ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
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We have run into the same situation here and occasionally a young person
does slip past us.  When this happens we contact the parents and advise them
of our policy of not allowing children under the age of 12 unattended into
our facility.  We further advise them that we reserve the right to contact
Social Services if it occurs again.  Most of the time parents are unaware of
the policy and comply.

Max Scharfenberger
VP Programs
Odyssium
11211 142 Street
Edmonton, AB  T5M 4A1
phone: 780-452-9100
fax: 780-455-5882
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-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Pickett [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 3:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Policies on young visitors without adults


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

With summer approaching, we are reviewing a situation that occurs sometimes
that always gives us pause, and we'd like to hear how other institutions
handle this.

It's closing time, and we have a 9 and a 10 year old kid still in the
building, frantically calling people for a ride, hoping someone will arrive
sooner or later. We've never had to go this far, but at what point does a
responsible staff person consider this child abandonment, and call the
police? Another situation-if a parent sneaks/runs out the entrance after
getting their young kids in the center, do we shrug our shoulders, and
figure their parent will return?

We have a policy that children must be attended by their adults, but what
does that signify to an adult set on dropping their kids off unchaperoned
for 4 hours?

Thank you for any advice or perspective on this!

Shane Pickett
Science Central

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