Chaperone Guidelines

Chaperone Guidelines                 

In the Handbook:

Page 106 (13.6.2) Adult Supervision:                                                                                                                                               “Supervision by an adequate number of responsible adults should be provided for activities for children, youth, and single adults.  The number of adults needed is determined by the size of the group, the skill level of the group (for activities requiring certain skills), anticipated environmental conditions, and the overall degree of challenge of the activity.  Parents should be encouraged to help.” 

1.       Adults 21 or over.

2.       Responsible - approved by the Bishop.

3.       Parents can & should help.

                BUT at least one YM and one YW Presidency member should attend.

                (Exception: If there are no YM attending, a YM’s leader would not be required.  If no YW are      attending, a YW’s leader would not be required.

Page 111 (13.6.24) Travel:   (Second column, third paragraph)                                                                                                       “When Church groups travel in private passenger vehicles, each vehicle should be in safe operating condition, and each person should use a seat belt.  Each driver should be a licensed, responsible adult.  All vehicles and drivers should be covered with reasonable amounts of automobile liability insurance.”

1.       Adults 21 or over.

2.       Approved by the Bishop.

3.       Each person should have a seat belt.

4.       Vehicles should be in safe operating condition and drivers should have liability insurance.

Suggested general ratio of chaperones/youth?  1 adult to each 5 to 6 youth.  This will probably work out to how many drivers that would be needed to car-pool youth to activities anyway. 

We request chaperones accompany youth to classes or activities and generally remain with their youth at dances. 

1.       Stake activities are often a chance for leaders to interact with their youth.  In a Stake or Multi-Stake activity they usually do not have an assignment and can take time to observe and interact with their youth taking advantage of the opportunity to form stronger bonds with their youth.

2.       Stake Leaders are often busy teaching, conducting, or organizing activities at these functions and cannot be aware of each and every youth.  

3.       Ward Leaders will usually know the individual youth and the individual youth’s circumstances and can more appropriately interact (even when disciplining) their youth.  They will generally know who might be more likely to need more supervision or guidance.  They will be aware of the status of individuals that come with them (ex. Inactive, non-member, etc.)  They are more likely to recognize that a youth (their youth) is missing from the activity.                 

4.       Please note that leaders/chaperones may have assignments or responsibilities assigned to them to help make the activity safe or successful. 

5.       We request chaperones let activity leaders know if they need to leave the building for any reason, so we will know to cover for you in watching your youth if a problem arises.  We would appreciate a cell phone number – just in case.