Mexico Safety Statement

S.A.L.T. Mission Camps is absolutely committed to the safety, well-being, and health of all our participants. We understand that international travel can trigger concerns – especially when considering minor travelers. Over the years, we have refined a system to ensure maximum supervision of all S.A.L.T. Mission Camps participants and clear communication among our staff.

Click HERE to read testimonials from youth pastors and sponsors about their experience with S.A.L.T. Mission Camps.

Mexico Travel Concerns & Our Position:

Drug Violence:  We are very aware of the recent heightened media attention on Mexico and the border region. It is our job to stay as informed as possible about these locations, reasons for increased violence, and where we should or should not be. In making the decision to continue offering our trips in 2010, we have considered the following:

• Relationship with Mexican Nazarene Church Leaders:  S.A.L.T. Mission Camps has partnered heavily with Mexican Nazarene leaders for four years now. These leaders and their families live and work in the very areas that we will be spending our time and they know far better than we do the context and realities of their communities.The S.A.L.T. Mission Camps Office and these leaders meet frequently to discuss all aspects of our trips. We are consistently impressed with their level of communication, coordination, and savvy. Over the years, our work together has resulted in strong friendships of trust on both sides. We rely on their insights to determine where we will serve and live for each trip. Their wisdom gives us confidence and we follow their guidance. We have been assured that we will be in safe neighborhoods and areas for the duration of the trips.

• 2011 Ensenada Location: We select our trip locations over a year in advance. Monthly, we have been evaluating both locations with our Mexican hosts and continue to affirm that we will be in peaceful areas in 2010. The reports of violence you may have heard are not coming from the areas we will be.

• Reports of Violence & Our Discernment Process: While we certainly don't want to diminish the severity of the drug gang war raging in Northern Mexico, we do want to ease your fears about attending or sending your teen on S.A.L.T. Mission Camps. We make it our job to stay aware and current with the real situation at the border. The violence being reported is targeted specifically at members of warring gangs and wealthy/politically-influential residents. Tourists are not a part of this equation. In fact, no tourist has been victimized by the organized crime forces at work.

2011 Location:
Our Mexico location for this year’s trip, Ensenada, was chosen because of our well-established relationship with Ensenada Nazarene Churches. The area is stable and peaceful. After meeting at Point Loma, all U.S. participants will travel along the Baja coast an hour south of the border to our secure camp site in Ensenada.

Safety at Camp:
For the week, we will base at a campground in Ensenada. We ensure a safe experience while at camp through several means. We employ a registered nurse to travel with us and also stay at secure campgrounds staffed with administrators and guards. Teens are divided into “teams” for the week in order to easily track every single participant. All teens are supervised at all times of the day, with PLNU student staff monitoring their small groups along with adult chaperones from attending youth groups. In addition, Mexican leadership, pastors, and adult sponsors will accompany us throughout the trip. Whether we are serving out in the community, relaxing during the evening free time hour, debriefing the day in small groups, and even when sleeping, there is a constant adult presence with all teens.

Emergency Precautions & Health Care Plan:
In case of emergency, we guarantee that we will provide active response and excellent communication.We will have access to all student info and consent forms while on the trip – both in original form and as copies on file with our staff at the main office at Point Loma Nazarene University. This ensures we have all relevant information on each participant, as well as who to contact if needed. We also open a full travel health care policy for each participant, and can easily take care of any medical needs that may arise. Lastly, our dedication to safety includes wisely ending the trip or changing the plan if a situation so calls for a more drastic response.

Special S.A.L.T. Mission Camps Staff Provisions:
The S.A.L.T. Mission Camps Office sends staff on the trip with cell phones with international dialing plans. Each team also has leaders with phones. Every morning, the entire staff meets as a unit to report on all teams and stay generally informed. The S.A.L.T. Mission Camps Camp Director, Melissa Tucker, is bilingual, which enables better communication and planning.In addition, the PLNU student staff is made up of many bilingual speakers and several will be placed on each team to facilitate communication. All parents/legal guardians will receive a letter from the S.A.L.T. Mission Camps Office prior to the trip with our emergency contact info and instructions on how to reach us while on the trip.

Please know that we understand that it is a big decision to entrust your youth group, child, or yourself to our care and protection. If you would like to speak to us about any concerns or talk over the information listed here, please don't hesitate to contact our office: 619-849-2929.