Unit Manual Section 8 - Education

Category: Unit Manuals

Published date: Apr 12, 2024

EDUCATION

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) aims to be a leading provider of educational programming for aviation, STEM, and WWII history content. Through exposure to historical aircraft, aviation careers, and archival materials students will participate in learning programs that honor the past and prepare them for the future. CAF programs are designed for students from Pre-K through high school graduation. The goals for education programming and activities are to:

• Provide experience and exposure at every stage, including pre-kindergarten learners, to students ready to embark on aviation-related careers. • Inspire and foster the development of 21st Century professional skills, specifically communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and citizenship, through aviation and/or history-related learning. • Build STEM skills through an understanding of aircraft design, science of flight, and systems management. • Use the CAF’s collection of unique WWII aircraft and artifacts to demonstrate the commitment of the entire nation during World War II • Create a pipeline of high school graduates with employable skills in aviation, including within the areas of flight, aircraft maintenance, and aviation operations. • Be the go-to resource for Career Technical Education (CTE) aviation-related programs, including hands-on experience, student internships, flight experience and building mechanical comprehension.

Units are encouraged to host students in informal settings, such as scouting, and work with formal education by inviting classrooms and clubs in to experience the tools of the CAF. Unit members are also encouraged to visit schools for career day, reading to classes, or any other opportunity that introduces students to STEM and aviation. They who do the work do the learning. Units are encouraged to provide hands-on learning opportunities for youth, while minimizing the lecture-style of presentations.

A. CAF Education Support Team

The Education Department has created toolboxes of activities for Units to use when working with youth. Hands-on science of flight, STEM and aviation activities are available for a variety of age levels and time frames. CAFeducation.org has a host of activities and best practices to assist Units in providing quality experiential learning to youth in a simple and inexpensive manner.
The Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center is an incubator for new programs and activities that could be utilized and modeled at the Unit level.
Utilize the educational expertise of the CAF Education Team to host youth at your Unit. Our team can assist with best practices including youth protection, privacy and photo/media policies, activity selection, data collection and implementation of programs.

B. Unit Education Officers

The Education Officer should look for opportunities to engage with youth to promote the CAF, STEM, and aviation learning. These opportunities include but are not limited to:

• Airshow or Unit events that include an education area with hands-on workstations for youth and families • Informal education programs, such as scouts or clubs • Formal education with schools o Inviting classes to the Unit for aviation and STEM activities, special events or guest speakers o Going to the school(s) for Career Day, reading to students (aviation-related book, and/or wearing a flight suit), bringing in aviation or historical tools, providing a STEM or aviation activity for classroom or school event o Being a guest speaker resource, in person or virtually, for classes It is the responsibility of the Education Officer to ensure all volunteers and the Unit are complying with the Youth Protection and Interaction Policy, media use and hold harmless directives.

The Education Officer must access the Sterling Volunteers dashboard to verify the list of volunteers who are cleared to work with youth based on the results of a background check.

C. Photo/Media Release Requirements and Youth Privacy Protection

It is the responsibility of the unit education officer to ensure a written signature authorization is obtained from the parent or guardian of any youth whose photograph or video likeness will be used online or any social media platform. If written permission is not received, any photograph or video of that child cannot be used. Regardless of permission, no video or photograph can be distributed to a third party.

It is against federal regulations to request or collect personal information online from a child under the age of 13. It is illegal to make the personal information of a child publicly available in and identifiable form online. This includes websites, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. For example, with written parent permission a photo of a child named and identified as Ben is acceptable. A photo tagged as Ben L., age 7, Crockett Elementary School makes this child publicly identifiable, and would be illegal. Never use the full name of a youth in any publication. A first name is acceptable. It is also illegal to share, sell, rent or transfer the personal information of a child to any third party.

A website directed to children has numerous restrictions by law. CAF Unit websites should be built with viewership of adults, not youth, in mind.

D. Hold Harmless

Units must have a hold harmless release ready for all youth participants, teachers, and chaperones taking part in scheduled activities. Scheduled activities include field trips to the hangar, summer camps, and volunteer/internship programs. A hold harmless is not required for workstations or activity tables where families pass by during a larger event.

