Before we jump in, we want to pause and thank you. Thank you for showing up in the lives of hurting teenagers with the HOPE of the Gospel. Thank you for sharing the LOVE of Jesus with them as you build friendships. Thank you for continuing to pursue them in the middle of chaos. The work is certainly not easy, but it is so important. We pray that your time at Southwind will be a breath of fresh air and will provide your HS and MS friends the opportunity to experience adventure, laugh, and hear about the greatest Story ever told.
There is a lot of information. However, we have worked hard to ensure that unnecessary information or to-dos have been left out. Hopefully, everything included here will keep you informed and make it as easy as possible to get to Southwind this year.
If you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to reach out.
General Information
Night 1 leader meeting will be required.
Airport Runs: We are unable to provide airport transportation this summer.
Program & Camp Director Letter
SESSION ONE
- Program Letter: Coming Late Spring
- Camp Director Letter: Coming Late Spring
SESSION TWO
- Program Letter: Coming Late Spring
- Camp Director Letter: Coming Late Spring
Trip Leader Scoop Sheet
Area Camp Trip Survey
Please fill out the Area Camp Trip Survey.
Other Areas Your Week
Want to see which other areas will be at Southwind your week? On your camp trip in YLCC, click the dropdown arrow in the top right and select "Camp Trips by Week". This will show you every trip at the camp you are attending organized by week. If you want to see all camp trips, check out the Camp Reservation Report found on the Camp Home page. Adjust the filters at the top of the report to find the data you're looking for.
Arrival & Departure
ARRIVAL: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM EST
DEPARTURE: 11:00 AM EST
*Please schedule your departure bus to arrive between 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM EST on day of departure
Campers Leaving Early: A Permission to Leave Camp Early Form must be completed with the signature of a parent or guardian for all campers who are leaving camp with someone other than the trip leader (they may or may not be leaving early). This will be required by the camp along with a copy of the ID of the person picking the camper up. We cannot allow a camper to leave without these things.
Camp Spot Information
- Adding Spots and Waitlist - To request additional spots in a camp week, contact the camp office. If spots are not available, the area will be placed on the Wait-to-Add list. If spots become available, the area must take the waitlist spots or be removed from the list.
- Dropping Spots and Waiting to Drop - After R2 is returned, areas wanting to drop spots must either trade the spots away to another area or go on the Wait-to-Drop list. The area is financially accountable for Wait-to-Drop spots, unless another area picks up the spots.
- Trading Camp Spots - Areas wishing to drop camp spots can trade those spots away to another area through the camp office. Camps will honor trades between areas up until the day before the camp week begins. To complete a trade, all areas involved must confirm the trade with the camp office via email. A new DocuSign Contract will be created for each area.
Reservation Check In & YLCC Registration
10 Days Before Arrival:
Your area's 10-Day Call-In Form - Due 10 days prior to arrival by 8:00AM EST.
48 Hours Before Arrival:
- All Registrations must be done with their housing in YLCC - Due 2 days prior to your arrival by 8:00AM EST. Follow this link to review instructions on how to use the Camp Trip Arrival Form in YLCC.
Day of Arrival:
- Day 1 Call-In - No form is required. You will call the Southwind Office by 10:00 AM on the day you arrive with ETA, final number breakdown, and any changes.
- You will text in a Trip Leader group chat an hour before your arrival to schedule a specific arrival time. You must check in everyone on your Arrival Form and DO NOT lock your Arrival Form in YLCC before arriving. Follow this link for instructions on how to check people in at the bus.
Want to know the exact date for when the above tasks are due?
Housing
- WyldLife camping does not provide linens ((i.e. pillows, washcloth, bedding, and towels), see packing list.
- Cabins at Southwind hold 12-16 beds.
- Cabins can be filled to capacity this summer. Floor mattresses may be available based on need.
- Your area might be sharing a room with people from a different area depending on capacity, our Head Leaders will try to give you prior notice to this.
- Housekeeping will clean bathrooms and hot spots daily.
- Housing requests must be completed in YLCC and available to camp through the 48 Hours Form before arrival - there is no guarantee that we can accommodate these requests. You have the ability to submit two housing preferences via YLCC.
Dining Hall
- Leaders are encouraged to enter the dining hall 5 minutes before meals to direct campers to their assigned tables (table assignments will be done by area).
- Ask your server to receive you or your campers special diet meal.
- If you have campers or leaders with special dietary needs, please direct them to complete the online Special Dietary Request Form.
Retail
- We now accept P-Cards in the store and snack bar!
- If you have parents, friends, or committee members who want to purchase gift cards for your area, they can via the Online Gift Card Form: Click Here
- We will hold onto the gift cards in the store or snack bar so that your students do not have to be responsible for it!
Free Time, Rides & Activities
Here is a list of what will be offered:
- Frisbee golf
- Pools
- Waterslide
- Splash Fountain
- Stand-Up Paddle Boards
- Canoes
- Game Room
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Octoball Courts
- Giant Swing
- Gator Ball (Cabin Ride)
- Bike Course (Cabin Ride)
- Southwind Outfitters - The Store
- Charlie's Country Store - The Snack Bar
Medications & Heath Forms
The Health Consent and Release Form is REQUIRED for all persons attending camp. The state of Florida does not require a doctor's signature on the form.
If a parent accidently submits the Health Form under their name instead of their child's name, please submit a request to change the name --> Health Form Name Change Request
WyldLife: For security and safety reasons, ALL medications (prescription and over-the-counter) need to be bagged and labeled prior to arrival. We will collect all medications upon arrival at Southwind, except for birth control, emergency medications, EpiPens, inhalers. Medications will be held and distributed by the Infirmary throughout the week and will be returned at the end of the week. Please make sure that all medications and/or food allergies are listed on health forms.
Summer Camp Leader Orientation
All leaders will be required to complete the Summer Camp Leader Orientation via Young Life Access. There are two training tracks, one for returning leaders and one for new leaders. Please reference information on sending out those training's on Staff Resources: Summer Camp Leader Orientation
Policies
Electronics
- Please collect, tag, and box your campers’ personal electronic devices prior to arrival at camp. We will store them for you when your bus is unloaded.
- In addition, a national policy has been established that cell phones or Apple watches are not to be used while at camp, and they will be collected at the same time as portable music players.
- As you communicate with parents, please make them aware that campers cannot be contacted by cellular telephone. Our office will be glad to pass on any messages to campers and phones are available for outgoing calls.
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. Please refer to the Controlled Substances policy (AS-802) for more information.