Off-Campus Safety
Driving and Drivers
A minimum of two approved adult volunteers (age 21 or older) must chaperone all offsite officially scheduled events. At least one volunteer must be a primary volunteer with the group traveling offsite (i.e. Youth advisor for YRUU events; Children’s Small Group Leader for Children’s events; etc.) Any person planning to drive youth to an offsite event must be an Approved Driver. Approved Drivers are required to:
a. Complete a Leader Agreement (attached #1) and Code of Ethics (attached #2)
b. Submit to a background check
d. Show proof of a valid driver’s license, and proof of current insurance covering injury and loss of life in their vehicle and other involved vehicles should there be an accident.
e. Have a good driving record
The minimum adult-to-youth ratio for car transportation will be no less than 1:7. If the group size requires only one vehicle, two approved adults must travel in that vehicle. If the trip requires two or more vehicles, only one Approved Driver (serving as the driver) is required in the vehicle, up to a maximum of 7 youth per one adult driver, as long as vehicles have come to an agreement about how to stay in touch. If two or more vehicles are not traveling together in communication, but are instead traveling essentially on their own, two approved adults must travel in each vehicle.
Ten or fifteen passenger vehicles require two approved adults to travel in the vehicle, one of which must be an Approved Driver (serving as the driver). For trips longer than 5 hour or 350 miles away, both adults must be Approved Drivers, so that no single driver will have to drive for too many hours before getting a break.
When youth are carpooling to the event location, transportation will be a personal decision between parents and not subject to FUUC policies.
Field Trips
Parents must sign Field Trip permission form (see attached #8) when children are leaving the church premises for a church sponsored activity. The destination and expected time of return will be posted in the church school office. Leaders will carry the names and emergency contacts with them at all times. There will be a minimum of two adults accompanying children and all drivers must be insured and have a copy of the driver’s license and insurance on file in the RE office. Children 4 and under must be restrained in appropriate child safety seats, and all passengers must wear a seatbelt.
Overnights
When scheduled, overnights will be considered a part of the program and will be planned to promote the mission of the Family Ministry program or Youth group. The primary goal of conducting the overnight must be the emotional safety and well-being of our youth. During an overnight event, all Family Ministry policies remain in effect.
Overnights may only be held on the premises of the Foothills Unitarian Church and each participant will need a signed Overnight Permission Form (attached #7) from his/her parent/guardian.
Overnights will occur on evenings that provide sufficient time the next morning for clean-up and wrap-up of activities. Despite the high energy potential of lock-ins, it is recommended that overnights have lights-out by midnight, to ensure adequate sleep.
The following rules are publicized and followed:
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Overnights will be chaperoned by
Sexualized behavior of any kind is not permitted at the FUUC sanctioned event.
b. Possession or use of Drugs and alcohol are prohibited.
c. All forms of violence, physical, verbal, sexual, or otherwise will not tolerated during any Foothills Unitarian Church sanctioned event. Weapons are not permitted.
d. Separate housing arrangements shall be provided for males and females under the age of eighteen or for others, including gender non-conforming youth at all Foothills Unitarian Church sponsored or financed youth events. Under no circumstances should a planned overnight be announced on the Foothills website or advertised to the general public.
Walking Field Trips
A Walking Field Trip permission form (attached #6) must be signed for children to participate in walking field trips within ½ mile of the church during their Foothills Unitarian Church Sunday morning class.