Michigan 4-H Youth Development: Exploration Days Code of Conduct


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4-H Youth Development Michigan State University 160 Agriculture Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1039 USA Phone: 517-432-7575 Fax: 517-355-6748 Email: msue4h@msu.edu Disclaimer & Indicia

4-H Exploration Days

Code of Conduct

All youth and adult participants must abide by the Code of Conduct. This is required for participation at 4-H Exploration Days. Please sign and return the form given in the back of the 4-H Exploration Days Registration Book as directed.

Each participant, along with a parent or guardian, must attend a pre-event county orientation meeting. Your county 4-H staff can provide you with the date, time and location of this important meeting.

The following rules and conditions apply to all youth and adults who attend 4-H Exploration Days.

Positive behavior is a key expectation for youth and adults participating in state-sponsored 4-H activities – behavior that reflects trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Participants are expected to fully participate, follow all event guidelines and behave appropriately to ensure a high-quality learning experience and ensure the safety of all participants.

Youth and adult participants should be aware of the following:

Theft, vandalism, the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, leaving campus (except for session field trips) and other such offenses are strictly prohibited. Anyone involved with these offenses will immediately be sent home at his or her own expense. Those engaged in illegal activities will be turned over to the proper authorities. Repair costs for damages incurred to property will be billed to those responsible.
Behaviors for which participants may be sent home are inappropriate sexual behavior and behavior that violates the rights of others, particularly when the behavior is disrespectful as regards a person’s appearance, race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Disciplinary action will vary based on the degree of the offense and will be determined by the 4‑H staff in charge of the program.
Youth participants are not permitted to use tobacco in any form.
Housing areas are set up as all female and all male. Participants are not permitted in the housing areas assigned to members of the opposite sex (bathrooms, floors and rooms). The only exception is brief delegation meetings arranged by 4-H staff.
All youth and adult participants are to wear their conference lanyards and name badges around their necks at all times (except when sleeping, bathing and swimming, of course). Name badges identify participants as part of 4‑H Exploration Days and are used for admission to event activities.
Participants are responsible for their own belongings. Valuables, such as expensive jewelry and electronic devices, should be left at home. 4‑H Youth Development is not responsible for any lost or missing items.
Participants should dress casually, but neatly and appropriately, for the occasion. Shirt and shoes must be worn in eating areas.

All participants are expected to:

Attend all the sessions for which they are registered. Attendance will be taken and reported back to the county conference assistant (CCA).
Select from and participate in a variety of afternoon and evening programs and leisure activities.
Attend all county or floor meetings.
Inform their assigned chaperone of their whereabouts.
Observe the 11 p.m. curfew on their assigned residence hall floors. County conference assistants and chaperones will do a bed check each night to account for each participant. Everyone should be quiet within his or her assigned room by midnight.
Stay in their assigned rooms once assignments have been made and keys issued. Unapproved changes make it difficult to contact participants in emergencies and at bed check time.
Understand that a fee will be assessed to participants with lost keys or missing linens.
Refrain from yelling out of windows or removing window screens and leaning out of windows or sitting on window ledges. Blinds are to be closed when dressing and after dark.
Refrain from running in residence halls and classroom hallways.
Understand that use of roller skates and in-line skates (Rollerblades), nonmotorized scooters, skateboards and similar devices is allowed at your own risk. Use of these devices is restricted to sidewalks. Users may not use bike paths, parking ramps, buildings, gardens or any other posted area, or go on any roadway except while crossing a street within a crosswalk.

MSU Extension staff, county conference assistants and chaperones are responsible for enforcing the rules as stated. Violators who are asked to leave will be sent home at their own expense. These rules are not subject to interpretation and each group is expected to follow them without exception. Our primary consideration is to provide a safe, secure environment for all participants.

Contact Information

For more information on 4-H Exploration Days, contact:

Judy A. Ratkos, Program Leader
4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
USA

Phone: 517-432-7613
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: ratkos@msu.edu