Due to current weather patterns, some smoke from fires outside our area has reached camp. We are monitoring our air quality and will adjust our activities as needed. Please note that camp is safe. We will continue to work closely with our local fire and emergency services personnel in compliance with our established emergency action plans. The safety of all campers is our first priority, and we are excited to welcome guests to camp this summer.
Summer Staff
This volunteer experience is for those who are at least one year out of high school (college age or older). You'll have the opportunity to get to know families, share your experience of Jesus with them and also grow in your own faith! Qualified applicants will be accepted into positions based on the order applications are received. If you have any questions, please contact us.
The Summer Staff application for 2027 will go live by September 1st, 2026! Please click the "apply now" link below!
Our summer 2027 dates are:
1st session: Friday May 21st - Saturday June 19th
2nd session: Saturday June 19th - Saturday July 17th
3rd session: Saturday July 17th - Saturday Aug 7th
Session 1: May 22 - June 21
Session 2: June 20 - July 19
Session 3: July 18 - August 16
To Apply:
Please apply online. You will need the email address of a Young Life staff person who is willing to write a recommendation on your behalf.
Jobs:
- Kids Club Wrangler
- Kitchen
- Administration/Front Desk- requires a completed YL Drivers Questionnaire
- Adventure Guide - requires a current CPR/First Aid certification & completed YL Drivers Questionnaire
- Horse Wrangler - requires a completed YL Drivers Questionnaire
- Lifeguard - requires a current Lifeguard/CPR/First Aid certification
- Jeep Wrangler/Town Runner - must be 20 years of age & requires a current CPR/First Aid certification & completed YL Drivers Questionnaire
- Landscape - requires a completed YL Drivers Questionnaire
- Round Up/Ropes - requires a completed YL Drivers Questionnaire
- Retail (Store, Coffee Shop, Snack Bar and Crafts)
- Sound Tech - requires a completed YL Drivers Questionnaire
Work Crew
This volunteer experience is for those in high school. To be eligible you must have completed one year of high school and complete your local area's work crew training course. Each work crew session is about one month long during the summer.
Recommendations will be open starting September 2026. Please connect with your local Young Life area in order to apply.
Camp will receive these applications from local young life areas and begin placements sometime in March 2027.
Our summer 2027 dates are:
1st session: Friday May 21st - Saturday June 19th
2nd session: Saturday June 19th - Saturday July 17th
3rd session: Saturday July 17th - Saturday Aug 7th
Session 1: May 22 - June 21
Session 2: June 20 - July 19
Session 3: July 18 - August 16
Jobs:
Dining Hall Server, Tawashi (Housekeeping & Laundry), Outdoor Crew, Pits (Dishwashing Crew), Kids Club Wrangler
To Apply:
The application process begins with a Young Life staff recommendation. To apply, please talk with your local Young Life staff.
Adult Volunteer Program
Volunteers have been an integral part of Trail West Lodge since the beginning, over 50 years ago! Thousands of hours of volunteer labor enabled the Lodge to initially open its doors and to continue operations today, touching the lives of families nationwide. As with any camp there are innumerable projects and tasks being completed before, during and after families stay at Trail West Lodge.
We have a list of projects for volunteers, ranging from working in the kitchen or housekeeping to serious construction projects; from small groups to large groups, youth and seniors.
Ways you can be involved:
- Come Volunteer at Trail West! We have various projects around camp that we need help to complete. Please contact the office with details about when and where we're needing help!
- Financial Gifts and Donations are needed to continue operating camp in an excellent manner.
If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to contact the camp office or by calling the camp office at 719-395-2477.
Session 1: May 22 - June 21
Session 2: June 20 - July 19
Session 3: July 18 - August 16
PHysicians Program
Trail West exists to provide families with a meaningful and memorable vacation experience. Each summer, approximately 40 families per week come together to experience camp as a family. To provide the highest level of care for our campers and summer volunteers, we rely on physicians to help meet the medical needs of those at camp. Camp physicians and their families are invited to stay at camp throughout their week of service and enjoy the camp experience alongside the families.
There is no cost to physicians or their families for their stay at camp; the only expense is travel to and from camp.
- Week 1: June 15 - 19
- Week 2: June 20 - 24
- Week 3: June 25 - 29
- Week 4: June 30 - July 4
- Week 5: July 6 - 10
- Week 6: July 11 - 15
- Week 7: July 6 - 20
- Week 8: July 21 - 25
- Week 9 (WL): July 27 - 31
- Week 10 (CPNM): August 1 - 5
- Week 11 (CPNM): August 6 - 10
The application for 2027 is now live, and we will be accepting applications until Friday, September 18th, 2026. Click the "apply now" link below to submit your application!
If you have any questions regarding our physician program please reach out to, Lauren Grap.
The camp physician’s primary role is to provide timely triage assessment of guests who require medical care for an injury or an illness during their week at camp. They direct the course of action in the event of an emergency and decide which patients need to be transferred to the local clinic or hospital. The physician is on call 24/7 for any emergencies. The physician must also adequately document the medical record to reflect the care that has been given. At no time should any physician practice medicine that falls outside of their medical license and level of experience and training.
2027 Work Week
Each May Trail West hosts an annual Work Week to help get camp ready for families to have the most meaningful family vacation. Jobs range from painting, raking, construction, housekeeping and everything in between! Our Work Week here at Trail West is for ages 18+,
There is no fee for the week and lodging and food are provided! Travel to and from Trail West is a personal expense.
Dates for our 2027 Work Week are May 10 - 15, 2027.
Please reach out to Lauren Grap for any information- lgrap@younglife.org
Sign-ups for Work Week will open in October 2026!
Sign Up Link - Coming Soon!
Camp musician Program
Do you love Young Life Camp but can’t really do a month-long camp musician assignment?
Do you have a family and want to experience the most meaningful family vacation ever?
Trail West Lodge, Young Life’s Family Camp in Colorado, is perfect for you. There, you can serve as the camp musician for just one week while your family joins the camp experience. There is no cost for musicians or their families to stay at camp; the only expense is travel to and from camp.
The application for summer 2027 is now live. Click the "apply now" link below to submit your application!
