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Washington camps
Summer camps in Washington: state rules
Washington 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.
Washington camp rules
Only some camp types need a camp license or permit. Washington has no youth camp license. Seasonal camps (3 months or less a year, mainly recreational or educational) are excluded from DCYF child care licensing (RCW 43.216.010(2)(g)). Group camps that provide food and lodging must register each year with the local health officer at least 30 days before opening and meet State Board of Health sanitation and site rules (WAC 246-376-010 and -020). Those rules were last updated in 1997.
Agency: Local health jurisdictions, under State Board of Health camp rules (Chapter 246-376 WAC)
Official sources: Chapter 246-376 WAC, Camps · WAC 246-376-020, Registration · RCW 43.216.010(2)(g), seasonal camp exclusion
All Washington rules for child care and camps · Camp license rules in every state · Checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
More for Washington families
- 643 school-age and after-school programs in Washington, from state child care licensing data.
- Child care and after-school programs in Washington
- Free summer meals for kids in Washington: USDA meal sites. These are not camps.
- Youth, sports and camp nonprofits in Washington, from IRS data. Being listed there doesn't mean a camp is licensed.
Camp not listed?
If you run a camp in Washington 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.