Ossining Senator Supports Improved Day Camp Regulation

State Senator David Carlucci joined a group of day camp directors and owners Friday at Champion Day Camp in New City to explain the importance proposed state law he is co-sponsoring that would subject single-purpose day camps to the same rules as other summer day camps.

Under current state law, single-purpose day camps do not need permits from the State Department of Health but multi-purpose camps do. 

"Parents are unaware that there is such a dichotomy between single-purpose camps and a camp with multiple activities," said Jamie Sirkin, President of the Rockland/Westchester Day Camp Association. "It would be the same as saying a restaurant with fast food will not be inspected, but a restaurant that is sit down would be."

Among the requirements for a Department of Health permit are inspections that include camp conditions as well as applications filed by all employees at the camp. Multi-purpose camps must check the sex offender registry and do criminal background checks on potential employees. Single-purpose camps, which have grown in number in recent years and include sports camps, music camps and science camps, do not have to make those checks. According to the Department of Health, there are approximately 2,400 single-purpose camps in New York, roughly the same number as multi-purpose camps. 

"Not all camps fall under the same regulations in New York State," Carlucci said, who covers the 38th senate district which includes Ossining. "In fact, there is a glaring loophole that we need to close to make sure that our children who go to some of these camps are not exposed to people who might do them harm.

"Right now you can have a tennis camp or a golf camp that doesn't follow the same guidelines that a camp like Champion Day Camp does right here. In fact, we could have a situation where actual sex offenders or somebody on the child abuse registry could be working in these camps and dealing with our children."

"Some of them (single-purpose camps) do very good jobs," said Sasha Bunchuk, owner of Champion Day Camp. "We just want them to come under the same umbrella we are under. Back ground checks. Medical form checks for each one of the kids. The Board of Health comes here at least twice during the summer, sometimes more, just to inspect the facility, to see if there is poison ivy on the ground. To see how the pools are operating and to see staff applications, to see they are properly filled out and they are appropriate for supervising children."

Carlucci said the education of parents was an important reason for Friday's press conference. The proposed state legislation is in its early stages and will likely not be in place in time for this summer's camps.

"We want to make sure as parents are putting their kids in camp this summer, they know there is a difference," Carlucci said. "We want them to make sure they ask the right questions to make sure their children aren't put in harm's way. We are working on getting this important legislation passed. While it is not passed into law yet, parents can take a proactive approach to ask the important questions."

"The point here is parents just don't know that single-purpose camps don't follow the same guidelines we do," said Sam Borek, co-owner of Woodmont Day Camp. "We are happy to follow the rules the Board of health and the Camp Association lay out for us. We do background checks. We do (check) the sex offender registry. We have guidelines for any emergencies. Single-activity camps don't have to follow those same guidelines."

The primary cost to camps would be the criminal background checks, though this law would increase the workload of the Department of Health. Carlucci defended the potential mandate, saying it is an application of existing law where it should already apply.

While the primary focus was on checking into the background of camp employees, there are other concerns related to the lack of regulation of single-purpose camps such as the treatment and reporting of illness and injury. 

Click here to watch the video on Patch.