An electronic hold harmless form is available at CAFeducation.org for educational programs. For flights and rides in aircraft, units should use the Hold Harmless form located at CAFoperations.org

E. Youth Protection Policies

Youth Protection and Interaction Policy for All Programs and Activities Except Wings Over Dallas and Airshows

Purpose:

Our primary goals in creating this policy are to:

• Assure the safety of young participants in CAF programs • Minimize any risk that could expose youth at the CAF to emotional, physical or sexual abuse • Earn and maintain the confidence of family and guardians of the participating children • Provide role models in a safe, secure setting using the unique historical tools of the CAF • Create systems and best practices to allow our responsible adult volunteers and staff to interact in a respectful, safe setting for the protection of youth and themselves • Inspire and foster the development of 21st Century professional skills (communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, citizenship) through STEM, aviation and/or history-related learning

The term, youth, when used in this policy, means any person who is not legally an “adult” in his or her home state.

Method

Basic Requirements

The CAF requires the following individuals at to take part in both Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check, with acceptable results determined by the CAF, before you may work with youth at CAF units or CAF events, even if you have previously participated in youth education programs.

• All volunteers who will be working within an arm’s reach of a youth • Two-Deep Leadership • Parents and legal guardians of youth participants who are also volunteers and working within an arm’s reach of other youth • CAF staff who are involved with youth activities are subject to the same requirements as volunteers who work with youth. • Pilots and crew conducting Ride Alongs for youths who will not have their parent/guardian aboard the aircraft Volunteers who are minors are subject to the same Youth Protection standards as any volunteers working with youth, however, background checks for youth are not available. Minors working with youth should always be supervised by an adult who has successfully completed the CAF Youth Protection and Interaction training including a clear background check.

Youth Protection and Interaction Training This is an online Youth Protection and Interaction Training that will take approximately fifteen minutes to complete. A video explaining the best practices for working with youth includes a final test at the end of the course.

Criminal History Background Check

A confidential criminal history background check will be conducted by Sterling Volunteers. Each individual staff, member, or volunteer will authorize the check and agree to a release that complies with the standards of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The cost for each background check will be covered by the CAF. Background checks must be renewed every three years. Any background checks flagged by Sterling Volunteers will be evaluated by the CAF Vice President of Education on a strictly confidential basis. Certain results, listed under Disqualifying Criteria below, will automatically disqualify an individual from working with youth.

Disqualifying Criteria. You will automatically be ineligible to work with youth in any CAF program if you:

• Fail to complete the screening process or provide information required to conduct a criminal history background check • Are or ever have been a Registered Sex Offender in any jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or date of the offense • Have been convicted of any felony involving force or threat of force against a person, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime characterized as a “sex offense” including, but not limited to, child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, prostitution, solicitation, indecent exposure, or possession or distribution of illegal pornography, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime involving cruelty to animals, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime involving contributing to the delinquency of a minor, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime involving controlled substances, within the previous five (5) years. • Were previously terminated from a paid or volunteer position because of misconduct with a youth. • Are under pending charges, incarceration, or allegations by law enforcement officials in any jurisdiction involving a sex offense as described above, force or threat of force against a person, cruelty to animals, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, controlled substances, or misconduct with a youth. The period of ineligibility will end if and when the relevant charges, incarceration or allegations are dropped or otherwise terminated by said law enforcement officials without a conviction.

All other criminal convictions will be discretionary disqualifiers, to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with consideration of the completeness of information and nature and date of the offense.

Appeal Process If you are informed that you do not meet our background screening criteria for volunteer service with youth in CAF programs, you may do any of the following: Withdraw your application; Dispute the accuracy of the background screening report, subject to verification; or Request a waiver of disqualification.

Documentation We will confidentially document any decision regarding disqualification of a volunteer to work with youth.

Supervision We believe that effective supervision is a key to maintain high youth safety standards in CAF programs. Our supervision requirements in this policy are designed specifically to protect youth, staff and volunteers.

