Participant Code of Conduct
This document contains important information concerning the standard of conduct required for participants, scientists, field staff, and 美姬社区 staff. By working with 美姬社区 or joining an 美姬社区 program, you agree to abide by 美姬社区 policies, including those enumerated in this document.
In the event a participant violates 美姬社区 policies or program rules, 美姬社区 reserves the right to dismiss the participant from the program in progress without a refund and/or deny their participation in future 美姬社区 programs.
In addition to this Code of Conduct, minor participants are required to abide by 美姬社区鈥檚 Teen Behavior Agreement.
Participant Terms and Conditions Teen Behavior Agreement Groups Terms and Conditions
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INCLUSIVITY
It is essential to the 美姬社区 mission that people participate in solving the environmental challenges we face. To this end, 美姬社区 is continuously working toward improving inclusivity and accessibility on our programs.
DISCRIMINATION
美姬社区 promotes respect and inclusion for all people.
Discrimination will not be tolerated on 美姬社区 teams or in interactions with members of the local community.
美姬社区 does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation or any other reason prohibited by applicable law and respects participants鈥 right to privacy. Please also be aware that local anti-discrimination laws and customs may vary from country to country.
GENDER IDENTITY & EXPRESSION
美姬社区 will honor each person鈥檚 assertion of gender identity respectfully and without judgment.
For both teen and adult teams, where logistics dictate single-gender accommodations or other facilities, participant placements will be made in accordance with the gender identity the participant specified on their 美姬社区 Participant form and/or preferences indicated in discussions with 美姬社区.
ACCESSIBILITY
Neither 美姬社区 nor program staff may refuse a participant for discriminatory reasons (race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, etc.). However, 美姬社区 and the 美姬社区 Scientist reserve the right to refuse an applicant鈥檚 participation in an 美姬社区 program at any time due to safety concerns, logistical limitations, or in the interest of team compatibility. 美姬社区 endeavors to include participants with disabilities where possible. Refusal of an applicant is an unusual event and is generally due to an applicant鈥檚 failure to meet the essential eligibility requirements of a particular project and 美姬社区鈥檚 inability to make reasonable accommodations. In the event that 美姬社区 refuses an applicant鈥檚 participation for health reasons, 美姬社区 will fully refund any deposit or payment made toward the expedition.
BEHAVIOR
Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated on 美姬社区 teams. Likewise, verbal, physical, or any other type of abuse, intimidation, harassment, assault, or other illegal activity is strictly prohibited.
DURING THE PROGRAM
All 美姬社区 team members鈥攑articipants, 美姬社区 staff, and program Team Leaders (including scientists, project staff, and facilitators)鈥攈ave a responsibility to:
- Treat ALL people with respect; this includes other team members, members of the local community, or anyone else with whom they come into contact.
- Foster a safe, productive, inclusive, and positive environment for learning and research;
- Participate in program activities to the best of their ability to contribute meaningfully to the research;
- Be respectful to the local culture, people, language, and environment; and
- Abide by 美姬社区 policies, Team Leader instructions, program rules, and all applicable laws.
Participants are required to follow the instructions of the 美姬社区 Team Leaders at all times.
BEFORE OR AFTER THE PROGRAM
If a participant鈥檚 oral or written conduct toward 美姬社区 or project staff has raised concerns about the potential disruption of team operations or safety in the field, 美姬社区 reserves the right to cancel that participant鈥檚 expedition place and retain 100% of what the participant has paid at the time of refusal.
DRUGS, ALCOHOL & SMOKING
DRUG POLICY
Laws on drug use in most countries are severe and may impose lengthy prison terms or the death penalty. The manufacture, possession, use, purchase, and/or sale of illegal or recreational drugs is strictly prohibited for any person while working or participating on an 美姬社区 program. Prescription drugs may only be purchased and used by the individual indicated on the prescription, in keeping with the intended use guidelines.
ALCOHOL POLICY
Local statutes, customs, practices, ordinances, and regulations with regard to the use, possession, sale, or purchase of alcohol are applicable to all participants and program Team Leaders on 美姬社区 programs. Participants and Team Leaders on 美姬社区 programs must comply with the law of the country where a program is located regarding the minimum age required to purchase and/or consume alcohol. Consumption of alcohol is prohibited during research and other program activities and should be restricted to recreational or meal times.
