National Camp Association

For many of us New Yorkers, escaping the hustle and bustle for a refreshing outdoor adventure is a cherished dream. Whether you’re a seasoned outdoors enthusiast or a family looking to introduce your kids to the joys of sleeping under the stars, finding the right camping experience can make all the difference. This is where the National Camp Association (NCA), with an address in Pomona, NY, plays a crucial role for locals. It's important to clarify that the National Camp Association itself is not a public campground where you can directly pitch a tent or park an RV. Instead, it serves as a vital organization dedicated to supporting and promoting quality camping experiences across New York State.

Think of the National Camp Association as a hub for the camping community. They are part of a larger network of organizations, including the American Camp Association (ACA) New York and New Jersey, that work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the diverse range of camps and campgrounds available to us meet high standards. From traditional tent sites to modern RV parks and even luxurious glamping options, they are invested in helping New Yorkers discover and enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors.

Their mission involves setting standards, providing resources, and fostering a strong network among camp owners and professionals. This commitment ultimately benefits us, the local users, by contributing to safer, more engaging, and higher-quality camping opportunities throughout the magnificent landscapes of New York, from the Adirondacks to the Atlantic Ocean shorelines. This overview will shed light on what the National Camp Association is all about and how it impacts your next camping trip in our beautiful state.

The National Camp Association is located at 74 Call Hollow Rd, Pomona, NY 10970, USA. Pomona is a hamlet within the town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York. This location places the NCA’s administrative base within a region that offers excellent accessibility for individuals and organizations involved in the camping industry across New York State and the wider tri-state area.

As an administrative and organizational body, the "accessibility" of the National Camp Association differs from that of a public campground. You won't be driving in with your RV or tent to set up camp directly at this address. Instead, this address likely serves as an office or a central point for their operations. For professionals in the camping industry, this location is relatively easy to reach via local roadways in Rockland County, and its proximity to major routes like the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) ensures good connectivity for those traveling from other parts of New York or neighboring states.

For the general public, while you wouldn't visit this address for a camping trip, understanding its location helps to identify the regional base of an organization dedicated to enhancing camping opportunities for New Yorkers. Their work supports the accessibility of countless campgrounds and camps throughout the state, ensuring that residents have a wide array of choices for their outdoor adventures, whether in the vibrant streets of New York City's outskirts or the peaceful trails further upstate.

The National Camp Association (NCA), in collaboration with organizations like the American Camp Association (ACA) New York & New Jersey, offers a range of services that primarily benefit camp owners, directors, and staff, but ultimately contribute to a better camping experience for us, the campers. These services include:

• Professional Development and Education: They provide valuable resources, courses, webinars, and conferences (like the Tri-State CAMP Conference, the largest camp conference in the world) for camp professionals. This ensures that camp staff are well-trained in areas such as child development, safety, and program quality.

• Accreditation Programs: The ACA (with which NCA is affiliated) offers the only nationwide external professional peer-review accreditation program for camps. This voluntary program requires camps to meet up to 300 health and safety standards, which are considered best practices in the industry. For campers, this means a higher standard of safety and quality at accredited camps.

• Networking Opportunities: The NCA facilitates networking among camp owners, operators, and industry vendors, fostering collaboration and the sharing of best practices within the New York camping community. This helps elevate the overall quality of camping experiences available to locals.

• Industry Advocacy: They advocate for the camping industry at local, state, and national levels, addressing issues that impact camp operations and accessibility. This work helps ensure that New York's beautiful natural areas remain viable and enjoyable for camping.

• Resource Sharing: They provide expert advice, videos for parents, and information on nature education, helping families understand the value of camp and how to choose the right program for their children.

• Promoting Diverse Camping Options: Through their broader initiatives (like Camp New York), they help highlight the vast array of camping and glamping opportunities available throughout the state, from RV sites and tent sites to rental units, encouraging New Yorkers to explore their own backyard.

• Support for Staffing and Recruitment: They host events and provide resources focused on recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining camp staff, which is crucial for maintaining high-quality camp programs.

While you won't book a campsite directly through the NCA, their comprehensive support for the camping industry in New York directly translates into a better and safer outdoor experience for us, the local campers and families.

The National Camp Association's "features" and "highlights" are centered around its organizational impact on the quality and accessibility of camping in New York. These include:

• Commitment to Quality and Safety: A major highlight is their dedication to ensuring that New York camps meet high standards of health and safety. This is primarily achieved through the voluntary ACA accreditation program, which involves rigorous peer review of up to 300 standards covering everything from staff qualifications to emergency management. This commitment gives New York families peace of mind when choosing a camp.

• Extensive Network and Expertise: The NCA and its partners, like the ACA, bring together a vast network of experienced camp professionals, leveraging collective knowledge to continuously improve camp experiences. This collective expertise benefits all campers in the state.

• Focus on Youth Development: A significant highlight is the emphasis on the developmental benefits of camp experiences. Studies supported by organizations like the ACA consistently show that quality camp programs promote youth outcomes, including independence, social awareness, affinity for nature, and resilience. For New York parents, this means camp is seen not just as recreation but as a vital part of a child's growth.

