50 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
camps
Here’s how you should choose the right camp for your kids
Summer camps provide a healthy,
secure and friendly environment for children
to learn and play in organized group
activities. While there are hundreds of
permitted camps in New York City, you
can fi nd the best one for your child by following
these steps.
Many camps begin their registration
period in winter, so start early to ensure
your child gets into the right camp.
1.) Pick the type of camp. Day camps
are for children under 16 years of age and
provide no overnight stay. Th e camps do,
however, organize various indoor and
outdoor activities, as well as fi eld trips.
Traveling day camps are also for children
under 16. Th e young campers are
transported each day to a camp site, and
from there, they usually go on a trip.
Overnight camps are for children under
18 and involve a stay of more than 72
consecutive hours. Th ese camps are typically
located at a college or university
campus and include indoor or outdoor
activities as well as fi eld trips.
Th ere are also many camps ideal for
children with developmental disabilities,
which include mental retardation, cerebral
palsy, epilepsy, autism or neurological
impairment. Th ese camps are subject
to additional city regulations to ensure
all campers are safe and are provided
with the proper treatment and services.
Each of these camps do not provide overnight
stays.
2.) Take a look around. Once you
know what type of summer camp
would be best for your child, you can
use the city’s Child Care Connect program
(https://a816-healthpsi.nyc.gov/
ChildCare/SearchAction2.do) to fi nd a
great camp in the city.
Check for camps located near your
home or work. Ask your neighbors,
friends and relatives for recommendations.
Visit camp sites to check that they
are healthy, safe environments off ering
a variety of activities. When you tour
a camp, keep an eye out for safety hazards,
such as peeling paint and broken
equipment.
If you are looking for a camp outside
the city, see the American Camp
Association of New York and New Jersey,
acanynj.org, for more information.
3.) Tour the camp and interview the
operator. Th e best way to learn about a
camp is to speak with the camp’s operator
or director. Some good questions to
ask include:
• Has the camp applied for a City permit?
• How do I enroll and what are the costs?
• Do you off er reimbursements?
• What hours does the camp operate,
and do you off er care services outside
of those hours?
• Does the camp provide transportation?
If so, how?
• Will the camp provide lunch? If not,
how will it store the lunches I give to
my child?
• Does the camp provide swimming or
other aquatic activities? If so, what are
your safety procedures?
• How does the camp screen employees?
• How does the camp handle medical or
other emergencies?
• Will my child be supervised at all
times? How many campers are there
per counselor?
• How does the camp discipline campers?
4.) Check for more resources. Before
you register for a camp, check information
on services off ered by the city.
For community-based camps off ered
through Department of Youth &
Community Development, search Youth
Connect on the NYC.gov website or call
800-246-4646.
For information on camps off ered
by the City’s Department of Parks and
Recreation, visit nycgovparks.org/reg/
summercamp.
You can also learn more about resources
for children with disabilities by visiting
Include NYC, includenyc.org.
From the NYC Department of Health
and Human Hygiene