Camps and Schools Feel Mosquito Season First

Outdoor programs run straight through peak mosquito season — June, July, and August, when the Asian tiger mosquito is at its most aggressive and the northern house mosquito is building toward its late-summer West Nile peak. Children in group settings get bitten more (more kids, more commotion, more carbon dioxide), and programs have a duty of care that makes a written mosquito plan worth having. This page collects the practices that work, plus a sample letter to send home.

The Dump-and-Drain Routine

Tiger mosquitoes breed in the same containers on school and camp grounds as they do in backyards — just at larger scale. Assign the routine to maintenance staff weekly from May through September:

Tip or cover all buckets, toys, tarps, and equipment that catch rain.
Clear gutters and roof drains on every building — the biggest hidden breeding sites on a campus.
Manage athletic field drainage: no standing puddles 48 hours after rain.
Empty and scrub wading pools and water tables per health code, and store them drained.
Treat what cannot be drained — ornamental ponds, drainage structures — with BTI, which is appropriate for use around children when applied as directed.
Keep grass mowed and edges trimmed so adult mosquitoes have fewer daytime resting spots near play areas.

Event Timing and Location

Schedule evening events with mosquitoes in mind. The hour around sunset is peak biting for the house mosquito. Bonfires and evening programs need repellent reminders, fans, or screened areas.
Put activities in sun and breeze wherever possible; avoid scheduling long stationary activities (crafts, story time) at shaded, still woodland edges at dusk.
Screened dining halls and pavilions pay for themselves in bite reduction during July and August.
Fans for gathering areas: inexpensive, no chemicals, surprisingly effective.

Repellent Policies That Work

Put it in writing: state which repellents the program permits, who applies them (staff, never young children themselves), and that parents must provide labeled products.
Follow age guidance: no repellent under 2 months; no oil of lemon eucalyptus under 3 years. The product label governs.
Collect permission forms at registration covering repellent application, just like sunscreen.
Staff should model the behavior: counselors visibly using repellent normalizes it for kids.

Parent Communication: Sample Letter

Feel free to adapt this template for your school or camp newsletter:

Sample parent letter

Dear families,

Mosquito season is here on Staten Island. Our program manages standing water on our grounds weekly, but a few habits at home make a big difference too:

Tip out standing water around your home once a week — saucers, toys, tarps, and gutters.
Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent according to the product label before outdoor-heavy days.
Dress children in light-colored, loose clothing and closed shoes for evening programs.
Keep window screens in good repair so mosquitoes stay outside at night.

Most mosquito bites are simply itchy, but call your pediatrician if a bite shows spreading redness, red streaks, or is accompanied by fever. Thank you for helping us keep outdoor time safe and fun.

New York City Resources

Mosquito surveillance and control in New York City is handled by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) — it traps and tests mosquitoes for West Nile virus all summer and conducts control measures when needed. You can report standing water or mosquito problems through 311, and NYC DOHMH publishes seasonal surveillance results by borough. Working with the city’s program is the single highest-leverage move a camp or school can make: they track exactly which species and viruses are active in your area, week by week.

Share These Guides With Families

This guide is for educational purposes only and isn't medical or veterinary advice. If you've been bitten or have symptoms, contact your doctor, veterinarian, or local health department.