NYS Children's Day Camp Programs - New Regulations

In September of 2009, amendments to New York State Public Health Law revised the summer children’s day camp definition to include indoor or outdoor organized group activities, involving certain activities with significant risk of injury. The amendments will be effective April 1, 2011 and recreational activities with significant risk of injury will be defined in the State Sanitary Code (SSC).

As a result, a program no longer needs to be conducted primarily (50% or more) outdoors to be considered a camp and it will be necessary to evaluate the types of activities conducted during a children’s summer program to determine if the program should be regulated as a camp. A day program that otherwise qualifies as a camp and has two or more activities of which at least one is a high risk activity must be regulated as a camp. A program with lower risk activities will not be considered a day camp regardless of the number of activities offered at the program. Single purpose activities such as learn-to-swim, Little League, Pop Warner, and soccer programs continue to be exempt from regulation.

The Putnam County Department of Health is attempting to determine what programs in the area may be affected by these new regulations. Facilities are asked to complete the “Children’s Camp Survey”. Information provided on the survey will assist the Department in determining if your program will be affected by the new regulations.

• Press Release for NYS Children's Day Camp Programs

If you have any questions concerning the new regulations please contact the Putnam County Department of Health at (845) 808-1390 extension 43160.