• Two-Deep Leadership - This term means that at least two adults who have completed both the Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check with acceptable results, will be in attendance on the ground as supervisors during education programs. These supervisors could be the Education Officer and another unit member or lead volunteer. “Attendance as supervisors” requires that the person must be present and actively circulating through the areas in which services are being provided to monitor all activities for appropriate behavior. All Two-Deep Leadership Supervisors for the CAF unit education event are required to complete both Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check, with acceptable results determined by the CAF., These steps must be completed before any individual may work with youth in the CAF unit education event, even if they have previously participated in youth education programs. • Two-Deep Supervision - refers to having two adults present whenever possible to avoid a situation of a youth being alone with only one adult. • Open Door Policy - Many claims of molestation or abuse arise from instances when adults are in isolated areas with youth. When using smaller rooms or enclosed areas for a youth activity, ensure that the doors are left open at all times, for the protection of the youth and yourself. • Ride Alongs – Due to the nature of the aircraft operation, there may be times when only one adult is supervising one or more youths. In this case, the pilot or air crew volunteer must have completed the Youth Protection and Interaction Training and the Criminal History Background Check, with acceptable results. Individuals assisting with Ride Alongs, whether aboard the aircraft or on the ground, are encouraged to complete the Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check.

Parental and Guardian Involvement in CAF Youth Programs and Events Any and all references to a “parent” in this Policy will include a legal guardian where appropriate. When volunteering in youth programs, parents are subject to the same Youth Protection standards as other volunteers. We invite and encourage parents to be involved in or observe youth programs and activities when possible.

Contact with Youth We expect that all, volunteers and CAF employees, will have positive relationships with the youth during CAF programs. To maximize youth safety, we must require the following common-sense restrictions to ensure that both the youth and the supervising adults are protected outside of the program: • Outside Activities - CAF staff, volunteers, and members must not initiate meetings or interactions with youth whom they have met at CAF functions or extend a relationship to other activities (except for supervision in other sponsored and organized youth activities, including both CAF and non-CAF related activities). • Communications - CAF staff, volunteers, and members should not communicate directly with any youth whom they have met at CAF functions. Limit communication to sharing program information through the following: o Telephone calls or texts to the parent’s telephone (not the youth’s mobile phone); o E-mails addressed to both the youth and his or her parents; and o Written information sent to the parents’ home.

Prohibited Activities • Physical force or violence - Slapping, spanking, hitting, shoving, corporal punishment and similar behaviors, by staff or volunteers or by other youth. • Sexual communication or contact - Dating or other private contacts; discussing sexual subjects of any kind; and touching in an area typically covered by a bathing suit, by yourself or by other youth; any touching that might cause the youth to feel uncomfortable. • Neglect - Punishing a youth by withholding food, water, medical assistance, or other needs. • Bullying - Intentionally harmful behavior directed toward a specific youth or group of youths with the intent or effect of intimidating, causing emotional or psychological harm, or causing isolation or humiliation, by staff, volunteers, or other youth.

Activities Requiring Special Approval or Consideration • Physical Contact - The CAF discourages demonstrations of affection and physical contact. These should only be given on rare occasions when clearly required to meet a youth’s specific needs, never to meet your needs or desires. Limit any touching to handshakes, high-fives and brief cross-shoulder hugs. Never touch a youth in areas that are typically covered by a bathing suit. In some situations, you may need to assist the youth participant in a way that requires touching. If possible, encourage the parent to be present and acknowledge that the touching might occur. Thoroughly explain the process (briefing) before physical contact occurs.

• Photography - Copies of all photographs of youth must be made available to parents upon request, and the right of parents to withhold consent for the use of their children’s photographs must always be respected.

Parents wishing to withhold consent should inform the person in charge of the activity. Do not give the last names of youth in connection with their photographs.

Overnight Programs Travel with youth can offer amazing opportunities for participants to experience the aviation world on a larger scale with vastly different perspectives. It also presents challenges to normal safety protocols and opportunities for creativity, if managed well. The following policies will help groups prepare for a variety of potential scenarios:

Adult Volunteers and Chaperones All volunteers and chaperones must have completed the Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check with acceptable results. • Minimum ratios of adult to youth need to be greater due to the possibility of leaving an adult behind with a participant in the event of a medical emergency. • 9-14 years - 2:5 • 15-18 years - 2:7 • Regardless of group size, no group should travel with fewer than three adult chaperones. This allows for 2 adults to be with youth at any given time. • One adult, minimum age 25, should serve as the travel administrator who is responsible for all aspects of the trip, including carrying all necessary documentation, contacts, and forms including: o medical releases; o emergency contacts; o itineraries; and o cash and/or credit card capacity to address emergencies.

