Commentary
The guidelines outlined the FSGC do not provide for every situation in ministry. Taking a group of young people to an amusement park or a water park is one such area.
CYM makes no additional policies in this area but offers the following recommendations:
- The two-adult rule always applies. When taking Jr. High or younger participants, split the group up (or better, let them split up into groups) to go off into the park with two adults. The adults can sit together on most rides and if you keep the groups even in number, no participant will be seated with a stranger (on most conventional amusement park rides).
- High school students could be allowed to venture into the amusement park on their own as long as cell phone numbers have been exchanged among adult leaders and young people (one of the rare times adults would ask for the cell phone number of a young person).
- All groups, regardless of age, should meet at least once every three to four hours so group members and adults can change groups if necessary (i.e., to keep those who like thrill rides together, etc.) A meeting time and place should be agreed upon before the group breaks apart.
- The consequences for missing a meeting time should be clearly outlined and a plan should be in place to enforce those consequences.
- Participation in water parks is up to the discretion of the group leader or event coordinator. If an event coordinator, for instance, deems an attraction unsafe (i.e., a wave pool), then participants are prohibited from using that attraction.
- Participation at any water park should not take place until the group leader or event coordinator has ensured that all participants are able to swim. The can be accomplished by editing Form B for this particular event.
Going to a water park is also a good time to have a conversation with young people about appropriate/modest swimming attire.