Regulations and accreditation for summer camps

All camps operating in Massachusetts must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (www.mass.gov/dph/dcs); these regulations set minimum standards for sanitation, safety, and staff training.  For instance, camps must have an adult (18 years or older), MA-licensed health supervisor on site at all times and background checks must be performed on all staff and volunteers.  Camps must be licensed by the Board of Health of the city or town in which they are located; the local agency is responsible for enforcing the state regulations. 

In addition, some camps choose to be accredited by the American Camping Association (www.acane-camps.org).  ACA-accredited camps are visited by trained professionals and must meet certain standards relating to health and safety, management, personnel, programming, and facilities.

However, some programs fall outside the jurisdiction of MDPH because they do not meet the legal definition of a recreational program for children, and therefore are not required to be licensed.  Although they are not allowed to call themselves camps, they may provide quality programs for children and good options for families.  Those programs include:

• Single purpose clinics, classes, workshops, or programs sponsored by municipal recreation departments.
• Neighborhood playground programs, whether participation is drop-in or by pre-registration.
• Any program operated solely on a drop-in basis.
• Classroom-based educational programs without specialized or high-risk activities.
• Summer school programs, featuring specialized or high-risk activities, which are properly accredited.
• Child-care programs licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Do you have specific licensing questions? 

For summer programs in Newton, visit www.ci.newton.ma.us/health/index.htm. 

For summer programs in other Massachusetts cities and towns, contact the appropriate Boards of Health.