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New Jersey camps
Summer camps in New Jersey: state rules
New Jersey doesn't publish a statewide camp list, so we have no camp listings here yet. This page explains the state's camp rule and links to the official sources.
New Jersey camp rules
Day and overnight camps need a camp license or permit. Private day camps and resident (overnight) camps need an annual youth camp certificate of approval from the Department of Health under the Youth Camp Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 26:12-1 et seq.) and N.J.A.C. 8:25. A youth camp serves five or more children under 18 for two or more days in the same week; a day program with only a minimal recreational part and no high-risk activity is not a camp. Municipally run camps are not required to be licensed, and a licensed youth camp does not also need a DCF child care license.
Agency: New Jersey Department of Health, Youth Camp Safety program
Official sources: NJ DOH Youth Camps · N.J.A.C. 8:25 Youth Camp Safety Standards (current through March 18, 2026) · NJ DOH Youth Camp FAQ
All New Jersey rules for child care and camps · Camp license rules in every state · Checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
More for New Jersey families
- 760 school-age and after-school programs in New Jersey, from state child care licensing data.
- Child care and after-school programs in New Jersey
- Free summer meals for kids in New Jersey: USDA meal sites. These are not camps.
- Youth, sports and camp nonprofits in New Jersey, from IRS data. Being listed there doesn't mean a camp is licensed.
Camp not listed?
If you run a camp in New Jersey that isn't here, send us its details. It's free. A person at BackPR reviews every submission before anything is published, and not every camp gets listed.