In addition, project-specific restrictions on the use, possession, sale, or purchase of alcohol may be set by the 美姬社区 scientist and will be described in the online Expedition Briefing.
Excessive alcohol consumption by participants or Team leaders is not acceptable on 美姬社区 programs. 美姬社区 staff and the 美姬社区 scientist have the discretion to remove individuals from the program who consume alcohol at a time and in a manner that endangers the program's safety and/or productivity.
For Teen Teams: The consumption or possession of alcohol by participants or Team Leaders is prohibited on 美姬社区 Teen Teams, regardless of local minimum age requirements.
SMOKING POLICY
Smoking is only permitted in designated areas, which vary from site to site; restrictions will be described in the online Expedition Briefing. Cigarette remnants must be disposed of properly.
Note: Smoking in the presence of minors is not permitted.
EXCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Team Leaders (including PIs, field and support staff, and facilitators), their colleagues, visitors, and associates are prohibited from becoming romantically involved with 美姬社区 participants for the entire program duration.
Because team leaders hold positions of authority, the relationship between a participant and team leader is analogous to a student-teacher relationship. Intimate, romantic, or exclusive relationships can create an uncomfortable work environment and negatively affect team dynamics.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual Harassment will not be tolerated on 美姬社区 teams or in interactions with community members.
Sexual harassment refers to verbal, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment, including but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances; pressure for sexual activity or requests for sexual favors; inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact or exposure; explicit or suggestive speech or gestures, including inappropriate jokes, teasing or insinuations; gender-specific, demeaning or derisive remarks or slurs; explicit or suggestive images that are displayed, e-mailed or texted.
Remember that different people have different ideas of what is or is not appropriate. What may be joking to one person may be unwelcome and offensive to another鈥 including other participants, the local population, Team Leaders, or other program staff. It is important to be sensitive to the reactions and non-verbal cues from others. Any team member who is found to have engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment may be immediately removed from the program at their own expense.
Anyone who believes they have been affected by or witnessed sexual harassment should report it to the 美姬社区 scientist, other Team Leaders, or 美姬社区 right away.
RECREATIONAL TIME
Project staff will generally accompany participants from the rendezvous to the end of the expedition. When no research activities are scheduled for recreational days, 美姬社区 scientists will offer either a team activity or a range of recreational activities that 美姬社区 has selected. Participants may also remain at the project accommodations. Those who pursue other options may be asked to sign a release form.
If there is a period of time during a regular research day when no research activities are scheduled, adult participants may leave the project site on their own and may be asked to sign out of the project before doing so. Unless contacted for help, project staff will not search for a participant unless they fail to appear the following morning or for the next scheduled research activity.
美姬社区 will assess the general risks of adult participants leaving the project site, but cannot guarantee participant safety or an awareness of all issues. In some cases, due to local conditions, adult participants may have to stay at the project site after daylight hours or during recreational time; any restrictions will be described in the program鈥檚 online Expedition Briefing.
For Teen Teams: The project staff and/or Teen Team facilitator will supervise any planned team activity or a small choice of supervised recreational activities that 美姬社区 has selected. Teens will also have the option of remaining at the project accommodations to rest, provided supervision is possible.
TEAMS WITH MINORS
美姬社区 considers participants less than eighteen (18) years of age to be minors.
Minors are not permitted to participate on any of 美姬社区鈥檚 standard teams unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is fifteen (15). Guardians accompanying minors on standard teams must be 21 years of age or over. Minors on standard teams do not receive additional guidance or supervision from 美姬社区 beyond what is offered to the adult participants. The total number of minors on standard teams may be limited on a project-by-project basis, and some 美姬社区 projects do not allow participation by minors in any circumstance; such limitations will be noted in the online Expedition Briefing.
美姬社区 has developed teams specifically for 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds which may include 18-year-olds who are in the same academic year (鈥淭een Teams鈥). Exceptions or limitations for some teams may be made at the discretion of 美姬社区 and the 美姬社区 scientist.
PARTICIPANTS & DRIVING
Participants are not allowed to drive program vehicles during an 美姬社区 program. Participants are not permitted to operate or ride on motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, all-terrain vehicles, quad bikes, or aircraft.
