Trip Leaders, we are grateful for the time and energy you have invested in knowing kids. We are looking forward to serving you at Malibu this summer. As you prepare for your trip, please use the information below to plan.
Please give us a call (778-331-7944 office), send us an email (malibuclub@malibu.younglife.org) if you have any questions!
Quick List of Documents
Plan Your Malibu Camp Trip!
Contracts, Camp Cost & Camp Webconnex
Malibu uses the nationally-managed camping contract system. For all general questions about contract timing, financial obligation and managing your summer camp trips, please see the Staff Resources page here!
Go here for information on camp fees and financial accountability. Don't forget the Princess fee! It is in addition to your camp fee and is applied to everyone traveling to and from Malibu Club.
Go Here for help setting up your Webconnex page! Please follow instructions here for adding a Border Crossing Agreement to your Webconnex.
Parent Communication - What should parents expect?
The Malibu Fact Sheet makes a great base for a parent newsletter or a trip meeting with campers and parents. Remind parents that Malibu is remote and has very limited communication! They should not expect to hear from their kids during the camp week. Please make sure parents are aware of the stipulations for payment of medical services rendered in BC in the event of an emergency more serious than we can tend to on-site. It is noted below in the Health Forms section.
Parents should also understand that Malibu won't pay any import fees on care packages sent to camp. All packages sent with any duty or fees owed will be refused and returned to sender.
Getting to and from Malibu - Travel Logistics
- Go from home to the Canadian border. The Pacific Highway truck stop is preferred and will know you are coming.
- Drive through Vancouver to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal of the BC Ferries. The camp office will provide you with a reservation for this leg.
- Drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours up the Sunshine Coast Highway to Egmont (pop. ~150) and follow signs to the Malibu Landing at 6545 Maple Road.
- You will leave your bus/vehicle at the Landing and board a vessel on foot, probably the Malibu Princess or a Water Taxi
- Plan to be at the Malibu Landing by 12 PM for a 12:30 Princess departure.
- Take a leisure cruise up the Jervis Inlet where you will then arrive at the docks of the Malibu Club
- Do it all in reverse on your way home! You will arrive back at the Landing at/around 4 PM to begin your journey home.
It is the responsibility of the Area and Trip Leader to plan their vehicle transportation to and from the Malibu Landing. Malibu staff will communicate the time for the Princess departure and return arrival at the Landing; this will inform your bus contracts so your buses know when to drop you off and pick you up. In addition, Malibu staff will make charter bus reservations for the Horseshoe Bay Ferry for buses carrying campers to camp and carrying campers home from camp and will give each charter bus a reservation time and number. The Area is responsible for paying for the reservation and for making arrangements for empty-bus "deadhead" ferry reservations, either directly with BC Ferries or with their bus company.
Traveling on the Horseshoe Bay Ferry
The Horseshoe Bay passenger ferry will take your group across Horseshoe Bay. The ferry is about 45 minutes long and your payment northbound will cover your group round-trip. Reservations will be issued for charter buses but all vans and cars will need their own reservation. Please tell Malibu about your charter bus so Malibu can give you a reservation number! If your bus is a surprise to us, your reservation will not exist. Reservations are strongly strongly recommended for all private vehicles and vans! Please plan to arrive at the ferry at least 30 minutes prior to your reservation sailing or you will lose your reservation. If you do not have a reservation, plan on arriving for an earlier sailing and pray for standby!
It is between you and your bus driver if you the trip leader will pay for the ferry upon arrival or if it's included in your contract. Some bus companies include it in the contract, some do not. Preloading an Experience Card can give a small discount.
Once onboard the ferry, please keep tabs on your campers. Check in with the Chief Steward's office to let them know who you are and how to page you if there's an incident. There is a small hot-food cafeteria and grab-n-go deli onboard. Young Life's relationship with the ferries is integral to camping at Malibu. Please keep this in mind regarding the behavior and language of your group while onboard!
