Basil Seggos, Commissioner of DECs 2022 Summer Camps Program in ALBANY New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), announced that online registration will open for DECs 2022 Summer Camps program at 1 p.m. on March 6, 2022. DECs Summer Camps program will host events and share mementos to celebrate 75 years. These include retro logos that are incorporated into camper shirts and special recognition certificates. There will also be a camp celebration every Saturday during the season. Staff, sponsors, past campers, and families will have the opportunity to go on a trip down memory lane at their favorite camps.
DEC summer camps have been helping to introduce young people to the great outdoors for 75 years. They also inspire teens and children to learn more about New York’s environment and help to grow the next generation environmental stewards. Our summer camps offer adventure and education, as campers can hike, fish, or spend time in nature during their week-long experience.
Summer Camps is a week-long adventure in conservation education for children aged 11-17. DEC operates four camps for children: Camp Colby at Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp DeBruce at Livingston Manor in Sullivan County; Camp Rushford in Caneadea, Allegany County; and Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg.
Parents and guardians are asked to submit applications via the online registration system on the Summer Camps site. http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html. Parents and guardians who are interested in registering should complete the registration forms early as spaces fill quickly.
Along with inviting parents and guardians, DEC encourages sporting clubs, civic organizations, and environmental organisations to sponsor one or several children for a week at camp. Find out how to become a sponsor and manage sponsor accounts at http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1866.html on DEC’s website.
DEC will implement new Centers for Disease Control and New York State Department of Health guidelines. They also include lessons learned from other camps. DEC’s goal is to make sure that changes and protective measures do not compromise the camp spirit that draws campers back year after years. As the summer nears, new information will be added to the guidance.
NEW FOR 2022: The camp capacity will be reduced. Individual campers will be limited for one week. If camps are still available after May 27, campers can sign up for multiple weeks.
DeBruce and Camp Colby will offer one week of programming for children aged 14-17. Children 11-13 will have five weeks. Children aged 14-17 will be accommodated at Camp Pack Forest for five weeks and children 11-13 for two weeks. Camp Rushford will offer two weeks programming for children aged 14-17 and five weeks programming for children 11-13. The Summer Camps website has the complete schedule. https://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2013.html.
Campers will have the chance to take part in many outdoor adventures and be encouraged to try new things. You can fish, bird watch, fly-tying and archery, as well as hiking, camping, orienteering and hunter safety education.
Each camp offers one hunter training program for firearms, bows, or trapping during each of the four weeks. Hunter education programs have a limited number of participants. To be eligible, campers must register during registration and complete the homework beforehand. More information about New York’s hunter education program can be found at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7860.html.
DEC campers enjoy outdoor exploration and hands-on activities that focus on stream, forest, stream, and lake ecological principles. You can collect insects, use nets in streams, measure trees, and take field notes. You may also visit nearby state lands, such as State Parks, State Parks and fish hatcheries.
Camp Pack Forest will host an Outdoor Adventure Week from Week 4 to July 24-29. DEC encourages teenagers 14-17 who enjoy being outdoors to register for this popular program at Camp Pack Forest. Campers will learn hands-on skills outside that go beyond the traditional camp week. Campers participate in a variety of activities beyond the usual camp activities. These include trust-building, forestry, citizen science and conservation science. Additionally, campers are introduced to a variety career options by visiting DEC and natural resources professionals.
All four camps offer at minimum six one-week sessions. These sessions were offered from Sunday to Friday, beginning July 3, 2022. Rushford and Pack Forest will operate for seven consecutive weeks. For 2022, a week of camp costs $350 per child. This includes meals, trips, and a camp shirt.
Visit www.amazon.com for more information www.dec.ny.gov, email [email protected], check out “NYS DEC Summer Camps” on Facebook, or write to DEC Camps, 3rd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-5256.
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