• Diverse Camping Promotion: While not a single campground, the NCA promotes the incredible diversity of camping options available throughout New York State. This includes everything from rustic tent camping in the mountains to full-hookup RV sites near attractions, and even glamping experiences, catering to all preferences of New York locals.

• Educational Resources for Parents: They offer valuable resources designed to help parents navigate the process of finding the right camp, understanding specialized programming, and appreciating how camp can meet their child's needs. This empowers New York families to make informed decisions about their camping and summer camp choices.

• Industry Leadership and Collaboration: The NCA plays a leadership role in the outdoor hospitality sector, collaborating with various stakeholders to foster a thriving camping environment in New York. This ensures the continued availability and improvement of camping facilities for local residents.

In essence, the highlights of the National Camp Association are its foundational contributions to making camping in New York State a consistently positive, safe, and enriching experience for everyone.

As an association, the National Camp Association (NCA) and its affiliate, the American Camp Association (ACA) New York & New Jersey, do not offer traditional consumer "promotions" for camping stays. Instead, their "offers" are typically geared towards their members (camp professionals and organizations) and indirectly benefit the public by improving the quality of camps. These "offers" include:

• Member Discounts on Conferences and Education: Members receive reduced rates for professional development events, such as the Tri-State CAMP Conference, and various online courses and webinars. This ongoing professional education translates into better-run camps for New York families.

• Free Individual Memberships for New Staff: ACA often runs promotions allowing new camp staff members (counselors, program leaders, etc.) to receive a free one-year individual membership. This provides them with access to professional development tools, resources, and often a free online course, contributing to a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce at New York camps.

• Access to Resources and Tools: Membership provides access to a wealth of resources, including best practices, research, and industry insights, which help camps operate more efficiently and provide higher-quality programs. This is a continuous "offer" to the camp community.

• Certification Training Referrals: While the NCA itself might not directly offer all certifications (like lifeguarding or archery), they connect members to various member camps and organizations that do provide such essential training, often at a discounted rate for members. This ensures staff at New York camps are properly certified.

For the general public looking for camping deals, you would need to look directly at specific campgrounds and camps listed in directories like Camp New York, as individual camps often run their own seasonal promotions, early bird discounts, or special packages. The NCA's "promotions" are more about investing in the industry's backbone, which ultimately creates a better overall camping landscape for us, the New York locals.

To get in touch with the National Camp Association, or more accurately, its regional affiliate, the American Camp Association (ACA) New York & New Jersey, which operates from the Pomona address, here's the relevant contact information:

Address: 74 Call Hollow Rd, Pomona, NY 10970, USA

Phone for ACA New York & New Jersey (Senior Director of Member Services & Operations): 212-391-5208 (Kyle Medeiros)

General Main Phone for American Camp Association (National): 800-428-2267 or 765-342-8456

It's important to note that while the address is in Pomona, the direct phone line for the ACA's New York & New Jersey chapter is listed as a New York City number, reflecting its broader regional reach. For inquiries about specific camps, accreditation, or industry events, these contact numbers or the official ACA New York & New Jersey website (acanynj.org) would be your best resources.

While the National Camp Association (NCA) at 74 Call Hollow Rd in Pomona isn't a public campground you can visit for a weekend trip, it is profoundly suitable and beneficial for us, the locals in New York, because of its foundational role in elevating the entire camping landscape across our state.

Firstly, and most importantly, the NCA's affiliation with the American Camp Association (ACA) means that they are at the forefront of promoting and upholding high standards for camps. This commitment to accreditation ensures that countless summer camps, overnight camps, and even some public campgrounds across New York adhere to stringent health, safety, and operational guidelines. For parents in New York, this provides an invaluable layer of reassurance when choosing a camp for their children, knowing that the facilities and programs are vetted against industry best practices. It directly translates to safer and more enriching experiences for our youth.

Secondly, the NCA's focus on professional development for camp staff and directors means that the people directly interacting with campers are well-trained, knowledgeable, and equipped to provide positive experiences. From ensuring proper supervision to implementing engaging activities, the emphasis on quality personnel through NCA and ACA initiatives benefits every child and family who participates in a New York camp program.

Moreover, for adults in New York looking for outdoor recreation, the NCA indirectly makes it easier to find suitable options. By supporting the industry as a whole, they help foster a diverse and robust offering of campgrounds, from rustic tent sites in state parks to fully equipped RV resorts and luxurious glamping experiences. Their efforts contribute to the variety and availability of these outdoor havens, allowing us to easily discover and access the perfect natural escape, whether we prefer a mountain retreat, a lakeside spot, or a coastal adventure.

In essence, the National Camp Association in Pomona serves as a vital behind-the-scenes force, tirelessly working to ensure that the spirit of camping in New York remains strong, safe, and accessible. It’s an organization that directly contributes to the quality of life for New Yorkers by helping to preserve and enhance our opportunities to connect with the state's magnificent natural beauty through well-managed and high-standard camping experiences. For anyone who values the outdoors and the benefits of camping, the work done at this Pomona location is incredibly suitable and beneficial to our local community.

National Camp Association

74 Call Hollow Rd, Pomona, NY 10970, USA