Planning and Getting Started

Program Director Registration Requirements

1. Youth Program/Camp Registration Form

   All programs require registration 60-days prior to the program start date. Registration Exclusions

   The following two forms (items 2 and 3) are on the same Excel spreadsheet. Please send to youthprograms@ku.edu:

2. Staff/Chaperone List Template (.xslx)

   Required 20 days in advance to conduct background checks - See Background Check section. This Excel template is provided to document all employees and volunteers involved with youth programs.

3. Participant List Template (.xslx)

   This template is provided to document all participants of youth programs. Please remit the final participant list on the first day of the program.

4. Program Itinerary Template (.xslx)

   Please include meeting location for lost camper or emergencies.

5. Other information:

   Printed brochure, marketing information, or link to website

Registration Exclusions

The individual responsible for the operation of a program in which minors are expected to participate (the “Program Director”) shall register the program at least sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled start date with the Office of University Events and Protocol (youthprograms@ku.edu).

Subject to the following exclusions, registration is required for all programs in which minors are expected to participate, regardless of the duration and/or nature of the event:

• Youth visitors, individually or in groups for single-day activities not initiated or supervised by KU Program Staff, e.g. field trips supervised by a minor participant’s school or organization. Contractually arranged third-party youth programs are not intended to be exempted by this scenario.
• Office of Admissions or other departmental recruiting programs which involve youth visiting campus with their parents, legal guardians, or any other adult acting as guardian for the event.
• Incidental visits by individual youth interacting with KU faculty or staff, but not as part of a coordinated program offering, e.g., tours of facilities, visiting a family member at work. This exclusion does not pertain to scheduled or ongoing visits, such as individual lessons (music) or tutoring/mentoring, volunteering with a job shadowing a KU employee, or individualized experiential learning / enrichment.
• KU credit-bearing academic courses with students under the age of 18 enrolled, including on-campus, distance education, and/or independent study experiences.
• Performance or events open to the general public.
• Minors coming to campus for one-time or intermittent appointments for health care and/or medical treatment.

The Program Director, or individual with authority to enter into such a contract on behalf of the organization operating the program, shall enter into a written agreement with the university regarding operation of the program, and abide by all terms therein. University sponsored programs shall agree to complete all necessary forms and agreements. In addition, all programs that house participants overnight in KU Student Housing facilities shall enter into a written agreement with KU Student Housing for the use of such facilities.

Youth programs/camps should be self-supporting activities. Guidelines are established by the KU Comptrollers Office for university sponsored programs. The program/camp rate structure needs to be formally approved by the Service Center Rate Reviewer coordinated by Financial Reporting Services. Questions can be directed to Sarah Carver at sarahkcarver@ku.edu.

The Schools/Departments hosting youth programs/camps should have a unique cost center within Fund 700 for each program/camp.

Registration fees should be made payable to the “University of Kansas”. If the schools/departments want the ability to accept credit card payments, the unit must work with and obtain approval from the eCommerce Committee. Questions can be directed to ecommerce_dl@ku.edu.

Food expenses submitted for payment will need a completed Food & Beverage Form, along with supporting invoices.

Other considerations when developing your budget may include:

• KU Student Housing
• KU Dining Services

Meeting Rooms/Labs/Auditoriums Reservations:

• KU Memorial Union
• Office of the Registrar – Course & Room Scheduling
• Lied Center

Costs for the usage of university facilities and resources:

• Facility Services
• Parking/Transit
• Recreation Services (gyms, training, climbing wall, etc.)
• KU Information Technology
• Staff Expenses (salary, mileage, honorariums, background checks, etc.)
• Participant materials (printed materials, promotional items, t-shirts, etc.)

Program Directors are responsible for developing program content, daily itinerary, as well as, an implementation / action plan for the program.

1. To the best of their ability, Program Directors should assess and mitigate possible risk to youth and adult staff. A review might include:
   • Age of participants
   • Age appropriate activity/activities
   • Schedules/Itinerary
   • Locations
   • ADA Compliance
   • Identify "What if" Scenarios and Actions


2. Program / Camp policies and procedures should be outlined and made available to program staff along with training.
   • Check-in/out (Arriving/Departing Program)
   • Evening Room Checks (if applicable)
   • Missing Youth/Camper Plan
   • Emergency & Evacuation Procedures
   • Security (Personal equipment - instruments, computers, etc.)
   • Transportation (parking/rules for leaving campus)
   • Medication dispersing & storage


3. Conduct requirements should be made available to parent/guardians, program participants and adult staff/chaperones.
   • Possession/Use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs
   • Weapons
   • Bullying/Hazing
   • Dress code
   • Inappropriate use of imaging devices
   • Appeals procedure


4. For program itineraries all information may not be included, but below are ideas to keep in mind for planning. We would like to receive itineraries and/or any support information so that we can share it with KU Public Safety for emergency purposes. A sample itinerary (.xlsx) may be used/edited; but if you have a preferred itinerary style, please continue to use it.
   • Parking (including drop-off and/or pick-up for day programs)
     1. Parents/Guardians (drop off for registration and/or pick-up)
     2. Parents/Guardians (drop-off / pick-up)
     3. Participants (if age appropriate)
   • Educational activity locations (on campus); orientation, lectures, workshops, labs, studios, etc.
   • Recreation time locations; challenge courses, team building activities, free time, etc.
   • Meal locations
   • Off-campus activity location
   • Include time to travel between buildings / sessions
   • Emergency meeting locations (daytime and nighttime as appropriate)
   • Secure drop off and/or storage locations for instruments, personal items if different from housing and/or registration area

Program Directors are responsible for developing and providing materials for participants

The Program Director shall maintain basic information about all Program participants, including, at a minimum, the participant’s name and emergency contact information for the participant’s parent, guardian or responsible adult. The Program Director shall maintain a participant roster (including participant name and emergency contact information) and provide that document to the University by the first day of the camp.

The parent or guardian shall receive, review and sign the following before their minor child can participate in the program:

• A participation agreement that includes emergency contact information and an acknowledgement of program rules.
• A waiver and release from liability (.docx), assumption of risk, and indemnification agreement that includes the University of Kansas as a released party.
• Media, Photo & Video Release Form (if applicable, pdf)
• Medical Information and Release form – Refer to Health / Safety

PLEASE NOTE: All forms required by this section must be maintained by the Program Director for a period of five (5) years following the conclusion of the Program and made available to the University upon request. All health forms should be returned to the parent/guardian at the conclusion of the program/camp. And if the remaining health forms are returned to the parent/guardian, there would be nothing for the Program Director to retain for five years, as would otherwise be required under KU policy.

SAMPLE Documents That Can Be Adapted

Youth Program/Camp Guidelines and Expectations for Participants (.docx)