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Running a Successful Youth Camp
Ensuring a safe, fun, and enriching experience for children, a successful youth camp fosters personal growth, community trust, and long-term sustainability. To do so, youth camps must comply with the New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Standards.
A summary of the most common Youth Camp requirements is provided here as a courtesy and is not comprehensive nor is it the official version. Though every effort is made to ensure that the text provided here accurately summarizes the official, legally effective versions of rule, if any discrepancies exist between the text at this website and the official version of the rules, the official version will govern.
Know the Rules
Each Youth Camp must comply with the New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Standards. Click or tap each heading to learn more.
Camp Director Requirements
Each Youth Camp must employ a camp director. The camp director shall be at least 21 years of age and have one of the following additional qualifications:
- At least two seasons of administrative experience in an organized certified camp, or
- Nine months of verified experience in a youth program, or
- One season of administrative experience in an organized certified camp and at least one year of teaching experience with a teacher certification
Health Director Requirements
Each Youth Camp must staff a health director.
The camp director shall not act as the health director in camps serving over 50 children.
Day Camp Health Director Qualifications
A health director at a day camp shall:
- Be an adult, and
- Remain onsite and on duty while the Youth Camp is in operation, and
- Be certified by a Recognized Certification Agency in Professional CPR and Standard Level First Aid
Resident Camp Health Director Qualifications
A health director at a resident camp shall:
- Be an adult, and
- Remain onsite and on duty while the Youth Camp is in operation, and
- Be one of the following:
- 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
- Certified or accredited by a Recognized Certification Agency in Advanced First Aid, or as a paramedic, emergency medical technician, or first responder CIM, or
- An athletic trainer certified by Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer
Health Center Requirements
Each youth camp shall designate a health center where campers and staff will have immediate access to capable personnel who can provide health guidance, bandage scrapes and bruises, and alert EMS when and if a serious injury or illness ocurs within the youth camp setting.
Download the Health Center Supplies List
Health Center SuppliesThe health center shall be stocked with appropriate supplies to care for an ill or injured staff or camper.
First aid supplies shall be available at all times and fully restocked within 48 hours of use. The health director shall ensure that a first aid kit is available for out-of-camp trips and is stocked with the items deemed appropriate and necessary for the activities of that trip.
| MINIMUM REQUIRED ITEMS | |||
| Description of Items | Quantity for <40 Campers | Quantity for 40-90 Campers | Quantity for >90 Campers |
| adhesive compress strips (band aid type) | 25 | 50 | 100 |
| sterile gauze dressings (sponge 2"x2") | 10 | 15 | 25 |
| sterile gauze dressings (sponge 2"x3") | 10 | 15 | 25 |
| sterile gauze dressings (sponge 4"x4") | 10 | 15 | 25 |
| sterile gauze roller bandage (1" wide) | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| sterile gauze roller bandage (3" wide) | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| sterile eye dressing pads (box) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| triangle bandages | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| waterproof tape (1" x 5 yards) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| bandage scissors | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| tweezers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| blanket | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| instant cold pack | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| disposable protective face shield | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| disposable protective gown | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| disposable gloves (box) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| pocket resuscitation mask | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| liquid hand soap or hand sanitizer | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| first aid treatment policies and procedures | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Immunization Requirements
A camp director shall not knowingly admit or retain any child under the age of 18 whose parent or guardian has not submitted acceptable evidence of the child's immunization, a medical exception, or a religious exception.
Only during a threatened disease or disease outbreak, as determined by the Commissioner, may the camp exclude unvaccinated children.
Minors & Working Paper Requirements
New Jersey's process for minors to obtain working papers is now DIGITAL!
- Need staff? Consider hiring minors for your camp counselor positions! N.J.A.C. 8:25 Youth Camp Safety Standards allow for minors aged 16 and older to act as a counselor in the youth camp setting. Any minor turning 16 within the period is eligible to participate.
Did you know that the working papers process for teens is changing? As of June 1, 2023, working papers for minors have gone digital. Minor workers, their caregivers, and employers all fill out their respective parts of a streamlined online application instead of using the old paper form. Parents and minors are recommended to review the rights and benfits for young workers provided by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Outbreak Reporting Requirements
An outbreak may be occurring when:
- Several children with similar symptoms are in the same group
- There is an increase in absences with reports of similar symptoms
- Two or more children are diagnosed with the same reportable disease
- A single case of a highly infectious disease exists or is suspected to exist
🕒 Report Outbreaks to Local Health and the State
IMMEDIATELY: report the outbreak to your local health department.
Find My Local Health Department
WITHIN 24 HOURS: send a second outbreak report to the NJ Department of Health Youth Camp Project.
Accident Reporting Requirements
At the end of the camp season, all Youth Camps shall complete and submit the Annual Accident Reportwhether or not any accidents occurred.
Failure to promptly submit the Annual Accident Report after the last day of camp will result in administrative action.
More About the Annual Accident Report