Food Safety and Community Sanitation

Summer Camp FAQs

General Questions

Do I need a summer camp permit?

If your camp consists of 10 children or more or operates for 5 days or more within a two week period during the summer, you will need to obtain a summer camp permit.  The summer camp permit covers campers up until age 16.

When is the application submission deadline?

You must submit your application at least 60 days in person (or 90 days by mail) prior to your camp’s start date.  (Weekends and holidays are counted).

Where do I submit my application?

New Camps must submit the application and permit fee, in person to the Citywide Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, 5^th Floor, Manhattan.

Renewing Camps must submit in person or mail their application to 253 Broadway, Room 601, CN59A, New York, NY 10007; however, permit fees must be submitted or mailed to the Citywide Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, along with the renewal slip, and worker’s compensation and disability insurance certificates.

How long does it take to receive a permit?

If an application is complete and all documentation is correctly filled out an application and can be reviewed and a permit approved with in a month of application. Most applications are submitted incomplete and depending how soon the correct documents and information that we asked for is provided, it can take approximately 2-3 months for the permit to finally be approved.

I am changing my location to across the street or down the block; do I need a new CAMIS number?

Yes.  If the camp’s building address has changed, you must apply as a new camp.

I am changing my sponsor name/ownership; do I need to apply as a new camp?

Yes, if the Sponsor’s Name, Ownership or the camp’s Tax-ID number has changed, you need to apply as a new camp.

I am changing the name of my camp; do I need to apply as a new camp?

No. Your camp name does not affect your permit, unless it is your legal business name.

Do I need to fill out an Affidavit Granting Authority to Act?

This form is ONLY required if the person submitting the application is not the same person who signed the permit application (314c).

Do I need to fill out an Affidavit of Home Address?

This form is ONLY required if you are applying as a sole proprietor and have no proof of mailing address.

How can I get a copy of my permit?

Once your application is approved for a permit, it takes 6-8 weeks to receive your official permit in the mail from the Citywide Licensing Center.  The Summer Camp Program does not print, or keep copies of the permit. We are only able to e-mail or fax a record of the approval date of your permit. We are not able to print a record if your application is awaiting final review or awaiting approval.

How can I get my camp registered to accept ACD vouchers?

Call the Administration for Children’s Services, Child Care and Head Start at 311.

How can I get summer youth employees to work at my camp as counselors?

Call the Department of Youth and Community Development, Summer Youth Employment Program at (212)-442-9619.

Staff Certifications and Qualifications

What are the Camp Director Requirements?

At least 21 years old (25 years for overnight camp) or have a bachelor’s degree and have at least 3 summer-seasons of supervising camp experience.

If you have experience as a teacher or after-school program director/counselor, you require at least 1 summer of supervisory experience at a summer camp. No exceptions.

How do I prove my qualifications and/or experience?

Submit a resume, or a letter explaining in detail, your qualifications.

What are the Health Director requirements?

Your Health Director may be a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, EMT or other person acceptable to the department.  “Other person acceptable to the Department” shall mean a person who is certified in the Code Standards Responding to Emergencies First Aid (RTE) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for the Professional Rescuer (CPR Pro*) by the American Red Cross or equivalent courses and is at least 21 years of age (See Guidelines for Aquatic CPR, and First Aid Certifications).

If your Health Director is a professional and is on site, he/she must also possess a CPR Pro and RTE First Aid Certification.

If your health director is off site, you must have an on-site designee or assistant Health Director certified in CPR Pro and RTE First Aid.

What are the responsibilities of the Health Director?

The Health Director is the individual primarily responsible for the implementation of the medical portion of the safety plan. The duties of the Health Director should reflect his or her level of medical and first aid training and include the following:

• Medical screening of campers and the review of campers’ confidential medical histories prior to camp
• The procedures for daily health screening and sick call
• Responding to injuries and illness events; maintaining the medical log
• Implementing standing orders issued by the campers’ physicians
• Camp sanitation, including food service and living quarters, where applicable

Does my Health Director have to be on-site at all times?

No.  Your Health Director may be off-site, but an on-site designee (assistant health director) who is certified with CPR Pro and RTE First aid and is at least 21 years of age, must be on site.

What are the responsibilities of the on-site designee and off-site health director?