Overnight Stays • Adult leader assigns rooms and room occupants • One child or youth per bed, including cots, pullouts or hide-a-beds, and rollaway beds; • Preferably 2 youth in each room, segregated by gender in separate quarters. Age should be considered when assigning rooms to group by similar ages. • If in a hangar or camp-type area, segregate by gender with some makeshift barrier between genders. Adults should be separate from, but near youth. • Adult supervisors or chaperones have rooms on the same floor, scattering to distribute adult chaperones among the rooms with youth, and at least one adult room is by the stairs or elevators; • Adult supervisors may not consume alcohol or any illegal substance during the time that youth are in their care or under their supervision.

Transportation

For the health, security and safety of all participants, the following practices shall be followed: • When adult leaders transport youth to, during, or from CAF activities, they must follow the “transportation rule of three” by ensuring the carpool party consists of at least three persons (e.g., adult leader-driver plus two youths; or adult leader-driver, second adult, and one youth). • For events that originate and/or terminate at a CAF unit, all drivers must be at least 21 years of age and provide proof of insurance and a current driver’s license, a completed volunteer driver information form, and have a satisfactory Department of Motor Vehicles records check. The Unit Leader or Education Officer should verify these requirements. • All drivers and riders must comply with all state laws • Seat Belts must be worn by all passengers. • The adult driver must refrain from using a cell phone while driving. • Parents/guardians are responsible for the transportation and safety of their children and/or youth to and from the event. This responsibility includes the transportation of any other passengers in their vehicle.

Medicine Dispensing

Local: In the case of locally sponsored CAF activities, no medical attention other than basic first aid (Band-Aids, ice packs, soap and water) will be administered. In situations requiring more extensive medical attention, emergency services and/or parents will be contacted.

For Youth on Trips: A first aid kit will be available that contains “basic” over-the-counter medication (including Tylenol/Ibuprofen, Pepto Bismol, Benadryl, Neosporin) as well as traditional first aid supplies. Parents will be asked to complete a medical form indicating over-the-counter medication that adult volunteers are allowed to distribute to their youth (including dosage and whether parents wish to be informed). It is the youth’s responsibility to self-medicate prescription medication after submitting a parental permission form. The youth shall obtain the prescribed medication from adult chaperones who will maintain possession of all medications until they are requested by the youth. Adult volunteers will exercise discretion when providing students with required medication. Medication designed for emergency use such as asthma inhalers or epi-pens should be carried by the student.

Discipline

In order to maximize the safety and well-being of participants in youth programs, all youth must exhibit proper behavior and self-control toward the environment, equipment and other activity participants. Misbehavior includes such conduct as fighting, yelling, verbal abuse, physical violence, disrespectful behaviors, foul language, unsportsmanlike conduct, lying, endangering oneself or another, stealing, and disobeying CAF staff or volunteers. In situations where a youth has acted inappropriately, depending on severity, the following actions may be taken: • First Offense—the youth’s parents will be notified of the behavior verbally and in writing. Depending on the severity of the misbehavior, the youth may be removed from the activity immediately, in the sole judgment of the volunteer or CAF staff supervisors. • Second Offense—the youth will be removed from the activity and disqualified from future participation. • Suspected Criminal Conduct—any suspected criminal conduct during programs and activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation and disposition.

Never use physical force on a youth except to temporarily restrain for his or her safety or the safety of surrounding people. In such a case, give prompt notice to the Unit Leader or other person in charge of the activity, and to the parents of the youth involved. Remove the youth from the activity if the offense is serious or causes disruption to the activity or the enjoyment of other participants. As soon as practical, notify Headquarters, Vice President of Education, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of any instance in which physical force was used on a youth.

All parents will have access to this policy through CAF’s website www.cafeducation.org, and understand and accept that, by permitting their youth to participate in a CAF program or activity, they confirm their agreement to its terms.