Traveling on the Princess
The Malibu Princess is Young Life's passenger ferry. The Princess and smaller water taxis transport everyone to and from Malibu Camp and Malibu Landing, about a three hour boat ride. You do not need to "book" the Princess; your passage is part of your camp trip! The cost of passage will be added to your camp fees on your Area transfer after camp. The Princess cannot wait for late passengers, so if you miss it you will be responsible for additional cost of booking an extra boat.
The Princess will depart from the Landing at 1 PM to take you to Malibu. The Princess will return you to the Landing at 4 PM after camp. Your buses should be at the landing by 12:00 PM to drop you off for camp and should return by 3:30 PM to pick you up after camp.
Don't miss your ferry or the Princess! The additional charges for extra charter boats can be significant. Give yourself plenty of time to cross the border and watch your itinerary before planning stops for meals.
Border Information
We want to make this as smooth of a process for you as possible. This is going to take a little extra effort. Please pour over the information below. If you have questions, call the camp office at 778-331-7944 or email the camp office at malibuclub@malibu.younglife.org.
What the CANADIAN Border Wants
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At the Port of Entry (border crossing):
- Only one person from the vehicle or bus should speak to the border officers on what steps to take next.
- Have all ID and guardian consent forms available and well organized in a binder or bin.
- Customs clearance slip that your bus company will provide if travelling by commercial bus. (If traveling by private / church bus or by 16-passenger van, you will not have this form. Tell Customs you do not have this form and that you are not a commercial company and they will let you through.)
- Adults on the trip are called Chaperones, NOT Leaders.
- Only Legal Adults, aged 19 or over are chaperones, everyone 18 and under are campers.
- None of you are coming to work at the camp.
Canada Border Services Criminal Record Checks:
- Canada Border Services runs their own background checks on pretty much everyone coming to camp except the campers themselves. This includes chaperones coming with students. Be aware of anyone on your trip who is of legal age and has a record. They may be detained at the border, and possibly refused entry.
- We will not know background check results until you show up at the border. The results will be waiting for you at the border. DUIs, being caught with a fake ID in the past, a simple misdemeanor in your home state that is not a misdemeanor in BC can all stop you from gaining entry into the country!
- Leaders are able to apply for entry ahead of time, something you would want them to look into for themselves now so it does not hold your entire trip up at the border and cause you to miss the ferry. It can take up to a year for that process, so the person themselves should speak to an Immigration lawyer as soon as possible to find out what needs to be done.
Please provide the following information for each of your Chaperones (YL Leaders) to the Malibu Office 14 days before your camp trip at the very latest: Legal First Name, Legal Middle Name(s), Legal Last Name, Date of Birth, Sex.
- Feel free to send the Chaperone list earlier if you have your Chaperone/Leader list complete and there will be no further additions. Drops are fine. Leader additions cannot happen after the 14-day prior to arrival mark.
- The border does not give us allowances for weekends.
- We will be sending out reminder emails along the way letting you know this information will be due soon. Emails will go to the addresses listed on Staff Resources.
- Please check in with us to ensure we have updated names on file for your trip coordinators/trip leader.
Identification for Proof of Citizenship:
It is up to your area to determine what identification is required of students based on the information below.
Please see the Government of Canada webpage (section on International Visitors to Canada)
- The best option is always a valid passport (this is the only option given on the government webpage)
- Passports must be intact, no loose pages or lose cover.
- Passports should expire 6 months after the return date of your trip. - Other options would be machine readable/scannable ID
- enhanced driver's license
- passport card, or
- Nexxus pass.
-"Real ID" is NOT one of these options as it does not show citizenship documentation within it - Least desired that will slow border processing down (and Canada Border Services continues to verbalize that they would like to see this option taken out)
- original or certified birth certificate and government issued photo ID
Parental/Guardianship Consent Form
We provide an excel document as a resource for you to document parental consent to take the students to Canada. The purpose is to show that you are not stealing a bus load of teenagers. We do not want anything in this document turned into us at camp. It is simply a resource to help you. Please keep it in a separate binder for your return trip home. According to Canada Border Services, it must be an original parental signature.
What the US Border Wants
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At the Port of Entry (border crossing):
- Only one person from the vehicle or bus should speak to the border officers to get directions on what steps to take next.