The on-site designee shall take on the responsibilities of the health director in his/her absence.  The on-site designee’s responsibilities are limited to his/her knowledge of CPR Pro and RTE First Aid; therefore, he/she must be in constant communication with the health director for medical advice.  The on-site designee’s responsibilities must be reflected in the Medical Safety Addendum or Medical Safety section of the Safety Plan.  In the case of a Life-threatening Emergency, 911 must be contacted, (see page 52 of the Safety Plan or page 6 of the Medical Addendum).

The off-site health director is responsible for the medical screening of camps and review of campers’ confidential medical histories prior to the start of camp. This can not be delegated to the on-site designee, if he/she is not a medical professional.

How many staff members should be certified with RTE First Aid?

There shall be at least 1 staff certified in RTE for every 200 campers.

(The Health Director/On-site Designee’s RTE First Aid certification covers the first 200 campers.)

How many staff members should be certified with CPR Pro?

In addition to the Health Director or On-site designee, there shall be at least 1 staff certified in CPR Pro for every 100 campers.  CPR Pro certifications are valid for only the first year of issuance regardless of expiration date.

(The Health Director/On-site Designee’s CPR Pro certification does not cover the CPR requirement for the first 100 campers.)

How many staff members should be certified with Standard First Aid?

In addition to the Health Director, there shall be at least 1 staff certified in Standard first Aid for every 50 campers. 

(The Health Director/On-site Designee’s RTE First Aid certification does not cover the Standard First Aid for the first 50 campers.)

Does the health director have to be present during camp trips?

No.  Camp trips shall be accompanied by staff members and/or trip leaders who are certified in RTE for every 200 and CPR Pro for every 100 campers.

Does my camp staff need to be finger-printed?

No.  Only after-school and childcare facilities require finger printing.

Does my camp staff need to fill out the SCR form?

No.  The Camp Director only needs to complete the SCR form (for child abuse).

The rest of your staff (including volunteers) needs a NYS DCJS background check for the Sex Offender Registry.  Call (800) 262-3257 or send a request by fax (518) 485-5805.

What are the Aquatic Director’s requirements?

The Aquatic Director must be at least 21 years of age, possess CPR Professional Rescuer, possess Lifeguard Supervision and Management, annually review and document the review of the camp’s safety plan for swimming and have a minimum of a) 1 season of previous experience as a camp aquatics director at a New York State children’s camp; or b) 2 seasons of previous experience consisting of at least 12 weeks as a children’s camp lifeguard, as specified in SSC 7-2.5(g), at a swimming pool or bathing beach which had more than one lifeguard supervising it at a time; or c) 18 weeks of previous experience ad a lifeguard as specified in SSC 7-2.5(g)(2) at a swimming pool or bathing beach which had more than one lifeguard supervising it at a time.

What are the lifeguard requirements?

A lifeguard shall be at least 17 years old, hold lifeguard certification.

Pool and Swim Requirements

I will be taking my campers to a public pool; do I need my own lifeguards?

One lifeguard for every 25 campers is required for all camps.  If the public pool provides you with a sufficient number of lifeguards in a written agreement, then you do not need your own.

I will be taking campers to a public pool or an aquatic theme park; do I need an aquatics director?

Yes.  An Aquatic Director is needed for all water activities, (except sprinklers at a public park).

Can my campers use a pool at a private residence or building?

No.  Summer camps can only use their own camp-ground-pool or take their campers to public pools.

Can my campers use a wading pool?

Yes, but you will still need an Aquatic Director and lifeguards, and the pool must have a filtration system.

Director Orientation and Aquatic Workshop Questions

Does my Camp Director/Aquatic Director need to attend the director orientation/aquatic workshop?

The Camp Director/Aquatic Director needs to attend if:

A. You are new as Camp Director/Aquatic Director and have never attended the orientation/workshop in the past.

B. Your camp failed inspection last year.

C. You are transferring from a camp where you previously attended an orientation/workshop and that camp was not in good standing or the camp you are transferring to was not in good standing.

The Camp Director/Aquatic Director does not need to attend if:

A. You attended orientation last year and your camp passed inspection.

B. If you are transferring from a camp where you previously attended orientation and that camp was in good standing and the camp you are transferring to was in good standing.

Fire Inspection Questions

How do I obtain a fire inspection?

Once you submit your application to our office, we will send an initial fire inspection request to the FDNY.  Once you pass the fire inspection, the FDNY will send the report directly to our office.  The Camp Operator/Director is responsible for following up with their local fire company to ensure that an inspection will be conducted.  Fire inspection reports are valid from January 1^st of the current year.