Participants who drive their own vehicles to the rendezvous point or program site may not drive their own vehicles to, from, or for project activities, including transporting project equipment after arriving at the site. Participants may choose to utilize their own vehicles during recreational time at their own risk. Riding in another participant鈥檚 vehicle is strongly discouraged and done at the participant鈥檚 own risk.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Sharing photos, videos, and stories of your expedition with family, friends, local media, and in a public forum is permissible. Sharing your new perspectives and experiences is welcomed and encouraged.
However, please recognize that all information, data, and images shared or gathered during your expedition鈥檚 fieldwork become the intellectual property of the 美姬社区 scientist. Co-opting or plagiarism of data, images, or information gathered during an expedition for use in a scientific thesis, master鈥檚, or PhD work, or for profit or the academic or business use of a third party without the permission of the 美姬社区 scientist is strictly prohibited. 美姬社区 scientists have the right to place additional restrictions on your ability to share data or certain research-related images.
Conversely, an 美姬社区 scientist may give written permission to use data and images for academic or profitable activity. 美姬社区 scientists have the right but not the obligation to review and edit materials involving information gathered on one of their expeditions. Please be sure to ask the 美姬社区 scientists what is acceptable to them.
ASSISTANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY
Each 美姬社区 expedition has safety protocols and emergency procedures in place. For their own safety and the safety of other team members, participants must adhere to the instructions of the 美姬社区 scientists, field staff, and other 美姬社区 staff. In the event of an emergency, first aid may be administered, and other immediate steps may be taken by expedition participants or staff members who are not licensed medical providers. While 美姬社区 makes an effort to ensure that qualified people make the most informed decisions possible, judgments must be made in the event of an emergency situation in the field
美姬社区 encourages team members to be vigilant in regard to their own safety and the safety of others. Participants may perform 鈥淕ood Samaritan鈥 actions or actions taken to assist fellow participants during emergency situations in the field. However, 美姬社区 does not encourage or expect you to jeopardize your own safety or that of others in attempting to rescue or assist your fellow team members.
IN THE EVENT OF POLICY VIOLATION
DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM
The decision to terminate any work being done by a participant and require the participant to vacate the project site is at the discretion of the 美姬社区 scientist, other Team Leaders, or 美姬社区 staff.
A participant is subject to removal from the team at their own expense if:
- The participant鈥檚 behavior compromises the safety, research objectives, or general performance of the team;
- The participant has misrepresented their qualifications, for example, an undeclared or understated medical condition (whether physical or mental), which could compromise their safety or the safety of anyone else;
- The participant has violated a stated policy or law or
- The participant鈥檚 poor behavior or policy violation continues despite verbal warnings from the Team Leader(s).
In the event a participant is removed from an 美姬社区 program, the participant (and/or their parents or guardians, if appropriate) will be responsible for making and paying for any necessary accommodation, travel, or other arrangements associated with their departure. The participant will not be eligible for a refund of the contribution for the expedition nor any expenses incurred by participation on the expedition. Dismissal from a project will jeopardize the participant鈥檚 ability to join other 美姬社区 programs in the future.
In the event a minor is dismissed from a program, 美姬社区 will contact the participant鈥檚 parents or guardians before dismissal. Parents/guardians will then be required to pick up their child from the project site, home airport, or other mutually agreed location as soon as possible but no more than 48 hours after dismissal.
REFUSAL OF FUTURE PARTICIPATION
In the event an individual鈥檚 oral or written conduct toward 美姬社区 staff or their behavior during an 美姬社区 program violates this Code of Conduct, 美姬社区 policies, program rules, or applicable laws, 美姬社区 reserves the right to refuse their participation in future 美姬社区 programs.
美姬社区 will investigate each incident in good faith, but ultimately, decisions will be made at 美姬社区鈥檚 discretion.
The individual(s) in question will be informed of an immediate exclusion from future programs or will receive a warning that future exclusion is possible, particularly in the event of further policy violations.
Exclusion is thankfully an extremely rare event, but participants should understand that inappropriate and/or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
(November 2024)
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
美姬社区 depends on donations鈥攁bove and beyond what we raise from volunteers who participate in our expeditions鈥攖o deliver our global conservation mission. In fact, volunteer contributions provide only half of the total resources 美姬社区 needs to sustain over 20 global field research expeditions, a wide variety of educational programs, corporate sustainability trainings, and more each year.