Definitions

• “Child abuse” means any intentional action, inaction, or event that endangers or injures the physical, psychological, or emotional well-being of a youth. • “Accidental injury” means a physical, psychological or emotional injury to a youth that does not arise directly or indirectly from the intentional act or inaction of another person.

Reporting

You must promptly report all suspected or known child abuse and accidental injury, as described below, during any CAF activity.

Accidental Injury or Suspected or Known Child Abuse: You must report every suspected or known child abuse and accidental injury as follows: 1. First, call 911 immediately, for any child abuse or accidental injury to a youth that requires any attention beyond simple first aid that is fully within the skill of a responsible person on the scene. 2. Next, call the youth’s parent immediately, for any known or suspected child abuse, or any injury that required a call to 911. 3. Contact appropriate law enforcement officials immediately, in the event of known or suspected child abuse. 4. Complete an incident report form on cafeducation.org as soon as possible after treating the incident. This form will directly notify the CAF Vice President of Education. The individual who completes the form will receive a copy of the submission by email. In the instance where a youth is hospitalized, notify the CAF Vice President of Education, Chief Operating Office and Chief Executive Officer immediately. 5. Within 24 hours, be prepared to give an update to the program or event operator and CAF’s Vice President of Education: (o) 877 767 7175 x 102 | (c) 618 791 2006 6. Violations of Safety Rules. If you know of any serious safety rules violations in CAF education programs, report the matter to CAF’s Vice President of Education. 7. Any alleged perpetrator of child abuse or misconduct will immediately be placed on leave from CAF youth programs and activities pending completion of an internal investigation. 8. If outside authorities undertake an investigation, we will cooperate fully with any investigation.

We will review all reported suspicions, incidents or suspected rule infractions, even if deemed to be minor, to determine whether further action is needed, and whether current policies and procedures must be revised to prevent similar future occurrences.

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect:

All U.S. States and territories have laws identifying persons who are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Mandatory reporters may include social workers, teachers and other school personnel, childcare providers, physicians and other health-care workers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement officers. Some States require any person who suspects child abuse or neglect to report.

Youth Protection and Interaction Policy – Airshows & Public Aviation Events

Purpose:

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is committed to providing safe and enriching educational programs for youth who are involved in CAF activities. Included in these many activities is the protection of youth by ensuring appropriate adult role models and mentors are working with participants. Our primary goals in creating this policy are to: • Assure the safety of young participants in CAF programs • Minimize any risk that could expose youth at the CAF to emotional, physical or sexual abuse • Earn and maintain the confidence of family and guardians of the participating youth • Provide role models in a safe, secure setting using the unique historical tools of the CAF • Create systems and best practices to allow our responsible adult volunteers and staff to interact in a respectful, safe setting for the protection of youth and themselves • Inspire and foster the development of 21st Century professional skills (communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, citizenship) through STEM, aviation and/or history-related learning The term, youth, when used in this policy, means any person who is not legally an “adult” in his or her home state.

Method

Basic Requirements

The CAF encourages all volunteers who will be working directly with youth at any airshow or public aviation event to take part in both Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check.

Youth Protection and Interaction Training This is an online Youth Protection and Interaction Program that takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete, including a final test at the end of the course.

Criminal History Background Check

A confidential criminal history background check will be conducted by Sterling Volunteers. Each individual staff, member, or volunteer will authorize the check and agrees to a release that complies with the standards of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The cost for each background check will be covered by the CAF. Background checks must be renewed every three years. Any background checks flagged by Sterling Volunteers will be evaluated by the CAF Vice President of Education on a strictly confidential basis. Certain results, listed under Disqualifying Criteria below, will automatically disqualify an individual from working with youth.

Disqualifying Criteria - You will automatically be ineligible to work with youth in any CAF program if you: • Fail to complete the screening process or provide information required to conduct a criminal history background check. • Are or ever have been a Registered Sex Offender in any jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or date of the offense. • Have been convicted of any felony involving force or threat of force against a person, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime characterized as a “sex offense” including, but not limited to, child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, prostitution, solicitation, indecent exposure, or possession or distribution of illegal pornography, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime involving cruelty to animals, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime involving contributing to the delinquency of a minor, regardless of the date of conviction. • Have been convicted of any crime involving controlled substances, within the previous five (5) years. • Were previously terminated from a paid or volunteer position because of misconduct with a youth. • Are under pending charges, incarceration, or allegations by law enforcement officials in any jurisdiction involving a sex offense as described above, force or threat of force against a person, cruelty to animals, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, controlled substances, or misconduct with a youth. The period of ineligibility will end if and when the relevant charges, incarceration or allegations are dropped or otherwise terminated by said law enforcement officials without a conviction.

