Parent's Guide to Applying for Camp

A How-to for Parents

Campers at a stream

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. All four camps, Colby, Pack Forest, DeBruce and Rushford educate youth who are 12 to 14 years old. Pack Forest in the southern Adirondacks is also open to campers 15 to 17 years old during the first five sessions of camp. These older campers will participate in the DEC Teen Ecology Workshop.

The cost of attending the one week session is $325 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 - 2010 information will include changes for each camp. All the changes will be posted by Dec 1,

Applications for the 2010 camp season will be posted by December 1, 2009

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.