Youth Programs FAQ

KU has established a Minors on Campus Policy to provide guidance to those faculty and staff involved with coordinating and/or sponsoring programs for minor child participants under the age of eighteen (18).

The Planning/Getting Started page has information on how to start a youth program for your department.

Yes, any staff or camp counselors working with minors on campus (whether employed or volunteers) must have a sex-offender background check before beginning to work with minors. Background checks require extra time to process, therefore the names must be submitted 20 days prior to beginning employment. Those failing the background check will not be employed to work with minors.

The Staff/Volunteers page has more information on these background checks.

A listing of programs can be found on the Events page. The list will be updated all year as programs are registered. We strive to have summer youth programs listed by March 1.

The Office of University Ceremonies and Special Events serves as the registrar for youth programs at KU. All programs are required to register 60 days prior to the start date. Please review “Complete Youth Programs/Campus Registration Requirements” on the Planning/Getting Started page.

Five pieces of information are required for registration:

1. Complete registration form
2. Staff/Chaperone List
3. Participant List
4. Program Itinerary
5. Other Info: brochures, link to website, and marketing information

The Planning/Getting Started page has more information on requirements for registration.

The University of Kansas recommends following the American Camp Association adult/child supervision ratios:

• 4 to 5 year-old day participants 1:6 for overnight participants 1:5
• 6 to 8 year-old day participants 1:8 for overnight participants 1:6
• 9 to 14 year-old day participants 1:10 for overnight participants 1:8
• 15 to 17 year-old day participants 1:12 for overnight participants 1:10

There should always be two staff members with a group of program participants unless they are in an area near the main program where other groups are around and have easy accessibility to get help in the event of an emergency.

This recommendation is NOT intended to hinder youth program events on campus, but as best practices to protect the University, the sponsor of the program and ultimately the youth participants.

The university will continually update training procedures for youth programs as they become available. Each Program Director should develop their own training / requirements specific to their youth program. The current requirements may be found under the “training” section on the Staff/Volunteers page.

The Program Director should develop and distribute an Emergency Action Plan to adult staff / chaperones. KU Lawrence Campus Alerts is an excellent resource for planning. Please also review the “Emergency Action Plan” and “Missing Youth/Camper” Plan sections on the Health/Safety page.