All other criminal convictions will be discretionary disqualifiers, to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with consideration of the completeness of information and nature and date of the offense.

Appeal Process. If you are informed that you do not meet our background screening criteria for volunteer service with youth in Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program, you may do any of the following: Withdraw your application; Dispute the accuracy of the background screening report, subject to verification; or Request a waiver of disqualification.

Supervision We believe that effective supervision is a key to maintain high youth safety standards in Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program. Our supervision requirements in this policy are designed specifically to protect youth, staff and volunteers.

• Two-Deep Leadership - This term means that at least two adults who have completed both the Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check with acceptable results, will be in attendance on the ground as supervisors in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education programs. These supervisors could be the Education Officer and another unit member or lead volunteer. “Attendance…as supervisors” requires that the person must be present and actively circulating through the areas in which services are being provided, in order to monitor all activities for appropriate behavior. If you are a Two-Deep Leadership Supervisor in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program, you are required to complete both Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check, with acceptable results determined by the CAF. These steps must be completed before you may work with youth in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program, even if you have previously participated in youth education programs. • Two-Deep Supervision - refers to having two adults present whenever possible to avoid a situation of a youth being alone with only one adult. • Open Door Policy - Many claims of molestation or abuse arise from instances when adults are in isolated areas with youth. When using smaller rooms or enclosed areas for a youth activity, ensure that the doors are left open at all times, for the protection of the youth and yourself. • Ride Alongs – Due to the nature of the aircraft operation, there may be times when only one adult is supervising one or more youths. In this case, the pilot volunteer must have completed the Youth Protection and Interaction Training and the Criminal History Background Check, with acceptable results. Individuals assisting with Ride Alongs, whether aboard the aircraft or on the ground, are encouraged to complete the Youth Protection and Interaction Training and Criminal History Background Check.

Parental and Guardian Involvement in Aviation Discovery Zone Youth Programs and Events. Any and all references to a “parent” in this Policy will include a legal guardian where appropriate. When volunteering in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education programs, parents are subject to the same Aviation Discovery Zone Youth Service standards as other volunteers. We invite and encourage parents to be involved in or observe Aviation Discovery Zone or airshow education youth programs and activities when possible.

Contact with Youth We expect that you, as a volunteer or CAF employee, will have positive relationships with the youth you meet in any Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program. However, in order to maximize youth safety, we must require the following common-sense restrictions in order to ensure that both the youth and you are protected outside of the program. • Outside Activities - Do not initiate meetings or interactions with youth whom you have met in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program or extend your relationship to other activities (except for supervision in other sponsored and organized youth activities, including both CAF and non-CAF related activities). • Communications - Do not communicate directly with any youth whom you have met in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program. Limit communication to sharing program information through the following:

o Telephone calls or texts to the parent’s telephone (not the youth’s mobile phone); o E-mails addressed to both the youth and his or her parents; and o Written information sent to the parents’ home.

Prohibited Activities In all Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education programs and CAF events: For obvious reasons, the following are strictly prohibited:

• Physical force or violence - Slapping, spanking, hitting, shoving, corporal punishment and similar behaviors, by staff or volunteers or by other youth. • Sexual communication or contact - Dating or other private contacts; discussing sexual subjects of any kind; and touching in an area typically covered by a bathing suit, by yourself or by other youth; any touching that might cause the youth to feel uncomfortable. • Neglect - Punishing a youth by withholding food, water, medical assistance, or other needs. • Bullying - Intentionally harmful behavior directed toward a specific youth or group of youths with the intent or effect of intimidating, causing emotional or psychological harm, or causing isolation or humiliation, by staff, volunteers, or other youth.

