Summer Camps
New Jersey youth summer camps are permitted to open for campers beginning on July 6, 2020, pursuant to Executive Order 149. The opening of youth camps will provide New Jersey families who are in need of childcare services with a viable option in addition to traditional childcare centers. “Youth summer camps” are defined in the Order to include youth day camps required to be licensed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:12-1 et seq., facilities operating programs as described in N.J.S.A. 30:5B-3(b)(4), and other entities that provide daily multi-hour programming for youths, without regard to whether the program is subject to the certification requirements pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:12-1 et seq., including youth programs operated by municipal agencies. Residential and overnight camps are not permitted to operate pursuant to the Order.
As required by Executive Order 149, the Department of Health has developed these guidelines to govern the operations of youth summer camps. These guidelines set forth protocols governing all aspects of camp operations and describe the steps each camp should take to lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread. Please note that given the dynamic nature of this pandemic, this guidance may be modified as the situation evolves and new data becomes available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance, “Considerations for Youth and Summer Camps,” and an easy to follow decision tool delineating factors youth camp operators should assess in determining whether to open and guidelines for operating camps safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Health recommends that each youth summer camp facility review the CDC guidance materials to assist with making decisions prior to opening.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: New Jersey COVID-19 Youth Summer Camp Standards
New Jersey COVID-19 Outdoor Pool Standards
New Jersey public recreational bathing (PRB) pool facilities, except aquatic recreation facilities, are permitted to open to the public on or after June 22, 2020, pursuant to Executive Order No. 153 (2020). Pool facilities are defined in the Order, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:26-1.3, to include conventional pools, hot tubs, spas, wading pools, special purpose pools, and aquatic recreation attractions that include, but are not limited to, “pools operated by or serving campgrounds, clubs, churches, cities, common interest communities, counties, day care centers, group home facilities for six or more clients, health spas,
institutions, parks, private lake, river, or bay associations, or private community lake, river, or bay associations, State, county, and municipal agencies, retirement communities, schools, specially exempt facilities, subdivisions, or cooperative living type projects of three or more living units, such as apartments, boarding homes, condominiums, hotels, mobile home parks, motels, recreational vehicle parks, townhouses, trailer parks, and youth camps.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance on operating and managing public pools and hot tubs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Health recommends that all pool facilities review the CDC guidance to assist with making decisions prior to opening. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 153 (2020), the Department of Health has developed these standards governing the operations of pool facilities, including the securing of staff, staff training, and other overall measures implementing the NJ COVID-19 health and safety standards. pool facility operators must comply with these standards
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE:New Jersey COVID-19 Outdoor Pool Standards