(BLOOMINGTON) – The American Camp Association® (ACA) announced in November that Bloomington Parks and Recreation’s Kid City Summer Camps have received ACA-Accredited® Camp status for 2020.
Amy Shrake, the coordinator of Kid City Summer Camp programs, said, “We pursue accreditation because it requires us to review every part of our summer camps, to ensure we are providing the best possible camp experience for children and their families. Kid City Summer Camps voluntarily submitted to this independent appraisal by camp experts, and we are proud to earn this mark of distinction.”
Kid City Summer Camps were first accredited by the ACA in 2002.
Shrake said, “Safety and quality are top priorities at Kid City. Accreditation offers resources on summer camp best practices to help maintain the high standards that have kept Kid City successful for more than 25 years. ACA is also a resource for families, to help them find accredited camps and to highlight what to look for in a quality summer camp program.”
Kid City Summer Camps are held in week-long sessions, June through August, at the Allison-Jukebox Community Center, 351 S. Washington St. in Bloomington. More than 200 children participated in Kid City Summer Camps in 2019. Kid City Original serves children in grades K through 4, and features weekly themes as well as field trips, arts and media, sports and games, and nature education.
Kid City Quest serves youth in grades 5 through 7, and focuses on the needs of older children with trips to the public library, screen-free time, field trips, and camp favorites like swimming.
Kid City also includes a counselor in training program for youth in grades 8 through 10 who want to become Kid City staff members. Registered youth gain experience working with children, learn leadership skills and receive job training. Prospective CITs must apply for next summer’s program by April 3, 2020.
“ACA Accreditation means that Kid City Summer Camps submitted to a thorough (up to 290 standards) review of their operations by the 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.
The Bloomington Parks Foundation provides need-based scholarships for youth to enable participation in Parks and Recreation programs. For more information about how to apply for a scholarship to attend Kid City Summer Camps, call Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 812-349-3700 or visit bloomington.in.gov/node/3874.
For more information about Kid City Summer Camps, contact Kid City at 812-349-3731 or visit bloomington.in.gov/kidcity. Registration for the 2020 camp season opens March 6.