Statutes and Regulations for Youth Camps

Statutory definition

“Youth camp” means any regularly scheduled program or organized group activity advertised as a camp or operated only during school vacations or on weekends by a person, partnership, corporation, association, the state, or a municipal agency for recreational or educational purposes and accommodating for profit or under philanthropic or charitable auspices five or more children, who are at least three years of age and under sixteen years of age, who are (A) not bona fide personal guests in the private home of an individual, and (B) living apart from their relatives, parents, legal guardian, for a period of three days or more per week or portions of three or more days per week, provided any such relative, parent, or guardian who is an employee of such camp shall not be considered to be in the position of loco parentis to such employee’s child for the purpose of this chapter, but does not include (i) classroom-based summer instructional program operated by any person, provided no activities that may pose a health risk or hazard to participating children are conducted at such programs, (ii) public schools, or private schools in compliance with section 10-188 and approved by the State Board of Education or accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education, which operate a summer educational program, (iii) licensed child care centers, or (iv) drop-in programs for children who are at least six years of age administered by a nationally chartered boys’ and girls’ club.

• Resident Camps: “Resident camp” means any youth camp which is established, conducted or maintained on any parcel or parcels of landon which there are located dwelling units or buildings intended to accommodate five or more children who are at least three years of age and under sixteen years of age for at least seventy-two consecutive hours and in which the campers attending such camps eat and sleep.
• Day Camps: “Day camp” means any youth camp which is established, conducted or maintained on any parcel or parcels of land on which there are located dwelling units or buildings intended to accommodate five or more children who are at least three years of age and under sixteen years of age during daylight hours for at least three days a week with the campers eating and sleeping at home, except for one meal per day, but does not include programs operated by a municipal agency.

Current statutes and regulations 

Statutes and Regulations for youth camps. Review the current requirements for youth camps in CT. Read the current statutes and regulations [36 pages]. 

• Notice Sent to Providers of Revisions of the Youth Camp Regulations

Proposed regulations

Recent CT legislation affecting licensing

Public Acts Recently Enacted (2024). Get a summary of public acts passed during the 2024 legislative session that affect OEC.

• Read the summary (English) [2 pages]
  • (Spanish) [2 pages]

Related CT Department of Public Health State regulations

• 19a-113a-1 – Requirement for lifeguards to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• 19-13-B33 through 19-13-B49 – Public Swimming Area Regulations
• 19-13-B33b– Public Pools
• 19-13-B35 – Drinking Cups and Drinking Fountains
• 19-13-B42 – Sanitation of Places Dispensing Foods or Beverages
• 19-13-B44 – Sanitation of Trailer Coaches
• 19a-13-B45 – Minimum Requirements for Drainage and Toilet Systems
• 19-13-B103 and 19-13-B104 – Disposal and of Sewage and Refuse
• 19-13-B51a through 19-13-B51m and 19-13-B101 – Water Supply

Archive

Regulations

• Notice of Revisions to Camp Regulations-Effective June 13, 2022 [2 pages]

Draft regulations

• Read the proposed regulations (2023) [2 pages] 
  Note: Language being added to the regulations is underlined.
• Read a summary of proposed regulations (2023) [1 page]

Public acts

Public Act 21-6 “Act Concerning Immunizations” (2021). Read OEC guidance about the implications of this act, which affects religious exemptions to vaccines.

• Read the Act Concerning Immunizations summary (English) [5 pages]
• (Spanish) [5 pages]

Public Acts Recently Enacted

Get a summaries of public acts passed during each legislative session that affect OEC.