Dear Staff, 

As you cultivate relationships with kids in 2026, God’s gone before you preparing the way — each conversation, every prayer, every time you share the gospel. God uses all these moments to work in kids’ lives. 

And as you prep for camp, we encourage you to take a moment to make a list of kids you will invite, and ask your community to join you in regularly praying for them. You can use this liturgy as an addition to your prayer time, and if you would like to share the names of kids you’re inviting, we would love to you join you in praying for each name!  

Here's what you need to know about camp this month ...

Spread the Word: Promoting Camp on Social Media 

Whether your area has 100 or 1,000 followers, social media is one of the most powerful ways to spread the word about camp this summer! To make it easy, our Marketing team has created a set of social media tips and a sample content calendar to help guide what to post and when. You’ll find ready-to-use post ideas, camp photos, promo videos, and Canva templates — everything you need to start promoting camp on social media with confidence. 

Still have questions? Reach out to marketing@sc.younglife.org. 

We’re here to support you!  

Sharing is Caring: Adding and Dropping Camp Spots 

Do you need more camp spots for your summer trip? Use the Camp Reservations dashboard in YL Connect to see how full your camp week is. To request additional spots, contact the camp office. If spots are not available, the camp can put your area on the wait-to-add list. If spots become available, the camp will let you know!    

If you need to drop spots, ask the camp to put you on the wait-to-drop list. The camp office is your best resource as you are looking to change the size of your trip.  

Remember, camps will transfer $50 per spot ($150 for Adventures Baja) during January business for the number of spots on your R1 contract. See the Camp Fee, Contracts, and Accountability page on Staff Resources for additional information. 

Prayerful Preparation: WyldLife Camping Policies 

Are you planning to take middle schoolers to camp this summer? Be prepared for when parents ask questions like: How old do students need to be to go to WyldLife camp? How many leaders do you need to have? Can Young Life students serve as cabin leaders at camp? Check out these camping policies to make sure you know the answers!   

Camp for Every Kid: Fundraising Webinar Series   

Looking for tips on how to make camp possible for every kid who wants to go? The Global Field Development team is offering a free, three-month webinar series, designed to help you raise more money — together — while re-engaging lapsed donors and inviting current supporters deeper into the mission of Young Life. You’ll learn how to recruit your team, set up a gamified crowdfunding platform, and identify exactly who to call, text, and email. The goal of this webinar series is simple: equip you with proven tools so no kid misses camp because of cost, and so your area stays out of deficit. 
 
Webinar Dates (Eastern Time):  

Health and Consent Form is Coming Soon! 

Health and Consent forms are an important part of any camp trip or event, and they help us care well for participants, leaders, and our mission. We’re putting the final touches on the new Health and Consent form, and we look forward to releasing it soon!  

One exciting new form feature is the new Health Form tab that will live on your YL Connect camp trip or event (like the Arrival Form tab that areas have already been using). This new tab will be the one-stop spot to: 

When the Health and Consent Form is live, camp offices will communicate with trip leaders, including any camp specifics and instructions for upcoming nationally-managed trips. 

To learn more, head over to the Getting Ready for the New Health and Consent Form page for Frequently Asked Questions. You can also view the Transition Guide for more details and scenario-specific guidance. 

Inviting Work Crew: Application and Recommendation are Live 

The summer work crew recommendation and application are now available for summer 2026! Work crew offers high school students an incredible chance to grow in their faith, serve others, and experience the power of living in a Christ-centered community. As students start planning their summer, now is the perfect time to encourage them to consider this amazing experience!  

Here is what you need to know:  

As candidates are placed, make sure to let the camp communicate acceptance status with students! To read more information about the work crew process, check out the Summer Work Crew page on Staff Resources.     

Thanks for your heart to share Jesus with kids! We’re cheering you on this year!  

View previous 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.