It’s time to start planning for next summer. Areas will submit Camp Requests for Summer 2027 through the Camp Request website between Monday, August 24th and Friday, September 4th. Please review the Camp Request guidelines below before submitting requests for your areas.
Make sure you have access to the Camp Request System. Remember, this is a different username and login than your Staff Resources account. Here is some helpful information: Camp Requests User Guide,
General Info
- Here are detailed instructions on how to submit area camp requests if this is your first time submitting an area request or if you just need a refresher. You are strongly encouraged to refer to these instructions as you are making camp requests!
- Review the Summer 2027 Camping Calendar before submitting your requests
- All Senior High camp weeks in the Eastern Division are 6-day. WyldLife (with the exception of WyldLife at Wild Ridge), Capernaum, and YoungLives are all 5-day weeks. Pay attention to the length of outreach weeks for camps outside of the Eastern Division as they may vary based on camp and session.
- School Dates – please pay close attention to the last day of school and graduation schedules for school in your area. And don’t forget to include the last day of school and first day of school in CampRes!
- Sports Conflicts – here is a link to the VSHL calendar and Maryland HS Sports Calendar that might be helpful in figuring out when sports end and start.
Include the following in the Comments Section of EVERY trip:
- Name of staff person on each trip. This is important information as Assignment Teams are being created.
- Name of school(s) on each trip
This information is helpful when managing assignment overlap and when moving trip requests.
Summer 2027 Camping Process Timeline
Camping Requests Rules
Senior High Requests
- 3 viable choices are required; a 4th is strongly encouraged
- Must include at least 2 different camps and 2 different dates
- this means you cannot request the same date range (i.e. the last week of June) at three different camps
Out of Division Camps
You may request spots at any Young Life camp. However, if areas request spots at out of division camps please make 4 choices. At least two of your Outreach choices must include Rockbridge, Lake Champion, or Saranac weeks.
WyldLife Requests
There are changes to WyldLife weeks for Summer 2027. We are so excited to bring Wild Ridge online for it’s first summer!
- Rockbridge will only have 2 WyldLife weeks
- Areas that traditionally take WyldLife trips to Rockbridge may need to camp at Lake Champion this summer.
- Lake Champion will offer 3 WyldLife weeks.
- Wild Ridge will offer 4 WyldLife weeks.
- Please note that WyldLife weeks at Wild Ridge will only be 4 days long.
- 3 viable choices
- Can include 2 different camps but not required
- Contact Chelsea Hugel- chelseahugel@gmail.com with any WyldLife specific questions.
Capernaum Requests
There are two ways to include Capernaum campers in your request depending on the type or trip.
Capernaum Inclusion
Capernaum inclusion is defined as a camper with a disability attending a senior high outreach or adventure week that is not specifically noted as a Capernaum week. To request Capernaum spots at these weeks:
- Click on the Senior High Outreach or Adventure tab.
- Fill out a request using the steps above and include the number of Capernaum campers in your total request.
- Check the Capernaum box.
- Include the anticipated number of campers with disabilities in the comments section.
Capernaum Specific Weeks
A Capernaum specific week is a camp week designed for campers with a disability. These weeks also include
Capernaum buddies. Campers, buddies and leaders are all requested on one request. For these weeks, the Capernaum tab should be used. 2 viable choices are required.
- Click on the Capernaum tab.
- Enter the number of campers, leaders, and buddies in the request box.
- Specify the anticipated number of buddies in the comment section. If there are zero buddies, list “Buddies: 0”.
- This helps the allocation team understand the makeup of your request.
- Do NOT select the buddies box.
Buddy-Only Trips
Some areas may choose to bring only buddies and leaders to a Capernaum specific week as a discipleship
experience. To request a buddies only trip:
- Click on the Capernaum tab.
- Fill out a request using the steps above and enter the total number of buddies and leaders in the request box.
- Check the Buddies box when submitting a Buddies-Only trip.
Buddy Clarification
- A buddy is a peer meaning high school age (14-17).
- If they are 18 or above, that is an Adult Helper and they need to go through all the requirements for a leader at camp.
- YL Connect Camp :There will be 3 options for “guest type” in YLCC – Camper, Leader and Buddy. Adult Helpers will be assigned as a leader.
- Buddy only trips still require adult leaders.
Questions? Contact Christine Florczynski, the Divisional Capernaum Coordinator.
YoungLives Trip Requests (both Campers/Leaders & Childcare)
All YoungLives trips, including both campers/leaders and childcare trips should be requested on the YoungLives tab. Areas bringing campers and leaders are required to bring childcare volunteers. An area’s childcare trip must maintain at least a 1:5 ratio of childcare volunteers to camper/leaders.
- 1 choice is required; 2 are preferred
To request a YoungLives Trip:
- Click on the YoungLives tab.
- Create a request using the steps above and enter the told number of campers and leaders. Do not include YoungLives infants.
- Create a second request that lists the same camps/weeks in the same order of the camper and leader trip. Enter the number of childcare volunteers and check the childcare box
Childcare Only Trips
Areas are welcome to take a childcare only trip. To request this trip:
- Click on the YoungLives tab.
- Create a new request using the steps above and enter the total number of childcare.
- Check the Childcare box.
Other Details & Info
Adventures
- Requests for Adventures Wild Ridge or any Adventure camp can be made on the Adventures tab
Out of Division Camps
You may request spots at any Young Life camp. However, please make 4 choices and at least two of your outreach choices include Rockbridge, Lake Champion or Saranac weeks.
Kids of Color
Please indicate the anticipated # of kids of color on each outreach trip. Of your total requested spots, how many do you anticipate being kids of color (non-Anglo)? We realize this is a best guess for each area but this information will help the allocation team as they consider which areas are on each week of camp and how to make all kids feel welcome on their week of camp.
Large Trip
Trips larger than 114 spots (2 buses) must be split and requested as 2 trips. Request two smaller trips with the same choices. Include the breakdown of each school in the comments.
Travel With
If your area plans to travel to camp with another area, you’ll need to use the “Travel With” feature. This ensures the Camp Allocation Committee considers your groups together during placement. Only use this feature if you are actively coordinating with another area. Requests to travel with other areas may only be made with an area in your region and the total combined size of a Travel with requests may not exceed 114 spots (about 2 buses). Make sure to use the “Travel With” feature in Camp Requests.
Important Rules for Travel With
- Each area must submit their own trip request using the exact same first, second, and third choice, including:
- Same type of trip (i.e. Senior High Outreach, Wyldlife)
- Same week
- Same order of choices
- Do not use this feature unless you are coordinating with another area.
How to Invite Another Area to Travel with You
- Enter and save your trip request.
- On that row, click the “Invite” button in the Travel With column.
- In the pop-up, enter the area number of up to 5 areas. Click Invite.
- The Travel With column will now show a Status button
Leave a Reply