My camp will be a in a public school, are we responsible for fulfilling the fire inspection requirement?

Yes. Our office will make the initial inspection request to the Fire Department.  Prior to selecting a facility, it is the camp’s responsibility to discuss with Department of Education, School Principal or School Custodian about the fire safety and buildings violations compliance.  Fire safety and building violations are filed against the Camp, as the permittee, and not DOE or the owner of the building.

Do I need a Certificate of Fitness?

Depending on the type of building your camp is in, you may need a Certificate of Fitness.  Usually the Fire Department will inform you if one is needed.  You can also find out from the building owner or management, if there is a person who already has the Certificate of Fitness.  For further information about certificates of fitness, call FDNY at (212) 999-1988.

Certificate of Occupancy and Letter of No Objection Questions

I am a renewing camp; do I need a new letter of no objection?

Letters of No Objection are only valid for the first year of issuance, unless it has an expiration date that indicates otherwise.

My camp will be a in a public school, do I need to submit a Certificate of Occupancy or Letter of No Objection?

Yes.  You must try to obtain these from the principal, custodian’s office, Department of Buildings or the DOB website. 

I am a new camp and have applied for a Letter of No Objection (LONO) and it has not come yet, what do I do?

Your application will still be accepted, however, a permit cannot be issued without your LONO has been provided.

Food Certification Questions

How can I get my campers to receive school lunch?

Call the Department of Education, Summer Feeding Program at 718-707-4380.

Do I need to take a 15 hour Food Protection Course?

If your camp prepares food at the camp site or caters/orders food and serves it to the campers, it needs to have a staff member is a certified with the 15 hour Food Protection Course to supervise the food operations. Click here for information on the class.

How can I get my campers to receive school lunch?

Call the Department of Education, Summer Feeding Program at 718-707-4380.

How can I get my campers to receive school lunch?

Call the Department of Education, Summer Feeding Program at 718-707-4380.

If campers bring lunch from home what kind of food protection certificate is required?

None, but the Department advises you to have at least one supervisory staff person with the 4 hour Food Protection Course Certification that is offered for soup kitchen volunteers to ensure that camper lunches are stored and handled safely. Call 311 to register.

If my camp transports summer-feeding school lunch from a Department of Education building to the camp site, what kind of certificate is required?

The 4 hour Food Protection Course is required. Staff must know basic food safety to ensure the food is transported safely. Call 311 to register.

Do I need a food protection certificate if campers are transported to a DOE school form summer-feeding lunch?

No.

Do I need a food protection certificate if my camp provides packaged, non-perishable snacks, such as juice boxes, and crackers?

No.

Do I need a food protection certificate if my camp has a single-instance outdoor event where food is prepared or barbequed, such as an end-of-year picnic, or pizza party?

No.

Camper Supervision Questions

What is the counselor to camp supervision ratio requirements?

Normal Activities:

1 senior counselor to 6 campers, for ages 1-5 years old

1 senior counselor to 8 campers, for ages 6-7 years old

1 senior counselor to 12 campers, for ages 8-15 years old

Off-site Camp Trips:

1 senior counselor to 5 campers, for all ages

Water Activities:

1 senior counselor to 4 campers, for ages 1-5 years old

1 senior counselor to 6 campers, for ages 6-7 years old

1 senior counselor to 8 campers, for ages 8-15 years old

Passive Activities:

1 senior counselor to 12 campers, for all ages

Lifeguards:

1 lifeguard to 25 campers, for all ages

Safety Plan Questions

What do I need to include in an activity safety plan?

Will there be qualified activity leaders or trip leaders (staff certified in CPR and First Aid)?

How often will you perform buddy checks and accountability checks?

Will campers wear T-Shirts with the camp’s name and telephone number?

Will there be an adequate counselor to camper ratio?

Is equipment checked for hazards, cleanliness, and good repair prior to the activity?

If an injury/illness incident occurs, is the Health Director responsible for completing the forms?

No.  The Camp Director, Health Director or On-Site Designee can fill out the form.

Frequently Asked Questions from Parents

I would like to make a complaint about a summer camp, who do I speak to?

Call 311, and tell them you have a complaint about a summer camp.  Our office receives daily reports of complaints from 311 and will respond once the complaint has been reported.

Where Can I apply for child care vouchers for my child to attend a summer camp?

Contact ACS, Child Care at 311