Activities Requiring Special Approval or Consideration • Physical Contact - We very strongly discourage demonstrations of affection and physical contact. These should only be given on rare occasions when clearly required to meet a youth’s specific needs, never to meet your needs or desires. Limit any touching to handshakes, high-fives and brief cross-shoulder hugs. Never touch a youth in areas that are typically covered by a bathing suit. In some situations, you may need to assist the youth participant in a way that requires touching (such as buckling a youth into an aircraft seat). If possible, encourage the parent to be present and acknowledge that the touching might occur. Thoroughly explain the process (briefing) before physical contact occurs. • Photography - Copies of all photographs of youth must be made available to parents upon request, and the right of parents to withhold consent for the use of their children’s photographs must always be respected. Parents wishing to withhold consent should inform the person who is in charge of the activity. Do not give the last names of youth in connection with their photographs.

Discipline In order to maximize the safety and well-being of participants in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program, all youth must exhibit proper behavior and self-control toward the environment, equipment and other activity participants. Misbehavior includes such conduct as fighting, yelling, verbal abuse, physical violence, disrespectful behaviors, foul language, unsportsmanlike conduct, lying, endangering oneself or another, stealing, and disobeying CAF staff or volunteers. In situations where a youth has acted inappropriately, depending on severity, the following actions may be taken:

• First Offense—the youth’s parents will be notified of the behavior verbally. Depending on the severity of the misbehavior, the youth may be removed from the activity immediately, in the sole judgment of the volunteer or CAF staff supervisors. • Second Offense—the youth will be removed from the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education activity and disqualified from future participation.

• Suspected Criminal Conduct—any suspected criminal conduct during Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education programs and activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation and disposition.

All parents will have access to this policy through CAF’s website www.cafeducation.org, and understand and accept that, by permitting their youth to participate in an Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education program or activity, they confirm their agreement to its terms.

Definitions • “Child abuse” means any intentional action, inaction, or event that endangers or injures the physical, psychological, or emotional well-being of a youth. • “Accidental injury” means a physical, psychological or emotional injury to a youth that does not arise directly or indirectly from the intentional act or inaction of another person.

Reporting You must promptly report all suspected or known child abuse and accidental injury, as described below, during any Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education activity.

Accidental Injury or Suspected or Known Child Abuse. You must report every suspected or known child abuse and accidental injury as follows: 1. First, call 911 immediately, for any child abuse or accidental injury to a youth that requires any attention beyond simple first aid that is fully within the skill of a responsible person on the scene. 2. Next, call the youth’s parent immediately, for any known or suspected child abuse, or any injury that required a call to 911. 3. Contact appropriate law enforcement officials immediately, in the event of known or suspected child abuse. 4. Complete an incident report form on cafeducation.org as soon as possible after treating the incident. This form will directly notify the CAF Vice President of Education. The individual who completes the form will receive a copy of the submission by email. In the instance where a youth is hospitalized, notify the CAF Vice President of Education, Chief Operating Office and Chief Executive Officer immediately. 5. Within 24 hours, be prepared to give an update to the program or event operator and CAF’s Vice President of Education: (o) 877 767 7175 x 102 | (c) 618 791 2006 6. Violations of Safety Rules. If you know of any serious safety rules violations in the Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education activity, report the matter to CAF’s Vice President of Education. 7. Any alleged perpetrator of child abuse or misconduct will immediately be placed on leave from Aviation Discovery Zone and any CAF youth program or activity pending completion of an internal investigation. 8. If outside authorities undertake an investigation, we will cooperate fully with any investigation.

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect: All U.S. States and territories have laws identifying persons who are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Mandatory reporters may include social workers, teachers and other school personnel, childcare providers, physicians and other health-care workers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement officers. Some States require any person who suspects child abuse or neglect to report. Check your state’s policies to remain in compliance.

Thank you for your support of CAF’s Aviation Discovery Zone or CAF unit airshow education programs! Without your participation these programs would not be possible.

We sincerely appreciate your taking the time to read and understand these policies. We have reviewed member feedback and standard best practices with other similar organizations and believe that every provision in the current policies is valuable, necessary and in the best interest of children, volunteers and the Commemorative Air Force. We always welcome your feedback to improve our systems.

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