CHILD SAFETY & WELL-BEING POLICY

Effective: August 2026
Applies To: All RMAG youth programs, activities, volunteers, leaders, pilots, mentors, and participating partners.

1. PURPOSE

Rocky Mountain Aero Group (RMAG) is committed to providing safe, respectful, and appropriately supervised environments for young people exploring aviation and aerospace.

This policy establishes RMAG's minimum standards for youth protection, supervision, communication, conduct, activity safety, privacy, and reporting.

It applies to the RMAG Young Eagles Club, EAA Young Eagles flights and rallies, RMAG Aviation Explorer Club - Explorer Post 777, camps, tours, workshops, STEM activities, and other RMAG youth programs.

When an activity is governed by EAA, Scouting America, an airport, school, aircraft operator, facility, or other partner, applicable requirements of that organization also apply.

2. ADULT LEADERSHIP & SUPERVISION

RMAG youth activities will be appropriately supervised based on participant age, activity, and environment.

Whenever practicable, at least two responsible adults should be present during organized RMAG youth activities.

Adults must maintain appropriate boundaries with youth and avoid isolated or unnecessary one-on-one interactions. Individual mentoring, instruction, or conversations should occur in observable environments or with another responsible adult aware of the interaction.

Adults serving in positions requiring Youth Protection training, registration, background screening, licensing, or other qualifications must maintain those requirements.

Guest speakers and volunteers participating in supervised group activities do not automatically require the same screening as adults assigned recurring, direct, or unsupervised responsibility for youth.

3. COMMUNICATION WITH YOUTH

Parents and guardians are RMAG's primary communication point for minor participants.

Official program communications should generally be directed through parents or guardians.

Adults must not maintain secret or inappropriate private communications with youth. When direct electronic communication with a minor is reasonably necessary, a parent/guardian, another appropriate adult leader, or an approved group communication channel should be included.

4. SAFE PROGRAM DELIVERY

RMAG activities will be planned and conducted with appropriate consideration for:

  • Supervision;

  • Potential hazards and changing conditions;

  • Participant age, fitness, experience, and skill;

  • Appropriate equipment and facilities;

  • Weather and environmental conditions; and

  • Emergency procedures.

Youth must follow instructions from RMAG leaders, pilots, instructors, airport personnel, and other authorized personnel.

Participants may not independently enter restricted airport, aircraft operating, maintenance, or other hazardous areas without appropriate authorization and supervision.

Activities may be modified, postponed, or canceled when conditions cannot reasonably support safe participation.

Safety takes priority over schedules or program completion.

5. AVIATION ACTIVITIES

RMAG recognizes that legitimate aviation activities may involve one qualified adult and one youth, including Young Eagles flights, flight instruction, simulator instruction, or aircraft familiarization.

Such activities are permitted when conducted in accordance with applicable FAA, EAA, operator, instructor, airport, and program requirements.

For aircraft operations, the pilot in command retains final authority regarding the safe operation of the aircraft.

6. APPROPRIATE CONDUCT

RMAG prohibits:

  • Abuse or neglect;

  • Bullying, harassment, or hazing;

  • Threats, intimidation, or violence;

  • Sexual misconduct or inappropriate adult/youth relationships;

  • Corporal, humiliating, or degrading punishment;

  • Illegal drug use or youth alcohol use during activities; and

  • Retaliation against anyone raising a good-faith safety concern.

Physical contact with youth must be appropriate to the activity. Reasonable assistance with aircraft entry, restraints, headsets, safety equipment, instruction, or similar legitimate needs is permitted.

All participants must be treated with dignity and respect.

7. PARENTS, PRIVACY & MEDIA

Parents and guardians should receive sufficient information to understand the nature, location, supervision, significant risks, and requirements of RMAG activities.

RMAG may photograph or record program activities subject to applicable permissions and parent/guardian preferences.

RMAG will protect participant privacy, avoid publishing unnecessary personal information, and will not publicly identify EAA Young Eagles participants by last name in connection with Young Eagles activities.

8. TRANSPORTATION & HEALTH

Transportation associated with RMAG activities must comply with applicable laws and program requirements.

Whenever reasonably practicable, RMAG will avoid isolated one-on-one transportation between an unrelated adult and minor.

RMAG may collect emergency contact, allergy, medical, medication, or other information reasonably necessary for participant safety. Such information will be appropriately protected and shared only when necessary.

9. PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

RMAG Young Eagles Club

The RMAG Young Eagles Club is an ongoing youth aviation program involving STEM activities, simulation, mentorship, airport experiences, tours, guest speakers, aircraft activities, and flight opportunities.

This RMAG policy applies to all Club meetings, activities, communications, tours, and events, whether or not a Young Eagles flight occurs.

When Club members participate in an official EAA Young Eagles activity, applicable EAA requirements also apply.

EAA Young Eagles Flights & Rallies

Official Young Eagles activities will follow current EAA requirements, including applicable:

  • Youth Protection training and background screening;

  • Pilot eligibility;

  • Parent/guardian authorization and required forms;

  • Rally supervision;

  • Communications; and

  • Privacy requirements.

EAA requires appropriate Youth Protection-approved adults on the ground during rallies but does not require two-deep leadership inside aircraft conducting Young Eagles flights.

RMAG Aviation Explorer Club — Explorer Post 777

Post 777 activities will comply with this policy and applicable Scouting America requirements, including:

  • Youth Protection training and adult registration;

  • Required adult leadership;

  • Prohibition on one-on-one adult/youth contact;

  • Buddy-system requirements;

  • Electronic communication safeguards;

  • SAFE activity principles; and

  • Reporting requirements.

Other RMAG Youth Programs

Camps, tours, workshops, STEM activities, and other RMAG programs will follow this policy and applicable requirements established by participating airports, schools, facilities, operators, or partners.

10. REPORTING & RESPONSE

Youth-protection and safety concerns must be taken seriously.

Immediate danger: Call 911 or appropriate emergency services.

Suspected abuse or neglect: Report as required by applicable law. Nothing in this policy should delay a legally required report.

Significant incidents involving RMAG activities should also be reported to appropriate RMAG leadership and, when applicable, EAA, Scouting America, a school, airport, or other governing organization.

RMAG may stop an activity, remove an individual, restrict youth contact, contact parents/guardians, suspend volunteer participation, or take other reasonable action necessary to protect participants.

RMAG prohibits retaliation against anyone making a good-faith safety or youth-protection report.

11. COMPLIANCE

Compliance with this policy is required for individuals serving in RMAG youth-program roles.

RMAG leaders, pilots, instructors, and designated safety personnel may pause or stop an activity when they reasonably believe conditions are unsafe or youth-protection requirements are not being followed.

Program leaders are responsible for reviewing applicable current EAA, Scouting America, airport, school, or partner requirements before conducting activities governed by those organizations.

This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as RMAG programs or applicable requirements change.

OUR COMMITMENT

Youth safety is everyone's responsibility.

RMAG is committed to creating environments where young people can safely explore aviation, build skills, connect with mentors, and discover pathways into aviation and aerospace.

Every adult participating in an RMAG youth program shares responsibility for protecting that environment.