Children's Camps Operators and Health Departments

Important Message to Camps Regarding Handling Wildlife

As camp season ends, we are requesting that camps across New York State reinforce the following with campers and staff:

  • Never feed, rescue, handle or intentionally get close to any wild animals, including bats and “orphaned" wildlife or feral animals.
  • Don’t touch and avoid injured, ill, or stray animals.
  • Don’t touch and avoid any animal that exhibits behavior that appears abnormal.
  • Report to appropriate camp staff (e.g. camp director, health director) IMMEDIATELY:
    • The presence and location of any suspicious animal.
    • The presence of a bat in any sleeping area or in a building used for activities or assembly, or a dead or grounded bat, or a bat roosting within reach (indoors or outdoors) of campers or staff.
    • Any injury caused by contact with an animal.
  • IMMEDIATELY notify your District or County Environmental Health Program and local health department if anyone is exposed to a potentailly rabid animal to report the exposure details (circumstances leading to incident, who was involved or present, location, if the animal was captured, etc.) and to arrange for testing the suspect animal (if available).

For more information, please see the following:

In New York State, summer camps must have a state, city, or county health department permit to operate legally. These permits are issued only if the camp is in compliance with the state's health regulations. The permit to operate must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the premises.

Permitted children's camps must be inspected twice yearly, including at least once before opening and during the time the camp is operating. Each camp is checked to make sure that the physical facilities are safe and that supervision is adequate.

Requirements for Children's Camps in New York State outlines the steps to follow to receive a permit to operate a children's camp in New York State.

Children's camps must operate in compliance with Subpart 7-2 of the New York State Sanitary Code. Some jurisdictions may have local regulations in addition to the Subparts below. Please contact the local health department that has jurisdiction in the county or city where the camp is located for regulation and permit questions.

Standards for CPR, first aid, and aquatic certifications are specified in the children’s camp regulations for certain camp staff. The fact sheets listed below describe the training courses that have been determined to be acceptable for these positions.

Additional certification requirements can be found at Information for Swimming Pool, Bathing Beach, and Recreational Aquatic Spray Ground Operators.

Children’s camp operators are required to develop, review annually, update, and implement a written safety plan. This plan must be submitted to the local health department that has jurisdiction in the county or city where the camp is located for their review and approval. Camp operators may complete the applicable templates below to fulfill safety plan requirements.

Activity-Specific Plans:

Swimming and boating at children’s camps are popular camp activities. The following documents describe the requirements and guidance for these activities.

The following training presentation provides an overview of the multiple-barrier approach to safe swimming at children's camps. It can be used as a resource and for camp staff training.

Illness can quickly change a pleasant camp visit into a difficult experience for campers and staff. The following information is provided to help prevent and limit illnesses.

A camp may recommend or require that campers or staff have received specific immunizations. The Department of Health strongly recommends that all campers are up to date on their childhood vaccines and that staff receive recommended vaccines. Learn more about recommended immunizations for campers and staff.

Children’s camp facilities must comply with all state and local building code regulations, as well as specific requirements in the children’s camp regulations. The New York State Department of Health has developed guidance for camp operators on various topics. Please contact the local health department that has jurisdiction in the county or city where the camp is located for more information.

The operator of a children's camp with an off-site or on-site potable water system that is not subject to continuous water use must ensure that an acceptable annual start-up procedure is completed. Start-up procedures, including required sampling, must be completed at least 15 days prior to opening for the season.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides recommendations focused on playground-related injuries in its Public Playground Safety Handbook.

Public Health Law § 1396(2) prohibits, with some exceptions, the application of pesticides to any playground, turf or athletic or playing field at children's camps. The following guidance was developed in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to help children’s camp operators comply with outdoor pesticide application restrictions.

Camps are usually located in areas that are prime habitat for bats and other wildlife, and the type of construction in camp buildings is often conducive to roosting bats. Bats are frequently encountered in the camp setting. If people are sleeping in cabins with bats, or children are handling bats found on the ground, rabies exposures can occur. Bats that are infected with rabies are often mistaken for injured animals when they are found flopping around on the ground. Abnormal behavior seen in rabid bats includes being on the ground, landing on someone, and flying during the day. Occasionally, there is no obvious abnormal behavior, so all contact with bats and other wild animals should be reported to the camp nurse.

A changing climate affects our health and safety. This guide explains climate threats and provides tips and resources to help you prepare for weather emergencies. This information is designed to help you adapt camp activities and facilities for a changing climate.

There are additional requirements for camps enrolling one or more children with a developmental disability.

The following forms may be needed for operators of children's camps. Please contact the local health department that has jurisdiction in the county or city where the camp is located for more information.

Sections 1392-a, 1394-a, and 1394-b of Public Health Law require children's camp operators to determine whether an employee or volunteer at the camp is listed on the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Sex Offender Registry and the national sex offender registry. These checks must be completed prior to the day the employee or volunteer starts work at the camp and annually thereafter prior to their arrival at camp. These laws apply to all children's camps (day, traveling day and overnight) and to all prospective employees and volunteers at the camp regardless of their job title/responsibilities or employment status (full or part time).

New York State Sex Offender Registry

Refer to NYS Sex Offender Registry Search Procedures for Children’s Camps for instructions on conducting and documenting a search of the state sex offender registry.

National Sex Offender Registry

To search the national sex offender registry:

  • Go to the United States Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website.
  • Enter the individual’s first and last name in the “Search by Name” field, then click on “Name Search.”
  • After agreeing to the conditions of use, the search results will display. The results will indicate that a national search including all states, territories, and Indian Country was performed.
  • If the search identifies records for the name that was searched, review all the records and verify that the camp employee/volunteer is not any of the individuals identified by the search.

Print and save a record of the search for the local health department to review during inspections.

  • If the records contain several pages, you may print only the first page (including the individual's name and date and time of search) and include a notation that all pages of the records were reviewed (record the total number of pages).
  • A local health department may accept other ways to document that a search was performed and records were reviewed.

The State Camp Safety Advisory Council was established in accordance with Public Health Law Article 13-A, Section 1390. The State Camp Safety Advisory Council consists of nine members representing New York State for-profit camps, not-for-profit camps, municipal camps, consumer interests, and children's interests. The Council meets at least twice a year to advise and consult the Department of Health on policy matters relating to youth camp safety.

An incident surveillance system is maintained to assess the health and safety at children's camps. Camp operators are required to report serious injuries, illnesses, potential rabies exposures, administrations of epinephrine, and allegations of camper abuse to local health departments. View the 2025 Incident Summary Report. Please note that data errors were identified in the previously posted 2024 incident summary report. Please contact us if you have questions or for a copy of the amended report.

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