Safety and Staffing Guidelines

The leaders are free to schedule outdoor activities that are “normal” for teens and their parents.  This includes snow skiing, swimming, hiking, camping, going on retreats, to amusement parks and similar activities.  This excludes hang gliding, skydiving, rock climbing, cliff jumping, and any kind of hunting and any other activity deemed by the parents and youth staff to present an unacceptable risk.

OVERNIGHT EVENTS:

  1. Parent permission slip/medical release form and Commitment to Christ form required.
  2. "Brian's Infopack" to be available at least 2 weeks in advance, giving exact destination, times of departure and arrival, packing list, emergency phone numbers and a list of adult staff attending.
  3. It is assumed that young people attending overnight events/retreats will not leave the event while it is going on.  Exceptions must be specifically addressed with the youth ministry staff.

TRANSPORTATION:

  1. All vehicles taken (church owned or borrowed) will be driven by youth staff approved personnel.  There are a few events during the year that will necessitate transportation that the church will not provide (i.e. Life Group).  In these cases, it is up to the parents to determine if their child should drive “on their own” or not.
  2. Vehicles will not be overloaded.  All those riding will wear seat belts* (when available).
  3. Rowdy behavior (for example wrestling) is not permitted.
  4. The driver of the vehicle has final authority to determine what is safe behavior.

WATER:

  1. Around water where no certified lifeguard is present, an adult will be designated to watch the water for swimmers in trouble or for unsafe behavior.
  2. In lakes with no lifeguards:  Kids must stay within 15 yards of shore unless accompanied by a floatation devise (i.e. inner tube or raft).  No one is allowed to swim across any lake.
  3. No jumping off rocks or trees if higher than 15 ft., and only after an adult has checked the depth and safety of the water below.  No diving allowed.
  4. Water-skiing or boating:  All will wear life jackets.  Outboard will be driven by adults and include a spotter as well.

HIKING:

  1. No off-trail hiking without qualified adult guide.
  2. No one hikes alone.
  3. Mines and caves will not be entered (Unless part of a tour group or guided expedition).
  4. Adult supervision appropriate to the conditions will be provided.
  5. It is recognized that on some day hikes part of the group may choose to relax in the sun, while others want to walk around the lake or otherwise explore.  Those wishing to do so must be with at least one person and will be briefed as to the time they need to be back.
  6. Parents not wishing their son/daughter to be allowed to leave the main group in such fashion should inform their son/daughter accordingly as well as the youth staffers leading the trip.

MALE/FEMALE:

Boys and girls are not allowed in each other’s rooms or tents.  (Exception:  When a group meeting/gathering has been called/approved by one of the leaders and designates a certain room or tent as the meeting place).

STAFFING:

  1. On overnight trips or events 1:7 staff to student ratio.
  2. On day trips 1:10 staff to student ratio.
  3. For junior high age kids, an adult leader will be with the group at all times.  Sr. High age kids will be allowed more responsibilities, but must stay with another youth group member (the buddy system.)
  4. “Staff in Training” (college age) may be used, but are not to be the majority of the staff.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES:

  1. In rare cases where the group splits and goes to separate locations, all staff will have been oriented on emergency procedures including how to reach the person in charge of the event.
  2. At the end of each school year, parents will be provided with a medical services authorization form.  Those who wish, may sign, have the form notarized, and return it to the church office.  These forms will accompany the youth staff on all outings where emergency medical assistance might be required and the parent cannot be notified.