In Saratoga County summer camps must have a county health department permit to operate legally and must operate in compliance with Subpart 7-2 of the State Sanitary Code requirements. A permit is issued only when the camp is in compliance with New York State’s health regulations.
Children’s camps must be inspected twice yearly by a health department representative. At least one inspection must be made during the time the camp is in operation. Each camp is checked to make sure that the physical facilities are well maintained, and that supervision is adequate.
It is the goal of the Saratoga County Department of Health to ensure a safe, clean, and healthy experience for all children and staff at these Camps.
• A summer day camp is a property consisting of a tract of land and any tents, vehicles, buildings, or other structures that may be pertinent to its use, any part of which may be occupied on a scheduled basis at any time between June 1 and September 15 in any year by children under 16 years of age, under general supervision, for the purpose of indoor or outdoor organized group activities, involving two or more activities of which at least one is a nonpassive recreational activity with significant risk of injury, as defined in subdivision 7-2.2(l) of this Subpart, for a period of less than 24 hours on any day the property is so occupied and/or which no provisions are made for overnight occupancy by such children.
• A children’s overnight camp is a property consisting of a tract of land and any tents, vehicles, buildings or other structures that may be pertinent to its use, any part of which may be occupied by persons under 18 years of age for the purpose of outdoor or indoor organized activities and on which provisions are made for overnight occupancy of children.
The New York State Department of Health provides an outline for general Requirements for Children’s Camp Staff.
• To inform you and the local health department if your child is involved in any serious injury, illness, or abuse incident.
• To screen the background and qualifications of all staff.
• To train staff about their duties.
• To provide supervision for all campers 24 hours a day at overnight camps, and during hours of operation for day camps.
• To maintain all camp physical facilities in a safe and sanitary condition.
• To provide safe and wholesome meals.
• To have and follow required written plans for camp safety, health and fire safety.
• To notify the parent or guardian, with the enrollment application or enrollment contract, that:
— the camp must have a permit to operate from the Saratoga County Department of Health to operate.
— the camp is required to be inspected twice yearly; and
— the inspection reports and required plans are filed with the county and are available for their review.
Please see the NYS DOH Requirements for Camps for Children with Developmental Disabilities
- Aquatic Certifications for Bathing Facilities
- Camp Aquatics Director for Children’s Camps
- Camp Trip Swimming Program Safety Certifications for Children’s Camps
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification for Children’s Camps and Bathing Facilities
- Counselors-In-Training for Children’s Camps
- First Aid Certification for Children’s Camps
- Learn to Swim Programs for Children’s Camps
- Progressive Swimming Instructor for Children’s Camps
Safety Plan Templates from NYS DOH
Visit the NYS DOH Children’s Camp webpage to get Activity-Specific Plans for:
- Archery
- Boating
- Camp Trips
- Horseback Riding
- Riflery
- Rope and Challenge Courses
- Sports
- Spray Grounds
- Swimming – On-site
- Swimming – Off-site and Wilderness
NYS DOH Forms
- DOH-367 – Children’s Camp Facility & Staff Description (PDF)
- DOH-367a – Children’s Camp Additional Staff Qualifications (PDF)
- DOH-2040 – Children’s Camp Written Plan Checklist (PDF)
- DOH-2271 – Prospective Children’ Camp Director Certified Statement (PDF)
- DOH-1309 – Engineering Report for Swimming Pool Plans (PDF)
- DOH-1323 – Report on Operation of Swimming Pool (PDF)
- DOH-2287 – Daily Report on Beach Operations (PDF)
- DOH-2436 – Engineering Report for Bathing Beaches (PDF)
- DOH-2286 – Swimming Pool & Bathing Beach Safety Plan Checklist (PDF)
Prior to new construction or renovation of a children’s camp, an operator must submit plans and applications for review to the Department.
You can apply for a children’s camp permit or contact the Saratoga County Department of Health at (518) 584-7460, or Email us.
