§ 4501. Establishment of camps by school districts and appropriations
authorized. 1. A school district, acting through its board of
education, is hereby authorized to establish camps on lands acquired by
such school district by purchase, gift, grant, devise, rent or lease or
on lands the use of which has otherwise been acquired by such school
district for camp purposes. Also, two or more school districts may
jointly acquire lands for camp purposes in the same manner and establish
and operate such school camps thereon as joint projects within the limit
of funds provided therefor by the respective school districts and in
accordance with regulations approved by the commissioner of education.
Such camps shall be used to furnish education, physical training,
recreation and maintenance for all children of school age, whether in
attendance at a public or non-public school, and shall be under the
jurisdiction of the board of education of such school district. Such
board may, however, fix a reasonable fee to cover cost of food and
instructional materials. Such board shall provide opportunity for
children to receive instruction in such subjects as such board may deem
proper. Such board shall prescribe the activities to be carried on and
shall set up rules and regulations for admission to such camps and the
conduct and discipline thereof. No child, whether in attendance at a
public or non-public school, shall be denied admission to such a camp or
physical training, recreation and maintenance at such a camp, because of
inability to pay any required costs or fees; but no child shall be
entitled to free education, physical training, recreation and
maintenance in any such camp for a period in excess of two weeks during
any one year, unless the board of education prescribe and direct that
physically handicapped or other children be maintained for a longer
period. The board of education of such school district shall make a
report at the annual meeting of such school district, of matters
relating to carrying out the provisions of this section.

2. Any such school district is hereby authorized to appropriate in the
manner prescribed by law relating to such school district such sums as
may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this
section. Money shall be paid out of the treasury of such school district
in the manner provided by law.

3. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the board of
education of the city of New York.