Child Safeguarding Policy

Child safeguarding encompasses all measures Rustic Pathways takes to protect program participants from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Rustic Pathways maintains a 4.37:1 verified staff-to-student ratio, completes 4-month vetting for all staff, and terminated 3 vendor contracts in 2025 for safety violations. This policy documents protections across all programs in 38 countries.

Since 1983, Rustic Pathways has operated with a foundational commitment: parents trust us with their children, and that trust is non-negotiable.

Who Does This Policy Protect?

Safeguarding scope defines the people, activities, and circumstances covered by child protection protocols.

People Covered:

• All program participants (ages 12-22)
• All Rustic Pathways employees (full-time, seasonal, contractors)
• All Program Leaders and Country Directors
• All vendors, partners, and homestay families
• Any adult who interacts with students during programs

Activities Covered:

• All program activities (service, adventure, cultural)
• Transportation between activities
• Accommodations (hotels, guesthouses, homestays)
• Free time within program structure
• Pre-departure communications
• Post-program follow-up

All children and minors deserve the same protection regardless of age, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

What Does Zero Tolerance Mean?

A zero-tolerance policy is a safeguarding framework that mandates immediate consequences for any violation, with no exceptions based on tenure, circumstances, or relationships.

Rustic Pathways established the Zero-Tolerance Child Protection Policy in February 2019.

Zero Tolerance Means:

• Immediate removal from program for any staff member who violates safeguarding protocols
• Immediate contract termination for any vendor who fails to meet child protection standards
• No exceptions, regardless of tenure or circumstances
• Mandatory reporting to appropriate authorities

In 2025, Rustic Pathways terminated contracts with 3 vendors for safety violations. Student protection takes priority over convenience, cost, or relationships.

How Does Rustic Pathways Screen Staff?

Staff screening is the systematic verification of an individual’s history, qualifications, and fitness to work with minors before any student contact occurs.

Every person with student contact undergoes comprehensive screening through a 4-month vetting process.

Background Check Requirements:

• Sterling checks (Federal + Local + Sex Offender Registry) for all U.S.-based staff
• Bi-annual (every two years) criminal and sex offender background checks for the duration of employment
• International background verification through agencies with access to hundreds of countries and jurisdictions globally
• Equivalent local verification services in international locations (UK DBS standard where legally available)
• Checks completed before any student contact

Additional Screening:

• Reference verification (minimum 3 professional references, including prior employer contact)
• In-person or video interviews
• Skills assessment for role-specific competencies
• Child protection training completion required before hire
• Written agreement to uphold Child Protection and Code of Conduct policies

The Rustic Pathways Staffing Team spends four months vetting Program Leader applicants to find qualified candidates with backgrounds in teaching, education, or international development.

For international operations where comprehensive criminal and sex offender background checks are not available through a governed agency, prior employers are contacted at time of hire to assess ability to work with minors. Criminal background histories are obtained from local law enforcement and through international background agencies.

What Are Rustic Pathways’ Supervision Standards?

Supervision standards define the required ratio of trained adults to students and the protocols governing student oversight during programs. Rustic Pathways’ “At the Actual Place” philosophy means trained staff are physically present with students at all times, not managing from a distance.

Staff-to-Student Ratios:

Rustic Pathways’ 4.37:1 ratio provides 2.75× more coverage than ACA’s 12:1 standard for ages 15-18. This places Rustic Pathways in the top percentile of youth travel programs for staff coverage.

Supervision Requirements:

• Program Leaders accompany students at all times during activities
• Rustic Pathways staff present during all vendor interactions (students are never unsupervised with third parties)
• Buddy system enforced during any independent time
• Daily check-ins with every student
• Evening room visits before sleep
• No student is ever alone with a child in a secluded area or where they cannot be observed by others

What Training Do Staff Complete?

Safeguarding training is mandatory education that equips staff to recognize, prevent, and respond to child protection concerns before any student contact.

All staff complete mandatory safeguarding training before working with students. Country Management Teams and Program Leaders receive training on Child Protection and Code of Conduct policies annually.

Core Certifications:

• Child Protection Training (exceeds international standards)
• CPR and First Aid (100% of staff certified)
• Wilderness First Responder (WFR): 80 hours for 40% of senior staff
• Mental Health First Aid (Youth): 300+ leaders trained
• Cultural Competency Certification

Specialized Training:

• Ethical boundaries and appropriate interactions
• Recognizing signs of abuse or distress
• Reporting procedures and documentation
• Emergency response protocols
• Responsible photography (for photographers, Program Leaders, and participants)
• Annual recertification required

Training covers recognition and prevention of all forms of abuse including physical abuse (grabbing, slapping, striking), verbal abuse (humiliating, degrading, threatening), sexual abuse (sexual gesturing, touching, language), and mental abuse (neglecting, degrading, intimidating, shaming).

