Parent's Guide to Applying for Camp

A How-to For Parents

DEC camp sessions run for one week, beginning on Sunday at 3:00 PM and ending on Saturday at 9:00 AM, through the months of July and August. Campers must be either New York State residents or immediate relatives of a New York State landowner.

Three camps, Colby, DeBruce and Rushford, educate youth who are 12 to 14 years old. The summer of 1998 marked the opening of a new camp at Pack Forest in the southern Adirondacks, where DEC offers week-long Ecology Workshops for teens who are 15 to 17 years old.

The cost of attending the one week session is $250 and includes meals. Youth may only attend one week per year at the DEC education camps. If the child is a first time camper, he or she cannot attend the week marked Returnee Week. Also, returning campers may attend Returnee Week only once!

Notice - A major program change has occurred at Pack Forest:

Weeks 1 thru 4 will be for 15 - 17 year old first time campers
Week 5 will be a returnee week for 15 - 17 year olds
Weeks 6 and 7 of camp at Pack Forest will be for 12 - 14 year old campers
Week 8 will be a Returnee week at Pack Forest for 12 - 14 year old campers

Applications for the 2008 camp season will be accepted:

For Sponsoring Organizations:: POSTMARKED no earlier than February 9, 2008
For Parent-paid Children:: POSTMARKED no earlier than March 1, 2008

There will be no refunds after June 1, 2008

Since space is limited, interested campers are urged to get their applications in early. The applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis by postmark date. You can print or download an application using the links on the right column.

Due to increased security, the department cannot accept mail without a return address. Be sure to write your return address on the envelopes containing checks and applications.

Finding a Sponsor

This page is designed with the camper's parents in mind, if you are the member of a sponsoring organization, please refer to our Sponsoring a Child web page.

Organizations may sponsor campers. We encourage recreational organizations and businesses, professional and environmental groups, rod and gun clubs and other sporting organizations, school associations, houses of worship and civic groups to:

select a qualified candidate who wants to spend a week at a DEC camp
help the camper pay for the camp session
invite the camper to a meeting of the organization to recount his or her camp experience.

Parents who would like their child to be sponsored should bring the program to the attention of an organization in their area. If a sponsoring group is not available, parents may pay for the child's stay at DEC camp.

For more information, or to request an application by mail, please call or write to:

NYSDEC Camps
625 Broadway; 2^nd Floor
Albany, NY 12233-4500
(518) 402-8014

E-mail: edcamps@gw.dec.state.ny.us

More about Parent's Guide to Applying for Camp:

Open Slots at Camp - A listing of open and closed weeks for the environmental education camps.