St. Louis TFC Bible Quizzing Safety Policies for Trips Effective January 2006 The following policies apply to off-site events which we attend as a group (Quiz Camp, Regional and National Tournaments): 1. NEVER ALONE!! This is the most important rule, to which there are NO exceptions. ALWAYS stay with the group, or with two other people. Older boys (age 16 and up) may travel in pairs. Girls of all ages, and boys under age 16 must travel in groups of three or more when possible. This applies to moving about the hotel, and going to different restaurants or gas stations at road stops. A quizzer should never be left alone in a hotel room for any reason. If a quizzer is sick, arrangements should be made for an adult to stay with him/her. 2. NO “AIMLESS WANDERING”. Hotels are not playgrounds. Quizzers, even in groups of three or more, should not be allowed to wander the halls out of boredom. Groups of quizzers should only leave their adult chaperones after receiving permission, for a specific reason, for a specified period of time. Quizzers: Do NOT walk away from your coach (or other adult) and yell back over your shoulder where you’re going, hoping that he/she heard you! Make eye contact, and make sure you have permission to leave your coach, and that you have told him/her where you will be and when you will return. Adults: Know where your quizzers are at all times. When they ask to leave you, get specific information about where they are going and when they will return. If they can’t give you specifics, do not let them go. Limit their time away from you, depending upon their age and where they are going. Younger quizzers (ages 11-13) especially should be closely supervised by adults. They should not go to different floors of the hotel, to rooms of people not with our ministry, or be gone for long periods of time, without adult supervision. They may be allowed to visit friends from our ministry in a room nearby if they tell you where they are going and travel in groups of two or three. This is up to your discretion. 3. HOTEL SWIMMING POOLS. Groups of quizzers should only be allowed to go to the pool if an adult from our ministry is present. If an adult does not wish to go to the pool with his/her quizzers, they should make arrangements with another adult to supervise them. If this is not possible, the quizzers should not go to the pool. We should have enough adults with us on trips that we can work together, allowing quizzers to be involved in different activities without leaving them unsupervised. 4. BEWARE OF STRANGERS! This may sound a bit juvenile to pre-teens and teens, but we couldn’t be more serious. At quiz tournaments, you will be meeting and spending time with lots of strangers. This is acceptable and even encouraged, as long as you stay with your group and follow the rules. This is the point: quizzers should NEVER go off with strangers to hotel rooms or other parts of a hotel or other building, even in their group of three. If an adult unknown to a quizzer approaches him/her, the quizzer should be polite, but keep a safe distance. Stay in common, open areas of the hotel, or immediately go back to your room or with your large group, always staying with your group of three. (Continued on Page 2)

SUMMARY: Quizzers: Your coach or adult chaperone deserves and expects your respect and full cooperation at all times. Have a willing and grateful attitude toward them, because they are giving unselfishly of their time and energy to serve you. Respect the property of others. Do not run or “rough-house” indoors, as this often leads to injury, destruction of property, or disturbing other patrons of the hotel, restaurant, etc. There will be consequences if you choose to disregard these policies or any instructions given you by an adult. Remember that you are a representative of Jesus Christ, St. Louis Teens for Christ, and Bible quizzing. Please conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of this association. Adults: Rest assured that the quiz staff is behind you completely as you abide by these guidelines. We stress again that they are for the well-being of the quizzers. Because behavioral expectations and personal safety rules will differ from family to family, it is vitally important that all adults involved in the quiz program are committed to following and enforcing the policies described in this document. Since it is impossible to include every detail or situation, our best advice is to err on the side of caution when in doubt. You may also contact a staff member for clarification. Quizzers must be convinced that we are serious about these policies, and that infractions will not be ignored. If a quizzer disregards these rules or your instructions, take immediate action, such as restricting social or swimming time. You should also require the quizzer to have constant adult supervision until he/she has regained your trust. If you have continual disciplinary problems with any quizzer, please contact Tim Ward. Please sign below, detach, and turn the signed portion in to your coach. **Make multiple copies of this signature page for siblings on different teams.** Please keep the other information and read it thoroughly before Regionals and Nationals.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“My signature below indicates that I have read this document and agree to abide by/enforce the policies described herein.” ___________________________________________________________________ Quizzer Signature Date ___________________________________________________________________ Quizzer Signature Date ___________________________________________________________________ Quizzer Signature Date ___________________________________________________________________ Quizzer Signature Date ___________________________________________________________________ Parent Signature Date ___________________________________________________________________ Adult Chaperone Signature Date St. Louis TFC Bible Qizzing Safety Policies for Trips, 1/05 Page 2