Lost Canyon Trip Leader Info

YoungLives​ & Capernaum Inclusion Week 2026

We’re so grateful for the time and energy you’ve invested in knowing kids and walking with them toward camp. We can’t wait to serve you at Lost Canyon this summer! Our team has been planning and preparing for you and your campers, eager to create a space where everyone feels a sense of belonging and excitement as they encounter the Gospel.

We love creating a space where moms and their babies can step away from the weight of everyday life, breathe deeply, and truly connect with one another, with leaders, and with the Lord. Camp is a place where they get to feel like kids again, be cared for, and hear the gospel in a meaningful, hope-filled way. And we are excited for what God has in store as our Capernaum friends from Arizona join us.

Christ’s love compels us to create a culture of Diversity, Equity and Belonging at Lost Canyon, so that we reflect the full breadth of the Kingdom of God and those we serve. A culture of belonging is a core value to ensure that Lost Canyon is a place where every person is welcomed, known, heard, respected and celebrated for the ways they uniquely reflect the image of God. This will be achieved through a posture of listening, learning, relationship, personal sacrifice and action.

We are committed to this in every effort from the planning of trips, the events at camp, the recruitment and training of our staff and volunteers, and how we serve one another. We are so excited to serve you and can't wait to spend the summer with you!

The details below were put together to be a "one stop shop" for your camp trip. As we get closer to summer, we will continue to update this site; please bookmark the link and refer back to it frequently. If you have questions, please reach out to Sarah Strong,​ Lost Canyon’s Admin Manager, at 928-635-2900 or sstrong@lc.younglife.org.

IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR 2026 - Updated 2/5/26

Trip Leader Call
You may have heard about Trip Leader Calls that we are offering to all camp trips this summer. Those are going to focus on our High School & Wyldlife camping. The SWD YoungLives Team will be hosting a YoungLives Trip Leader Call which Sarah Strong will also join and offer additional support and information around Trip Leading, especially in regards to the New Health & Consent Form. That call time/date is TBD and will be posted here soon.

 

Summer 2026 Health and Consent Form Process

The New Health & Consent Form is LIVE!!!​ There is now a Health Form drop down section below where there are additional details and a link to the email sent out 2/5/26.

 

Pre-Camp Trip Communication | WhatsApp​

This year, we’ll be creating WhatsApp group threads for each Camp Week to help keep Trip Leaders connected and informed leading up to camp. You’ll receive an invitation from Sarah Strong (about 2 weeks out from your trip), and the Head Leaders for your week will also be part of the group. Participation is required for all Trip Leaders, as these threads will be used to share important updates, reminders, and real-time communication both before and throughout your camp week.

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trip management

YoungLives & Capernaum Inclusion - Week 7

See below for all important information regarding the YoungLives​ & Capernaum Inclusion Week, including required items, helpful resources, important tasks and dates, and much more to help you prepare for your time at camp. **AZ20 & AZ176 can utilize the main TL website.

If you have carefully reviewed this website and believe that any critical information is missing or unclear, please contact Sarah Strong, Lost Canyon’s Admin Manager, at 928-635-2900 or sstrong@lc.younglife.org so we can ensure it is addressed and added as needed.

Taking a few minutes to look through this ahead of time will help things run smoothly and set everyone up for a great week. Feel free to check back as your session gets closer—we’ll add updates and reminders as needed.

All drop down sections below were updated 2/6/2026

Arrival & Departure

Arrival:
  • For Childcare Arrival (July 6th) - please see the Childcare Section below
  • For YoungLives​ mom's/babies/leaders (July 7th) - Schedule your arrival at Lost Canyon between 2 - 4 p.m. (Please note arriving instructions in the next section)
Departure:
  • For YoungLives, ​ please schedule your departure from Lost Canyon at 11:30 a.m.​ ***Communicate to your bus drivers that they shouldn't arrive to the gate before 10:45 AM as they will not be let in before that. Additionally, we cannot have a line of busses at the gate so if they arrive early, we will make them return to town until 10:45 AM.
Arriving to Lost Canyon:
  • On Day 1, call the Lost Canyon office at 928-635-2900 by 11:00 am​ (or as soon as you depart if you are not on the road by then) on the day you will arrive at camp to provide your final breakdown of campers and leaders, an update on food allergies or special diets, and your estimated arrival time.
  • When you exit off I-40 onto N Grand Canyon Blvd (exit 163), please call the Lost Canyon office before proceeding up the hill to camp (most groups pull into McDonald's).
  • When you head up the hill toward camp, look for the Lost Canyon sign. Once you turn down the driveway, look for a small pavilion with head leaders.
Please be prepared to turn in the following form as the Welcome Tent:
  • YoungLives​ Pre-Camp Health Screening Form
  • Any Paper Health Forms​ — any health forms that were not filled out online. Make sure you have copies for you return trip, the originals have to remain at Lost Canyon.​ **These MUST be a 2026 Paper Health Form or you will have to redo them upon arrival at camp.
  • Medications​ — Please see Summer Camp Medications Requirements​ above in the Helpful Resources section of this page. All medication should be in its original container. If items are in a pill box, the original container must be with them as well.
  • Electronics — Please collect all personal electronics (cellphones, cellular enabled watches, iPads, laptops, DVD players, etc.) prior to your arrival; place in individual Ziploc bags and label with the camper's name and area number; then gather all Ziploc bags and place them in a storage container labeled with your area number. ​ Please make sure all devices are powered off.​ For more information, refer to Young Life's Electronics at Camp Policy.

