Dear Staff, 

Start your engines! Camp preparation is shifting into high gear. As you prepare for another summer camp season, we’ve got the pit crew support you need to keep things running at top speed! Buckle up and see what you need to know about camp this month:  

New Fundraising Template – From the Racetrack to Camp 

You may have heard the buzz ... Young Life is a title sponsor for Joe Gibbs Racing Team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this February-May. Want to use a new theme for your camp fundraising? We have pre-built resources ready for you to creatively engage donors while raising funds for camp this summer. 

A-Teams Are Ready to Roll 

Earlier this month, more than 800 field staff went to Assigned Team Training across the U.S. Want to pray for the staff who will be on assignment during your week at camp? Check out the list below.  

Stay on Track: Sign Up and Confirm Your Camp Spots

Thanks to YL Connect, we can see that more than 35,900 campers and leaders are signed up for summer camp (about 49% of our expected summer attendance). Are your leaders signed up? Have them sign up on your camp registration page, so we can continue to see an accurate picture of camping this summer.   

Don’t forget to confirm your camp numbers by returning your R2 Contract by April 1. On March 14, camps sent an email with this contract to your camping responsible party. Within the contract, list the trip leader’s contact information and either confirm your spots, drop spots, or request more. R2 is due back to camp by Tuesday, April 1 (or sooner). Don’t forget your area is financially responsible for filling 90% of your R2 spots (unless you give them away to another area). If you have questions, contact the camp office or read more about camp fees and accountability.  

Getting Ready for the Race: Camp Leader Orientation 

Camp Leader Orientation gives us a common understanding of: 

Start talking to your leaders about this training and make sure you send them to this page on Staff Resources to log in and access the appropriate course in Moodle. You can choose to take the training together as a group or leaders can do so individually. After completion, leaders will let their trip leader know they have finished the training, and staff can check the box on the trip's Arrival Form in YL Connect Camp. If support is needed in Moodle, please contact digitallearning@sc.younglife.org. 

Helping Your Work Crew Picks Advance 

This week, camps are offering work crew spots to applicants and asking them to confirm or decline their spot. Check the YL Connect “View Applications for Your Area” report listed on Staff Resources to see the status of work crew applicants and encourage your candidates to accept their spot.   

For candidates on the waitlist, talk to your region about where they are on the priority list — your region prioritizes waitlist candidates (not the camp). If you have candidates still interested in applying, it’s not too late! Just complete a work crew recommendation on the YL Connect Camp home page and talk with your region, so they can help place new candidates throughout the spring.    

Smoothing Out the Ride: Assigning the Right Guest Type for Capernaum Campers 

This summer we’re introducing a new involvement role for Capernaum campers. To ensure accurate records, all campers with disabilities should be assigned the guest type of “Camper with a Disability” on the arrival form. This update should be made after registration and before arrival at camp. 

For detailed instructions, refer to the Arrival Form section in the YL Connect Camp Guide.  

Assigning the correct guest type ensures every camper is welcomed and supported in the best way possible, creating a smoother and more inclusive experience for everyone on your trip.  

Join a Work Week and Help Get Camp Race-Ready 

Just like a pit crew preps a race car for the big event, we need your help to get our camps in top shape for summer. Work weeks are a great opportunity to bring friends like volunteer leaders, committee members, potential summer staff, or others you may know who have specific skills like woodworking, welding, sewing, etc. Help us prepare camps to welcome campers this summer! And did we mention the cost is FREE?    

On the Road to Camp with YL Connect

Even when ministry is moving fast, you can still manage your camp trip when you are on the go with YL Connect mobile! On April 2, at 11 a.m. MT, we’ll be sharing helpful tips to use YL Connect mobile to manage your camp trips. 

We’ll also make a quick pit stop for some Q&A time with the Connections Team. Register today, and get a reminder the day before. For more details, review this information about using YL Connect mobile for camp. 

Thank you for everything you are doing now to prepare for summer camp, and thanks for reading this edition of Day Zero! Don't forget you can view past issues and all our camping resources on Staff Resources. 

FYI – This newsletter is sent to all current U.S. field staff, camp managers, and camping admin managers. Do you know of a volunteer who would like to be added to this communication? Just have them sign up, and we’ll be sure include them.