- Have all ID and guardian consent forms available and well organized in a binder or bin.
- Customs clearance slip that your bus company will provide if travelling by bus.
- Proof of Citizenship
The best proof of citizenship is always a valid passport.
- Passports must be intact, no loose pages or lose cover.
- Passports must expire at very least 6 months after the date of your trip.
Other options would be machine readable/scannable ID such as enhanced driver's license, passport card, or a Nexxus pass. Again, a birth certificate plus photo ID is still accepted but not recommended and neither US nor CDN borders want to deal with them; they may be very vocal about their dislike upon your arrival at the border!
Parental / Guardianship Consent Form:
- Use the same Consent documents as you did for entering Canada. Please do not throw these away or leave them at Malibu when you arrive here. You will need them for the return trip home.
Non-U.S. Citizen Guests
- Please make sure that you have checked with the latest requirements for any students or leaders in your group who either do not have a U.S. passport, or who are dual passport holders. You will need to stay abreast of all changes that occur in U.S. Immigration policies and how it will affect people in your group, particularly if you have people with valid student visas, work visas, or green cards understand that their status in the U.S. could change at a moment's notice.
Undocumented Students
- Someone who is undocumented means that, although they were born in the States, due to their family situation, they have no proof at all of citizenship. We are delighted that you are walking alongside these often marginalized youth. We would highly recommend not removing any undocumented students from America to bring them to camp. They will probably gain entry to Canada but it is a very good possibility that they will not be able to return to America. You should plan a trip to another Young Life camp within the U.S. for any undocumented Americans.
Required Documentation - Useful Links
Pre-Camp Trip Leader Survey - Tell us about your camp trip, demographics, any concerns and favorite music! This information will be passed to program teams and camp directors.
Health Form - Required for everyone on the trip! DO NOT leave home until you have 100% of your health forms complete! Be sure to have your travel short forms printed in case they are needed while you are traveling!
Parent Border-Crossing Consent Form - Required for everyone under the age of 19 on your camp trip, signed by both parent/guardians if at all possible
Permission to Leave Camp Early Form - Required for any alternative transportation to Malibu (seaplane, friend's sailboat, etc.) you MUST tell Malibu about any alternative travel plans! Do not make this a surprise!
Bus on the Ferry Form - Used to tell camp about your charter bus so we can give you a ferry reservation. If your bus is a Surprise to us, you will NOT have a ferry reservation!
Chaperone List - used by Malibu to tell the border about your trip!
14-Day Form - Tell us about your camp trip and submit your chaperone lists here! Due 14 days before you depart for Malibu Club!
Parent Information Letter - a useful starting point for talking to parents about their kids' Malibu camp trip!
Malibu Store Gift Cards - Kids MUST know about their gift card beforehand; cards cannot be a Surprise. Best to bring printed receipt to redeem them at camp. Help us go cashless! Debit and credit cards work great at Malibu too!
Document Submission Timeline:
- Complete the Pre-Camp Survey as soon as you have the information to do so!
- 14 Days before camp trip, send us the Chaperone List for your trip. This is required by the Canadian border patrol and GREATLY speeds up your trip! If you do not submit it to Malibu on time for Malibu to give it to the border, your trip may be stopped at the border!
- 14 Days before your camp trip, complete the 14-Day "Call-In" Form and tell us about your housing needs, if you want an Area tab, and more relevant information!
- 2 Days before your camp trip, complete your Housing & Registration form in YL Connect! Ensure your trip is fully registered, everyone's 2nd timer status is correct and all campers and leaders are housed according to your trip's preferences. Find all your health forms! Check here if you need help!
- Have with you on your trip: Parent Permission Forms, Travel Short Forms, Ferry Reservation Numbers, box for camper phones
- At Camp, confirm your housing, your registration list, and your camp trip receipt! Make sure any changes are clearly marked.
Camper / Leader Life at Malibu
Phones and Internet
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Phones
Campers will not have their phones with them at camp! Leaders may choose to keep their phones but should not plan on having wifi. There is no cell service at camp. Please notify your friends and family, any work contacts and the parents of your campers that your entire group will be out of contact while you are at camp.