Driving directions are available for download here.​

Program/HL Letters & Promo media

For Program/HL Letters - Check back in Late March 2026

Session 3:
  • Program Letter - Session 3​ - YoungLives
  • Head Leader Letter - Session 3 - YoungLives

 

Promo Videos & Photos

Health Forms - updated 2/5/26

The new unified Health and Consent Form is now live and ready to use!​ This updated form replaces the previous health and consent process and will be used for everyone​ coming to camp this summer.

To learn more about this new process, please refer to this information that was sent via email​​ to trip leaders on February 5. Please review the Health Form page​ on Staff Resources for step-by-step instructions on inviting parents to complete the health form and reviewing submitted information.

Below are some resources that can provide step-by-step instructions and answer any questions you may have (these were listed in the email that was sent, and linked on the email document above:

Need a paper form?
As a reminder, paper forms are now camp-specific.
At Lost Canyon, we are asking that if you absolutely need to use a paper health form, you use our version linked below.​ This has areas highlighted to ensure correct completion. Any old versions of the 6007 form WILL NOT be accepted at camp this summer.​ All paper health forms should be uploaded to your campaign for review by the camp - this will save you time when you arrive at camp for any incomplete health forms!

  • Lost Canyon Paper Health Form - English (link coming soon!)
  • Lost Canyon Paper Health Form - Spanish (link coming soon!)

Questions? Reach out to ylcamping@sc.younglife.org.

Required Documents

YL Camping Required Items:
  1. Arrival Survey​ (see "Other Items" section below)
  2. 10-Day Report​ (see "Due Dates/Timeline")
  3. 48-Hour Arrival Form​ (see "48 Hour Instructions)
  4. Health, Consent, & Release Forms​ for every camper/leader/baby/childcare (new format for 2026, see "Health Form" section above)
  5. Permission for Camper to Leave Early​ (if you have a camper leaving early or separately from the main group)
  6. Leader Screenings​ (Faith & Conduct/Criminal Background Checks should be up-to-date/not expired)
  7. Summer Camp Leader Orientation​ (must be complete before arrival at camp - As of 2025, this is NO LONGER​ in YL Access but in Moodle. This link will take you to the info page on Staff Resources. If you have questions around this, please reach out to the Learning and Leadership department at learning@sc.younglife.org.)
YoungLives Camping Additional Required Items:
  1. YoungLives​ Camp Child Information Sheet 2026 - Combined Bilingual Form(LINKCOMING SOON)
  2. YoungLives​ Camper Age Exception Application (if applicable) ​ (LINK COMING SOON)
  3. YoungLives​ Pre-Camp Health Screening Form(LINK COMING SOON)

Due Dates/Timeline

Please review this section for important dates where items are due to be turned into camp. Please use the timeline table below to set reminders for yourself of important due dates pertaining to your trip.

Area Camp Survey (Belonging Survey)​ - Our goal of creating spaces of belonging for all campers and leaders is best achieved by understanding each area’s unique context. This insight helps the Assignment Team and Camp Staff serve with the humility and compassion of Jesus. Please complete the Area Camp Trip Survey by the following dates to help us prepare well for your week at camp.

  • YoungLives​ & Capernaum Inclusion Week:​ Submit your survey no later than 20th, 2026

YoungLives 10-Day Report - please have it submitted to the Lost Canyon office before 9 AM (PST), 10 days before your arrival.

48-Hour Report- You must have a completed and updated Arrival Form in YL Connect Camp​ no later than 10:00 AM PST - 2 days prior to your arrival at camp. Please see the "48 Hour Instructions" section below to ensure proper completion.

