form © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 18

Camp Self-Assessment © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 19 Must be completed prior to the start of staff training or May 1 st Local office might deny a visit if not completed May 1

ICA Process 72-Hour Rule Written Documentation (Brief) Scoring Reminders Score Form Activity Compliance Decisions Refresher 20 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

Missed Mandatory Standards © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 21 Mandatory standards are critical to the health and safety of campers and staff and ACA requires immediate compliance with these.

Immediate Corrective Action (ICA) © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 22 ICA MUST be taken for any and all missed mandatory standards. Activity must be stopped until camp is in compliance with standard. Visitors will determine compliance and inform director of required correction(s). ALL documentation gets sent to the ACA, Inc. Camp has 7 (NEW) days to submit proof of immediate compliance with the standard. ICA

Sample Form ~ Immediate Corrective Action (ICA) Notification © 2014 American Camping Association, Inc. 23

The 72-Hour Rule © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 24 Very different than the ICA process. A courtesy that may be extended at the VISITOR’S discretion. May ONLY be used for standards that require written documentation that can be verified to already be in existence. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, the documents are not present at the time of the visit. 72-Hour Rule

Written Documentation © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 25 Criteria Pertinence Currency Dissemination Inclusiveness Location Communication Practiced or Rehearsed

Documented Training and Documented Endorsement © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 26 PD.12 Supervisor Qualifications Needs to be FROM A THIRD PARTY or at very least VERIFIABLE and can include: Job reviews from former employers Job performance review from the camp Letters of recommendation Course record sheet Certification or training cards Detailed list of experiences – if/when NOTHING else is available

Documented Training and Documented Endorsement © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 27 PD.14.1 Horseback Riding Supervisor Qualifications Requires current certification OR documented endorsement which may include: A letter of reference from former employers, students, or co-workers Brochures or advertisements announcing programs where the individual is listed as instructor

Scoring Reminders © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 28 Score the Standard!

Scoring Reminders © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 29 Verify written documentation exists If written documentation is not complete, the standard must be scored as a “NO”  Camp staff cannot complete and/or update written documentation on the day of the visit.  All standards scored “NO” must have a written comment.

WHAT ARE THE SCORING ERRORS? An Activity How many can you find?

PPT slide deck ACA Volunteer Instructor Pages My Accreditation My Visits Resources by Section of Standards Using Resources 31 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

Supporting Course Instruction with Technology and Media © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 32 Instructors will receive from ACA  PowerPoint slide deck for each course  PDF of PowerPoint notes version includes pertinent content and Training Map.  ACA Volunteer Instructor web pages (curricula)  Trainer demonstration access to My Accreditation and My Visits pages (if Internet is available)

My Accreditation- Web tool © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 33  Customize a set of standards  Upload documents for visitor to review  Indicate perceived compliance with standards  Make notes and comments  Generate custom reports and checklists

My Visits Used when assigned camp uses web tools  Used when assigned camps have chosen to use My Accreditation  Convey your availability to local office – for visit assignments  Review visit assignments information  Review assigned camp’s customizations and documentation (provided they opt to use tools)  Make comments to assist camp with readiness  Generate custom checklists and/or set of standards for assigned camp. 34

My Accreditation and My Visits Basic Access © 2012 American Camping Association, Inc. 35 Step 1. Camps go to main accreditation resources and tools page to access My Accreditation and/or My Visits Step 2. Click on “My Visits” or “My Accreditation.” Take the TUTORIAL. Step 3. Log in as yourself (ACA member number and password). Step 4. Complete the Camp Intake Questionnaire (in “My Accreditation” section) or Complete Visitor Information (in “My Visits” section). Step 5. Review the document produced and proceed as necessary to customize. Step 6. Print out the filtered/customized list of standards for your program or list of camps to be visited and pertinent info.

Customization Tools Reminders  Educational Resource  No assurance of a successful outcome  Use your own professional judgment in determining applicability  You are responsible for any and all standards that apply to your program, regardless of results of customization efforts. © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 36

Types of Learning /Styles Training Styles Delivery V. Retention Activity Adult Learning (review online pre-course work) 37 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

Three Types of Learning © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 38  Knowledge  Skills  Influencing  All 3 are crucial to the success of the training

Three Learning Styles  Visual  Auditory  Kinesthetic 39 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

Training Styles PresentingGuidingCoachingFacilitating Task Process Content People

“The brain remembers best what is taught first, second best what is taught last, and least what is taught in the middle.” ~David Sousa © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 41

Twenty-minute learning segments are ideal © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 42

Delivery Style v. Retention Delivery of InformationRetention Rate after 24 Hours Lecture5% Reading10% Audio Visual20% Demonstration30% Discussion Groups50% Practice by Doing75% Teaching Others90%

© 2015 American Camping Association Inc., Reflection on Training Styles (from online pre-course content)  What are your training style preferences?  Are you balanced in your use of all 4 dimensions?  What areas might you need more attention?  What insights have you gained by thinking through this context?  What can you do differently as a result of the knowledge you have learned?  How can we work more effectively (with each other) as training teams knowing this information?

Evaluation of Peers Self-Assessment Trainer Review of Candidates Assessing Learning 45 © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.

Evaluation of Peers: Assessing Others  Be objective  Be honest and tactful  Be constructive  Develop your skills for future AV candidate assessment  You will complete written evaluations for each of your peers.  You will participate in verbal feedback as well as the written for each lesson taught. © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 46

Possible Outcomes of Instructor Course At completion of this course you may be designated:  Associate Instructor  Instructor  Neither © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 47

Directed Study and/or Practice Teaching © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 48

Review Role of Instructor SAM Reports SAM/Wrap-Up/Evaluations 49 © 201r American Camping Association, Inc.

Role of the Instructor  Review Job Description  Assessing others  Resource Scavenger Hunt © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 50

SAM  Standards Administration Manual  Found on the Standards Chair volunteer web page  Feel free to download a copy of document for your reference  Importance of Training Reports © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 51

© American Camping Association Inc., Where do Standards Come from?  Feedback from local areas via Standards Chairs, visitors, and camp directors  Environmental scans of activities and other youth serving organizations  Online discussions  National Standards Commission  ACA Board of Director

Purpose of the ACA Accreditation Program © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 53 Education, Education, Education Education, Education...

© American Camping Association Inc., Wrap-Up  Resources  Toolkit  Altering a Course – only in order of teaching. NOT CONTENT!  Evaluate the course

American Camp Association® New Instructor Course © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc. 55