Updated September 15, 2022
General guidance is provided below for any Young Life activities you plan. Please review the following recommendations provided by the CDC, as well as your state and local guidance.
If you have questions, please contact Young Life’s Risk Management staff at 719-867-3600 or riskmanagement@sc.younglife.org.
General Guidance
Communicate with Parents. Please communicate with parents to let them know that Young Life has developed a set up precautions for in-person activities to keep kids safe. Review this information on our Parent Information page and adhere to all that is required.
Follow State/Local Guidance. Check state or local guidance/requirements regarding youth sports and games and assign at least one person to monitor guidance from the CDC and State/Local Department of Health guidance regarding preventing the spread of COVID-19 and how to manage activities appropriately.
Stay Home if Sick or Exposed. Kids, staff and volunteers should not attend in-person Young Life activities if they are sick, have symptoms or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or another infectious/contagious illness. Check the COVID-19 Exposure Resources to see when someone can attend in-person events after being sick or being in close-contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Masks. Young Life follows the CDC's mask guidance. If transmission in your community is low or medium, masks are not necessary, but can be used based on personal preference (they are recommended if you are considered high-risk or immunocompromised). If you live in a high-risk area masks are recommended when indoors in a public place. If you live in an area where the state/local guidance is stricter than the CDC's guidance, your priority should be to follow state/local mask guidance.
Use the following tool to determine your community's risk-level: COVID-19 County Check
Handwashing. Encourage all participants to wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before and after any sport or recreational activities, before/after eating, and after using the restroom.
Positive COVID Test. Staff and volunteers should follow Young Life's guidance on what to do when someone who attended a Young Life event tests positive for COVID-19.
Outside is Best. Sport and recreational activities are best played outside due to the increased air movement.
Procedures for someone who gets sick/injured. Medical professionals or offsite medical facilities should be designated to respond to individuals who become injured during an activity or who present with symptoms of COVID-19. Leaders and staff supervising the activity or event are to be informed in advance of the arrangements for medical assistance including how to summon emergency medical assistance (such as 9-1-1).
Posters/Signage. Consider how you might incorporate the use of relevant posters and signage from the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and/or other health-based organizations in order to encourage behaviors that mitigate the spread of disease: COVID-19 information; Handwashing; Cough etiquette; Symptoms associated with COVID-19; Stop the spread of germs; Physical Distancing.
Social Media/Area Website. Areas should be mindful about the pictures that they post on their social media pages, to ensure that they reflect the requirements set forth in this guidance. Please also post a link on the area’s website or social media accounts to our Parent Info page.
YoungLives
All the general guidance (above) should be followed, as well as these specific precautions:
- Babies 8 weeks and older can attend gatherings.
- Health screening and temperature checks upon arrival is recommended for anyone attending an in-person YoungLives event.
- Organize staggered drop-off and pick-up procedures to minimize large groups. If possible, drop off children outside and have a childcare worker take them to childcare room locations.
- Create a package of toys for each child (hard toys; no soft items or books). Each package should be stored separately and sanitized at the end of each gathering. No toys should be brought in from outside sources.
- Designate a space for diaper bags and infant car seats to be stored away from children.
- Outdoor play times should be staggered. Maintain groups and sizing, and disinfect the play structures between groups, when possible.
Please contact your Divisional Coordinator for additional info or questions.
Capernaum
All the general guidance (above) should be followed, as well as these specific precautions:
- Health screening and temperature checks upon arrival is recommended for anyone attending an in-person Capernaum event.
- Organize staggered drop-off and pick-up procedures to minimize large groups. If possible, drop off students outside and have a leader/buddy take them to the activity location.
- Create a package of items that will be used at the activity for each student. Each package should be stored separately and sanitized at the end of each gathering. No items should be brought in from outside sources.
- Designate a location for bags and personal items to be stored away from students.
Please contact your Divisional Coordinator for additional info or questions.
General Activity Guidance
- The level of sport activities allowed at any Young Life event will be within the guidelines established by the local county or State. This may vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
- Young Life recommends that sport and recreational activities, games and competitions be planned to incorporate opportunities for participants to complete in small groups whenever possible.
- Sport equipment is to be disinfected after use each use.
Activities to Avoid
- Avoid activities that involve close or extended periods of personal contact. Sport, recreational activities, mixers and skits that involve frequent close and extended periods of personal contact should be avoided.
- Avoid Young Life’s Banned Activities. Young Life’s list of banned games remains in effect. Any and all activities must comply with the Banned Activities policy (AS-706) as well as Young Life’s High-Risk Activities policy (AS-705).
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