Dates & Timelines Table
Week
Session
Camp Date​s
Trip Type
10 Day Report
48 Hour Arrival Form - YLCC

Week 1

1

May 31 - June 5

SR High

Thurs, May 21st @ 9:00 AM PST

Fri, May 29th @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 2

1

June 6 - June 11

SR High

Tues, May 26th @ 9:00 AM PST

Thurs, June 4th @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 3

1

June 12 - June 17

SR High w/CPRM

Tues, June 2nd ​ @ 9:00 AM PST

Wed, June 10th @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 4

2

June 19 - June 23

Wyldlife

Tues, June 9th @ 9:00 AM PST

Wed, June 17th @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 5

2

June 24 - June 28

Wyldlife

Sun, June 14th @ 9:00 AM PST

Mon, June 22nd @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 6

2

June 29 - July 3

Wyldlife

Fri, June 19th @ 9:00 AM PST

Sat, June 27th @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 7

3

July 7 - July 11
July 6 - July 11

YoungLives
YoungLives​ Childcare

Sun, June 27th @ 9:00 AM PST
One form for both

Sun, July 5th @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 8

3

July 12 - July 17

SR High

Thurs, July 2nd @ 9:00 AM PST

Fri, July 10th @ 9:00 AM PST

Week 9

3

July 18 - July 23

SR High

Wed, July 8th @ 9:00 AM PST

Thurs, July 16th @ 9:00 AM PST

48 Hour Instructions

Two days before you are set to arrive at camp, you must complete your 48 Hour Arrival Form in YL Connect. Depending on the size of your trip, this can take a little while. Please review the requirements below and if you have any questions, reach out to Sarah Strong at sstrong@lc.younglife.org or by calling the Lost Canyon office at 928-635-2900.

Requirements:
  • Your 48 Hour Arrival Form must be finished no later than 10:00 AM, 2 days before your arrival day.
  • You need to have the items on this 48 Hour Arrival Form Checklist​ finished in order to have a COMPLETED form.

Childcare Information

Childcare Trip Dates: July 6th - July 11th​ **Note this is 1 day earlier than your YoungLives​ Trip.

Childcare Administrator:

Rubi Martinez will be the Childcare Administrator for Week 7 at Lost Canyon. After reading the information below and visiting the YoungLives​ website, please direct additional childcare questions to her at lcy.younglives@gmail.com.

Childcare Arrival:
  • July 6th: Arrive between 3:30 - 4:00 PM
  • Please communicate arrival ETA through Rubi Martinez via email or phone (lcy.younglives@gmail.com | 623-300-4917) not the Lost Canyon Office (that will be for your main trip).
Childcare Reminders:
  • Childcare Departure:​ 11:30 AM after the last club
  • Childcare Ratio:​ For every 5 campers/leaders, the area is responsible for bringing 1 childcare person.
  • Childcare Application:​ To apply to serve on Childcare during YoungLives week, please fill out the Childcare Application.
  • GOYoungLives Website​ - this will take you to the National GOYoungLives​ Camping site and give you information as well as the Childcare Application link.

 

Contracts(spots), Fees, & Accountability

  • Contact the Lost Canyon Office (928-635-2900) for the most current reservation numbers and availability.
  • To request an increase or to trade spots, please contact Sarah Strong. Do not make these trades on your own.
  • Visit the Camp Fees, Contracts and Accountability​ page in staff resources for more details. **Lost Canyon will be charging you directly for the camp week only at $580. Your area will then get charged separately by the YL Camping Department for the $70 Nursery Fee.
  • IR contracts are due Oct. 30th via DocuSign
  • R1 contracts are due Jan. 15th via DocuSign (areas are financially responsible for $50 per spot).
  • R2 contracts are due April 1 via DocuSign (areas are financially responsible for 90% of these spots).

Resources, Reminders, & Policies

Helpful Resources & Guides
Reminders

Medications​ - Please remind parents of ALL CAMPERS that all medications must be in their original prescription bottles. If using a pill box, include the original bottles as well. Campers should not bring over-the-counter (OTC) medications—these will be collected on Day 1. Leaders should not distribute OTC meds; campers needing them should visit the infirmary.

Internal Transfers in Retail​ - Reminder from last summer, internal transfers are no longer accepted at camp retail locations. Staff/volunteers should use P-Cards or personal cards and request reimbursement through Workday.

Pregnant Campers:

Before last summer, National YL updated the policy regarding attendance and participation standards for expecting campers, parenting campers, and children at camp. These updates expand previous guidelines, which applied to pregnant teens and moms 6-12 weeks post-delivery and infants younger than 6 weeks old. In collaboration with our medical advisory board, risk management, and camping services, YoungLives leadership has made the following policy changes:

  • Parenting campers who are 8-12 weeks post-delivery at the camp start date must have a physician's signature.
  • A physician's signature is required for all infants 8-12 weeks old at the camp start date.
  • Parenting campers less than 8 weeks post-delivery at the camp start date may not attend camp.
  • Infants younger than 8 weeks may not attend camp.