Malibu has one single satellite "landline" phone reserved for emergencies and life-required communication. Campers may NOT use this phone unless accompanied by a leader who aggress that their need to call falls under the "emergency / required-for-life" heading.
Internet
There is extremely limited wifi at Malibu. The password may be used to temporarily activate a phone for emergency/required communication. Leaders may discuss their need for internet access with Head Leaders, who will determine if the need qualifies for internet use.
Incoming Calls & Messages
If a parent or family member of a camper or leader needs to communicate with them while they are at camp, they can call the camp office or send an email. Messages fall into two categories: "Emergency/time-sensitive" and "non-emergency." Emergency messages will be given to Head Leaders to be delivered as soon as possible, while non-emergent messages will be delivered at the next meal or leader meeting.
Malibu strongly recommends no care packages be sent to camp this year due to changes in tariffs and rising cost of import fees. Malibu will not pay any import tax, fee or tariff payments on personal packages; those packages will be refused at the border and will not be delivered to camp.
Retail & Area Tabs
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The retail and concession areas during your camp trip include:
- Canteen on the Princess voyage
- Hamilton's Standard - Coffee Shop
- Inn - Ice Cream Parlour and Snack Shop
- Trader - Clothing, Gifts, and Books
- Bead Hut - Crafts
Payment Types Accepted at Camp
All retail areas accept both U.S. and Canadian currency, checks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The canteen on the Princess accepts cash. All change is given in Canadian cash; no US change may be given. Many U.S. debit cards will flip to credit when you cross the border, and if credit has been disabled on the card it will decline at time of purchase. Have campers and leaders check the settings on their credit cards prior to departing home. There is no ATM at camp.
Buy online Malibu store gift cards here. Please no "surprise cards," as if the camper does not know they have a gift card on file, they will not know to ask for it at the register and it will go unused!
Area Tabs
We would love to help you set up Area Tabs in the Totem Inn (snack shop) and Hamilton's (coffee) so your leaders can enjoy one-on-ones. We will only charge you for the amount that you spend (eg. if your tab was made for $100, but you only use $60, then we'll only charge the $60). Tabs set up in the stores with cash or credit card won't get refunded automatically, only the Internal Transfer Area Tabs will be refunded at the end of the week.
Please include any internal transfer tab requests on your ten-day form! All Internal Transfer amounts will be set up in Canadian Dollars.
Health Insurance
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In the event of a medical emergency greater than our on-site providers can cover, a guest will be transported to the hospital. The BC health care system is not able to directly bill American insurance companies so payment for all medical services is due upon services rendered. When the patient returns home, they can submit the receipt to their health insurance company for reimbursement.
Lost & Found
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Lost and Found items are collected throughout the summer, sorted and washed and stored to be claimed. Please use the Lost & Found form to submit a description of any lost items! Items will be mailed back to owner at owner's expense.
What to Pack
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Malibu Club provides all bedding for your stay (sheets, towels, pillows, and blankets).
Make sure to bring:
- Clothes that you can get dirty
- Warmer clothes for the evening
- Closed-toed shoes for some of the activities
- At least one pair of long pants for some of the activities
- One nice outfit
- Toiletries
- Bathing suit and towel for the pool
- Rain jacket
- Sunscreen
- Spending money, credit card that works in Canada
- Camera
- Medicine
- Passport and any other government required documents for entering a foreign country
Cabin Leader check your program letter for any additional items!
Infirmary
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The Infirmary is usually covered by at least one BC licensed physician, and either a second BC licensed physician, or nurse or paramedic. They are available for general health ailments that come up through the camp week during clinic hours that are for half an hour after breakfast and half an hour after dinner. For emergency situations, they will be contacted by camp staff.
Medications
Campers with prescription medications will come in to the infirmary on Main Street between 4:30 and 5:00 after arrival to meet with the medical team and turn prescription medications in. The medical team will make a plan with the leader and camper at that time based on what is needed for each student’s medical needs.
