Environmental Health

Youth Camps in New Jersey are governed by the Youth Camp Safety Standards N.J.A.C. 8:25.  The rule outlines the policies and procedural which must be implemented within each youth camp environment.  Although youth camp activities are primarily conducting during the summer, many youth camps operate year round offering out of school time activities for children during spring break, holidays and similar out of school periods.  Licensing activities begin in May and an active license is renewed annually. 

• Youth Camp Safety Standards N.J.A.C. 8:25

The New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Standards was set to expire on December 11, 2022.  Prior to the expiration date, the Program in collaboration with the New Jersey Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance (OLRC), filed a draft of rule revisions with the NJ Office of Administrative Law (OAL).  The filing to OAL extends the existing rule for a period of 6 months.  Proposed revisions to the regulation remain in the review process which includes a public comment period.  Therefore, the rule effective December 11, 2015 which was set to expire December 11, 2022 remains in full effect and force until June 11, 2023.  All new developments on the status of the rule will be communicated via our website at NJ Youth Camps. 

To qualify as a youth camp under New Jersey Youth Camp Standards, a program must meet the following criteria. Camp is subject to licensure requirements only if it meets ALL of the following criteria:

• Accommodate five (5) or more children that are under 18 years of age. Youth Camp license is only applicable to children under 18 years of age
  
  
• Operate for a period or portion of at least two (2) days or more during the same week
  
  
• Include at least one high-risk activity during the operation period

An activity is considered high-risk if it exposes a camper to a serious injury because of the inherent nature of the activity and always requires a high degree of adult supervision.

Day Youth Camp

All day and resident youth camp health directors shall hold a certification from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other certification agency approved by the Department as listed in "Recognized Certifications”,  in professional-level infant, child, and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The camp director at a day youth camp, at a minimum, shall have on duty at all times, a health director who is an adult and is certified by the American Red Cross in Standard First Aid-level training, or has equivalent certification approved by the Department as listed in "Recognized Certifications“.

The camp director shall not be the health director in camps serving over 50 children.

More details about the requirements for the health director can be found under §N.J.A.C. 8:25-5.2 Health Director.

Resident Youth Camp

All day and resident youth camp health directors shall hold a certification from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other certification agency approved by the Department as listed in "Recognized Certifications”,  in professional-level infant, child, and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

At all resident youth camps, the camp director shall ensure that a health director is on duty at all times who is an adult and either:

• A physician licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners to practice medicine or osteopathy;

OR

• A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, licensed by the New Jersey Board of Nursing;

OR

• An individual who is certified in advanced first aid, paramedic or emergency medical technician or first responder/CIM accredited by a certification agency approved by the Department as listed in "Recognized Certifications”;

OR

• An athletic trainer that has a valid certification from the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC). Information on the BOC is available through a written request to Board of Certification, Inc., 4223 South 143rd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68137 4505, or through the following toll-free telephone number (877) 262-3926, or online at http://www.bocatc.org/.

More details about the requirements for the health director can be found under §N.J.A.C. 8:25-5.2 Health Director.

Single Sport Youth Camp
The single sport youth camp is the same as a day program except that a SSYC operator may complete a separate application form to add multiple satellite youth camp sites locations.  If you operate multiple site locations within the State, County or locality completing the SSYC application will allow you to document those various sites within one application form eliminating the need to complete several applications when owned and operated by one camp operator/owner.