A three-year $400,000 grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies will support the American Camp Association’s launch of a national initiative designed to equip camps with tools, training and support necessary to respond to climate-related challenges.
The new program, “Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and Response at Camp,” will advance disaster readiness across the camp community through two key areas of investment:
- First, ACA will launch a cohort-based accreditation support program specifically for camps experiencing financial hardship and heightened vulnerability to weather-related disasters. Through an application and selection process, up to 50 camps will receive guided assistance as they work toward accreditation—a framework that strengthens safety, emergency planning and overall program quality. This targeted support will help camps that may not otherwise have the resources to implement comprehensive preparedness practices.
- In addition, the grant will support ACA's Climate Symposium, a virtual professional development event open to camp leaders nationwide. Featuring expert keynote speakers and topic-specific breakout sessions, the symposium focuses on climate-related disaster preparedness, mitigation and response strategies, ensuring the broader field benefits from current research, tools and best practices.
"With these new preparedness efforts, we can reduce barriers for camps that are most vulnerable to weather-related disasters," said Henry DeHart, CEO of ACA. "By investing in accreditation support and expanding access to high-quality training, we're helping camps build safer, more resilient environments for every camper and staff member."
As extreme weather events grow in frequency and impact, camps across the United States face new operational challenges, from wildfire smoke to severe storms and flooding. Through this initiative, ACA aims to provide direct support to camps most at risk while also elevating preparedness practices across the entire field. Learn more at ACAcamps.org/preparedness-project.