Campgrounds must verify best practices for the extensive range of camps requires a system that is broadly applicable and constantly updated. States vary significantly in their oversight of camp operations. In many states, camps fall under the jurisdiction of the state health department; in others, licensing and permit fees can vary by county or city. In several states, ACA-accreditation requirements are recognized as the standard of care for camps.

Over the last ten years, an increasing number of states have been working with the American Camp Association's (ACA) camp standards to complement and strengthen the camp profession. At the same time, ACA has advanced its overall professional development efforts and exploration of quality and best practice indicators for the camp industry.

Please refer to ACA's public policy position statement on Camp Safety for more information about ACA's programs and services that promote camp safety throughout the country.

Private campgrounds are represented heavily by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) is the world's largest system of privately held campgrounds with almost 500 locations across US and Canada. It was founded in 1962 and is based in Billings, MT. KOA annually inspects each campground with a 600-point inspection, which it claims is the most stringent in the business.