Association of Camp Nursing

The Association of Camp Nursing (ACN) is a professional nursing organization working toward healthier camp communities by supporting the practice of camp nursing. ACN was founded by Jeanne Otto when she began an informal newsletter in the 1980's. With her retirement in 1990, ACN restructured as a not-for-profit organization, created a Leadership Board, and launched the Association which exists today.

ACN’s national office is in Fisherville, Kentucky. Board members represent a variety of camp nursing experiences. The organization is volunteer-driven by nurses who are committed to developing camp nursing practice and working to provide healthy camp communities.

Members of ACN are nurses. In a practice where one nurse is often the only nurse, ACN membership can be the resource which helps minimize the camp nurse’s feeling of isolation and provides a way to share camp health discoveries. ACN offers access to other people who share similar interests. Members receive ACN’s publication, CompassPoint, participate in Association governance, serve on various committees, and attend ACN conferences.

ACN recognizes that developing camp nursing practice impacts the camps in which nurses work. Because of this, the Association has a kindred relationship to the American Camp Association (ACA) and stays abreast of developments within Christian Camping International (CCI). In an effort to work collaboratively with the greater world of camping, a growing number of individual ACN members are also members of these camping organizations.

Because of the Association’s outreach to other groups, a subscription to CompassPoint is available to those who want to stay informed of the developments in camp health practices. Those who subscribe also are informed about educational opportunities for their camp health staff.