Young Life has anticipated and is prepared to deal with cases of the flu our 20 camps throughout North and Central America. Our first goal is to ensure a safe and rewarding experience for all camp guests, work crew, summer staff and camp staff. To that end, camp staff and health professionals are committed to working closely with local and state Department of Health officials if and when flu cases are identified.

As cases of the flu arise at Young Life camps this summer, our camp staff will follow the protocols established for such situations. Our camp health professionals will work closely with the Department of Health in counties where our camps are located to determine a course of action that ensures the safety of guests as well as camp staff and volunteers. These steps include isolating the infected individual, administering anti-viral as appropriate and disinfecting high touch surfaces (door knobs, hand rails, counters, etc). With these precautions in place, we are confident that campers, leaders, work crew and summer staff will be as safe at camp as they would be in any public setting.

The state and county health officials our camp staff have been in contact with emphasize that Influenza A (including H1N1) is very similar to the regular seasonal flu. Symptoms include sore throat, cough and fever. We are not to be alarmed by it but need to take precautions to prevent it spreading and to care for those with symptoms. As with any flu, public health officials have cautioned that elderly, pregnant moms, infants and people with weakened immune systems should take extra precautions to avoid exposure. More information about the H1N1 virus from the Centers for Disease Control can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm

We are committed to open and clear communication with current and future camp guests and parents of our volunteers. If you have questions or concerns about your upcoming visit to Trail West or about a child serving on work crew or summer staff, please contact us at Trail West (add contact info).