Camps     Camp Guide    

DEC Summer Camp Registration Opens Sunday, March 22



Families are encouraged to register early for camps

2026 NYS DEC camp registration


The DEC Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11-17. DEC operates four residential camps for kids: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake, Franklin County; Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, Sullivan County; Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg, Warren County; and Camp Rushford in Caneadea, Allegany County.

For Summer 2026, Camp Rushford will offer five weeks of programing for campers aged 11 to 13, and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Colby will operate four weeks of camp for 11- to 13-year-olds, and three weeks for campers aged 14 to 17. Camp DeBruce will offer five weeks for kids ages 11 to 13 and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Pack Forest will host campers ages 11 to 13 for three weeks, and 14- to 17-year-olds for four weeks. Camps Colby and Pack Forest will each have one Outdoor Adventure Week. The complete schedule of camp weeks and ages is available on the Summer Camps website.

All four camps will offer seven one-week sessions (Sunday to Friday) beginning Sunday, June 28, 2026. One week of camp is $350 per child for 2026, and includes meals, trips, and a camp t-shirt.

Parents and guardians can register youth for a week of camp, manage their account, and complete required forms and waivers through a link from the DEC Summer Camps webpage. Guardians are encouraged to register early since many weeks fill up quickly and are advised to monitor the webpage for upcoming announcements on 2026 camp forms.

In addition to inviting parents and guardians to register children to participate in the DEC environmental education Summer Camps program, sporting clubs, civic groups, and environmental organizations are encouraged to sponsor one or more children for a week at camp. Information about becoming a sponsor and managing sponsor accounts is available at Sponsoring Youth to Camp on DEC’s website.

For more information, please visit the DEC’s website, email EducationCamps@dec.ny.gov, visit “NYS DEC Summer Camps” on Facebook or write to DEC Camps, 3rd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4501. 

Information about DEC's environmental education centers and programs is available on DEC's website.



Other articles by HVP News Reporters


  • Resume tips for job seekers with disabilities

    Some of the most important things to keep in mind

    For the most part, writing a resume as a disabled worker involves the same best practices as writing any type of resume. Some of the most important things to keep in mind include: read more »
  • A gripping graphic novel looks at four infamous days in our history

    The story of prisoners' stand at Attica in 1971

    This graphic novel is a raw and powerful look at the four days of uprising at the Attica State Prison in upstate NY. The illustrations are graphic and at times, horrific. See what we can learn from history read more »
  • Delicious family meals for American Heart Healthy Month

    5 great recipes to keep your family feeling good

    We have 5 great recipes for you to try to celebrate American Heart Healthy Month. read more »
  • Centsible ways to teach kids healthy money habits

    It is imperative to secure your child's financial future

    In school, most kids only learn algebra, calculus, and trigonometry but not how to budget, save or invest. The older we get, the more responsibilities we have that make it challenging to focus on learning financial principles, which is why it is key to start teaching kids healthy money habits at a young age. read more »
  • 5 easy ways to save energy in the kitchen

    Make a few of these simple adjustments

    The kitchen is the heart of the home, it’s also a space where you can waste a lot of energy if you’re not careful. By making a few simple adjustments to your habits in the kitchen, you can easily cut your energy bills and do your part to help the environment. read more »
  • Participate in The Annual Great Backyard Bird Count

    Kids learn about birds and conservation

    The Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb. 16-19) is a great way for people – especially families and kids – to engage with the outdoors right in their own backyard, and the TurfMutt Foundation encourages everyone to participate. read more »
  • How to turn your finances around in the months ahead

    One in three Americans say they are struggling to get by

    Many consumers are feeling financial strain after a challenging economic year in 2022. One in three Americans say they are struggling to get by or are in trouble financially. read more »
  • 4 home improvement ideas

    Tips from the experts

    Whether you’re thinking about a bathroom update, kitchen overhaul or any other type of home improvement project, these tips from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and eLivingtoday.com can help you get started. read more »
  • Looking out for your lungs

    5 ways to keep yours healthy

    The lungs are the centerpiece of your respiratory system. When you inhale, air enters your lungs and oxygen from that air moves to your blood. At the same time, carbon dioxide, a waste gas, moves from your blood to the lungs and gets exhaled. This process is essential to life. read more »
  • Highly rated diets to support heart health

    Experts take the guess work out of choosing

    Eating healthy is an important goal for people looking to maintain or improve their physical health, particularly as it relates to the heart. With often conflicting information available online and via social media, it may be difficult or downright confusing to find the eating plan for you. read more »