How Do I Report a Concern?

Clear, confidential channels exist for reporting any concern.

How To Report

What Happens When You Report:

1. The minor is immediately secured, safeguarded, and removed from potential future occurrences to the best of Rustic Pathways’ ability
2. Crisis Response Team activates within 8 minutes
3. A local Country Manager and a member of the Program Delivery Team is notified immediately, regardless of whether an event was witnessed first-hand or not
4. If the above are unavailable, the situation is escalated to the Director of Parent Experience
5. Parent notification within 27 minutes average; updates provided every 3 hours during active situations
6. The person in question is separated from the alleged victim and the program for the duration of the investigation
7. The situation is escalated to the Child Protection Response Team
8. Mandatory reporting to authorities where legally required

Rustic Pathways is not casting blame or assigning guilt to anyone during this process. The focus is on safeguarding the minor and securing the situation to perform an investigation into the event.

Child Protection Response Team:

All reports are taken seriously. Retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith is prohibited.

How Are Vendors and Partners Vetted?

Vendor safeguarding requirements are the child protection standards that all third-party partners must meet before and during any interaction with Rustic Pathways students.

All vendors with student contact must meet safeguarding standards and acknowledge the Zero-Tolerance Child Protection Policy.

Requirements for Partners:

• Briefed on the expectations outlined in this Child Protection Policy
• Agreement to adhere to child protection standards
• Background checks through local services where legally available
• Supervision mapping ensuring Rustic Pathways staff present during all student-partner interactions
• Annual re-verification of compliance

Homestay Families:

• 26-point safety assessment covering property, security, and policy compliance
• Background screening through local verification services
• Signed safeguarding agreement
• Clear supervision rules, visitor policies, and curfew expectations

Community partners have the right to restrict photography. Rustic Pathways terminates contracts with any vendor who fails to meet child protection standards.

Rustic Pathways vendor vetting protocols →

How Does Rustic Pathways Protect Emotional Safety?

Mental health safeguarding addresses the emotional and psychological protection of students through trained support, daily monitoring, and structured escalation pathways.

Child safeguarding includes emotional and psychological protection. Rustic Pathways employs a full-time Medical Director, Dr. William R. Smith, a board-certified emergency physician and U.S. Army Colonel with 20+ years of wilderness medicine experience. Rustic Pathways was the first teen travel company to hire a full-time Medical Director (2015).

Mental Health Support:

• Youth Mental Health First Aid training for all Program Leaders (300+ trained)
• Daily one-on-one check-ins with students
• Homesickness support and structured calls home
• Clear escalation pathways for emotional concerns
• First Friend Method: Protocol ensuring no student is left emotionally behind. Struggling students are identified by Day 2 and paired with a dedicated leader who invests focused attention.

Post-Incident Support:

• Dedicated support for students and staff after any incident
• Access to mental health consultation
• Follow-up care as needed

Rustic Pathways Student Travel Health & Wellness Guide →

What Training Do Participants Receive?

Participant training is instruction provided to Rustic Pathways students before any activity with children in partner communities, covering appropriate behavior, reporting procedures, and abuse prevention.

Before beginning any activity with children in the communities Rustic Pathways visits, program participants receive a briefing from staff that includes instruction on the following:

Positive Environment:

• Contribute to a positive environment that protects, supports, and safeguards children
• Behave with respect and maturity around children
• Do not use foul, profane, or derogatory language, or inappropriate or intimate gestures around children
• Pay close attention to the protection and safety of children during play
• Do not engage in rough play

Boundaries:

• Never be alone with a child in a secluded area or where you cannot be observed by others
• Do not give gifts or donations directly to children
• Do not show favoritism to particular children
• Do not do things for children that they should be able to do for themselves such as dressing, tying shoes, etc.
• Do not take photographs of children without prior approval from their parent or legal guardian and your Program Leader

Positive Guidance Techniques:

• Use positive techniques of guidance such as redirection, positive reinforcement, and encouragement
• Avoid competition, comparison, and criticism

Recognizing and Reporting Abuse:

Participants must refrain from any action that could be considered abuse and report any concerns about a minor’s welfare or issues raised by a minor to the Program Leader or another Rustic Pathways staff member.

Program Leaders are responsible for reviewing these practices with participants to ensure positive interactions with children in the communities Rustic Pathways visits.

How Is This Policy Maintained?

Policy governance establishes the review schedule, accountability structure, and update procedures that maintain safeguarding standards over time.

This policy is maintained through regular review and accountability.

Review Schedule:

• Quarterly review
• Annual comprehensive audit
• Immediate review following any significant incident
• Updates communicated to all staff within 30 days

Accountability:

• Policy Owner: Director of Parent Experience
• Reviewed By: Shayne Fitz-Coy, CEO

Reports are handled by the Program Delivery Team or Resources Team based on the nature of the incident reported.