Resident Camps
The North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Resident Camps defines a resident camp as "... an establishment which provides food and overnight lodging accommodations for 72 consecutive hours or more per week at at permanent base of operations for groups of children or adults engaged in organized recreational or educational programs and has a permanent connection to a public electrical service provider." This definition does not include campgrounds or other facilities that only rent property or campsites for camping or Children's Foster Care Camps or Residential Therapeutic Camps.
The owner or manager of a proposed resident camp must submit plans (drawn to scale) as well as a topographic map showing buildings and equipment, water supply system, wastewater disposal system and recreational waters to the Union County Environmental Health office. In addition, plans (drawn to scale) and specifications shall also be submitted for any additions or renovations to existing buildings or any new buildings or facilities in existing resident camps. Plans and specifications must be approved prior to beginning construction.
A seasonal permit is issued to resident camps operating six months or less per calendar year and do not offer activities, programs, services, or food to the public for pay during the remaining six months. For resident camps that operate six months or less per year, an unannounced inspection is conducted at least once during the operating season. Resident campls operating year-round are inspected unannounced at least once each six-month period.
Summer Camps
Summer Camps are defined in the North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation of Summer Camps, 15A NCAC 18A .1000 as camp establishments which provide food or lodging accommodations for groups of children or adults engaged in organized recreational or educational programs. It also includes camps, church assemblies, and retreats.
A summer camp sponsor wanting to operate a summer camp facility must contact the Union County Environmental Health office to schedule a site visit. During the site visit. preliminary plans for development of needed structures and facilities will be evaluated. Plans and specifications for camp buildings and equipment, food service, water supply system, sewage disposal, and swimming pool or other swimming facilities must be submitted. Additions or renovations to existing builidings or any new buildings or facilities at existing summer camps also require plan approval. Plans and specifications must be approved by the Union County Environmental Health office prior to beginning any construction.
Primitive Camps
A Primitive Camp is a camp that is not served by any public electrical service and provides overnight outdoor primitive camping. The North Carolina Rules Governing the Sanitation Camps, 15A NCAC .3500 states that Primitive Experience Camps include those camp establishments that provide food and overnight lodging accomodations to 72 consecutive hours or more per week at or from a permanent base camp for groups of children or adults engaged in overnight organized recreational or educational programs. Programs are operated and staffed by the camp and supervision is a camp responsibility. This definition does not include campgrounds or other facilities that only rent property or camp sites for camping.
Plans (drawn to scale) and specifications for primitive experience camps must be submitted to the Union County Environmental Health office and must include a topographic map of the base camp, buildings, water supply system, waste water disposal system and other appurtenances necessary to maintain base camp operation and compliance with the rules. Plans must include those sites used on a recurring (at least once each season) basis that are not part of the established "base camp" but are under the control of the ownership of the camp. Plans, drawn to scale, and specifications must also be submitted to Union County Environmental Health for any additions or renovations to existing buildings or any new buildings or facilities in primitive experience camps. Plans and specifications must be approved prior to beginning construction.