***See the FAQ section below for activity restrictions for pregnant campers.

Additional YoungLives Policies for Attending Camp:

  • Children must not have their 4th birthday before camp begins.
  • Expecting campers cannot be past 34 weeks gestation on the first day of camp
Policies & Other Communication

Camper Health and Wellness​ - ​ Your campers (and leaders too!) health and safety are our top priority when you come to camp. We take many proactive steps to create a clean and safe environment while you are here. Please read our How We Combat Sickness at Camp. If you have parents that are concerned about how we handle these things at camp, feel free to send that to them.

Guidance on Bringing Undocumented Campers: We are aware of evolving circumstances around immigration enforcement across the US. The goal of this guidance is to equip Young Life staff members and leaders with basic resources for communication with kids and parents, as well as support for specific situation which may arise. Click here to view the guidance document.

Reminder Regarding Controlled Substances​ - As a reminder, use, possession or distribution of illegal and non-medical authorized drugs and/or alcohol is not allowed on camp property or in connection with any Young Life event. Young Life can send individuals home from camp or an event at their own expense and without refund for violating this policy. Young Life may also report violations of this policy to law enforcement as well as to a minor’s parent or guardian. Refer to policy AS-802 for more information.

FAQ's

We have collected the answers to some frequently asked questions that aren't previously answered in the sections above. If you have an idea to add to this section OR you don't see your answer, please reach out to Sarah Strong at Lost Canyon: sstrong@lc.younglife.org or 928.635.2900.

  • Summer 2026 Activities | Differences between Types of Camp
    Click the link above for a list of activities that will be offered this summer at Lost Canyon as well as a comparison chart between types of camps (Wyldlife, SR High, YoungLives, Capernaum).
  • Linens
    Lost Canyon provides linens all campers and leaders including a pillow, pillowcase, sheets, blanket, and towel
  • What to Pack​ (info on THEMED OUTFITS​ will be found in the "Program/Head Leader Letters & Promo Videos/Photos" section above)
    Please review the packing list or download it​ and share it with your campers.
  • THRIFT RACK
    From Adam Reyes-McGraw, our Retail Manager:​ Summer of 2021 we introduced a “Thrift Rack” at the LC General Store to provide some gently used YL apparel (or really anything YL branded) at a price that most everyone could afford ($1). We were able to collect enough items to offer this throughout session 2, and donated over $250 back to YL with the proceeds! We have continued this tradition each summer and need to start collecting items so that we have enough for 9 weeks. If you have some old YL items you’d like to donate, we’d love to take those off your hands and let some of your old YL apparel be enjoyed by someone new! Old camp trip t-shirts are a huge win! No pressure but if it’s something you’d like to participate in, just bring your clean YL branded clothing/items to camp and we’ll collect them in the back of the store. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me directly (amcgraw@lc.younglife.org). Thanks so much and looking forward to your time here at camp!
  • Weather/Elevation
    The elevation at Lost Canyon is approximately 7,000 feet above sea level. The air at this elevation contains less oxygen and is thinner than lower elevations. To better adjust to the altitude and avoid altitude sickness:

    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Drink plenty of fluids
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Always use sunscreen and wear sunglasses
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Eat a high carbohydrate diet
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Get extra rest for the first few days

    Additionally, we typically have warm days and cooler nights. Make sure your students are prepared with a rain jacket and a sweatshirt/sweater for those nights. Your weather app (looking at Williams, AZ) on your phone should give you accurate predictions for the most part of what to expect.
  • Program Information
    Please see the Program/Head Leader Letters & Promo Videos/Photos section above. These will contain information about potential program events, themed outfits, etc.
  • Forms & Health Forms
    All required forms can be found above in the "Required Documents" drop-down section.
  • Pregnant Campers
    Per the national policy, pregnant campers of any state cannot participate in any of the following activities:
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Water inflatables
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Bicycles
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Water slides
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Obstacle courses
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Dodge ball/volleyball
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Skateboarding
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Wibit Park (inflatables in the water)
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Various relay activities that would be considered “contact”
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - All challenge courses (zip line, ropes course, swing, climbing wall)
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Jacuzzi (The exception to use of the Jacuzzi by pregnant campers would be if the temperature has been reduced to safe levels and authorized by the Rev. 01/25 AS-1001 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 3 of 3 camp physician and the camp director.)
    ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Any other activity deemed by camp staff or the camp director to be dangerous and/or high risk to the participant.