Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts Receives ACA Accreditation

WHEATLEY HEIGHTS, NY (December 11, 2025) — Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, one of the pre-eminent nonprofit arts day camps in the country, announced today its official American Camp Association (ACA) Accreditation.

Usdan has voluntarily undergone a thorough review of 140 standards covering everything from staff training and emergency plans to program design and health care practices. The American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey (ACA, NY & NJ) partners with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other trusted organizations to ensure that accredited camps reflect the latest, research-based best practices.

“We strive to maintain the highest standard of care so that every student experiences a safe, supportive, and healthy environment[VE1]  at Usdan,” Chief Operating Officer Victoria Ellerbe shared. “Receiving our ACA Accreditation is an important step in communicating the immense effort our faculty and staff undertake every summer to ensure a space where [VE2] our students can thrive.”

Key areas of review include:

• Healthy, developmentally appropriate activities
• Caring, competent role models
• Opportunities for discovery and leadership
• Service to the community and the environment
• A focus on fun, safety, and meaningful growth

Unlike state licensing, which is mandatory and varies by state, ACA Accreditation is completely voluntary. This accreditation shows that Usdan goes above and beyond to meet nationally recognized standards. These standards are respected by courts, regulators, and families alike as the benchmark of quality and care in the camp world. Only one in four camps across the country has received accreditation.

Upon receiving this recognition, Usdan Executive Director Lauren Brandt Schloss remarked, “I am thrilled that this seal of approval makes everything I know to be so special about Usdan even more visible to the world.”

Usdan’s first summer as an officially accredited camp and its 59th in history begins on June 29, 2026. The camp will offer four and eight-week immersive art programs for young artists currently in grades 2-12, an introductory program for students in grades K-1 for either four or eight weeks called Discovery, and a 1-week Recreational program for kids currently in grades 2-8. Enrollment is open now on Usdan’s website, www.usdan.org.