Youth Protection and code of conduct

The TRC mission is to inspire the next generation of bright minds to become science and technology leaders to Dare Mighty Things and make a positive difference in our community and eventually the world. To achieve this goal, the TRC Youth Protection Program and the Code of Conduct exist to create a fun, safe and constructive learning environment for every student team member, coach and mentor.

The following policies outline the expected behaviors mentors, coaches, volunteers, team members, affiliate partners, contractors, staff, and other participants should adhere to while participating in TRClasses, TRCamps, TRCompetitions, TRCommunity (Homeschool), FIRST Team Events, Community Outreach Events, and other activities where our students are present.

Exhibit Gracious Professionalism® at all times. 

Gracious Professionalism is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions.

• Ensure the safety of all participants in FIRST activities
• Do not engage in any form of bullying, harassment, use of profane or insulting language, or any actual or threatened violence
• Adhere to all FIRST Youth Protection Policies
• Report any unsafe behavior to event or local FIRST leadership

Follow the TRC Policy Guidelines:

• FIRST Youth Protection Program
• Safety and Personal Protection Policy
• Wellness Policy
• Cellphone Policy
• Food Allergy Awareness

Team members who do not comply with the TRC Code of Conduct, FIRST Code of Conduct, FIRST Youth Protection Policies, and all TRC Policies may be barred from participating in programs at the Tennessee Robotics Center and all FIRST activities and events.

Overwatch, Youth Protection Program and Online Safety Guidelines

At TRC, we are very protective of our students when viewing content on the Internet. As such, we have installed multiple layers of protection to try and protect our students when viewing learning content online to the best of our ability. However, most of our classroom activities use app-based learning programs and all computer screens are always visible to mentors at all times. We are highly transparent when students are using our computers and iPads, and this is by design.

We have a zero-tolerance policy for any violations of our Youth Protection Policies. Any incident involving a youth protection policy violation will result in immediate dismissal from TRC and appropriate authorities will be contacted for further investigation. Please read the FIRST Youth Protection Program here and follow it to the letter.

Please note that all learning labs have recording video cameras installed to provide overwatch and protection for our students and mentors at all times. These cameras are present to protect students, mentors, and coaches and not to intrude on the privacy of our students. Cameras are providing overwatch in learning areas where students congregate and participate in TRC learning activities.

At no time will a student be allowed to be alone with a coach, mentor or any adult without a two-deep leadership model present (one adult coach/one youth mentor). At no time, will more than one student be allowed in the restroom at one time.

Cellphone and device Use

The coaches and mentors expect all team members to be fully committed to robotics activities during all team meetings and events. This means that the use of cellphones for anything other than robotics (research, taking photos of the robot, and engineering journaling) are not allowed during robotics meetings. 

Our investment in the Tennessee Robotics Center is significant in both time, money and resources. Being a technology education program, we do not discourage the team from using their personal mobile devices during meetings. In fact, we encourage the use of devices for communication, photography and research.

However, when students use their devices to waste team time on social media sites (Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram), play video games, and other non-education related activities during team meetings and events, this behavior will be addressed on an individual basis and hopefully, will not continue to be an issue. 

Continual abuse of the mobile device policy will result in the team member not being able to bring their device to team meetings and events.

Food Allergy Awareness

Out of concern and respect for every team member's health and safety, please read and follow our food allergy awareness guidelines in regard to dairy, peanuts and items that may contain tree nuts. TRC is an Allergy-Friendly Facility and as such, we aim to accommodate every child's need to feel safe and welcome in our facility.

There are many events throughout the season that have food options. During our Saturday meetings, we ask the team to bring a sack lunch since we meet from 10-2 pm. Due to a few of our team members having a severe peanut allergy we ask that no peanut products or products that may contain tree nuts be brought to any team meeting and event. We are a peanut free and nut free facility and we try to keep it that way.

We also have a team member with a severe dairy allergy. Consuming dairy products is okay but we just ask students to wash their hands after eating and before touching the robot parts and tools. Also to avoid contamination of our work area, we ask that students not bring in crunchy, cheesy snacks like Cheetos, Doritos, etc. because the crumbs go everywhere, and they are difficult to clean up afterward. 

Thank you for your understanding and attentiveness in this area. We want all of our students to feel safe and welcome at our team meetings and tournaments. Food allergies are difficult to manage for many families but if you are unsure of what to bring or not bring, please let Coach Mike know.

Following our wellness plan will be of extreme importance to the team's success during the cold and flu season. As a club, we adopted our local MTHEA tutorial sick policy as follows:

If you are sick with anything that's contagious, please DO NOT come to TRC until you have been completely symptom-free for 24 hours.

In addition, specifically with the flu, strep throat, and stomach viruses (all of which seem to spread around extra quickly in a group and can take us out of the game longer than a cold), we ask that you not come if you or anyone in your family is sick with one of these illnesses until you all have been symptom-free for 48 hours (due to incubation periods). 

We have some team members who either themselves or siblings have serious chronic health issues too and these sicknesses could be much more dangerous than to the average person.

If in doubt, play it on the safe side and stay home. We will always work with you to make up a lesson.

We reserve the right to dismiss a student early from any team meeting or event to protect the team from being exposed to a contagious illness.

Following our safety and personal protection policy will be of extreme importance to your safety and that of others on the team. Not following safety rules and guidelines may result in serious personal injury to yourself or others.

As a club, we adopted the following personal protection, eye protection, robot safety and power tool safety policy as follows:

Personal Protection:

• Team members must wear eye protection when working with the robot always. (Safety glasses will be provided in the shop)
• Team members must wear closed toe shoes at all times
• Team members must wear gloves and eye protection when drilling or cutting materials (wood, aluminum, steel, Lexan)
• Team members must wear respiratory protection when sanding or painting

Eye Protection:

• Wear safety glasses when working on the robot or subsystems
• Wear safety glasses in the pits and at the competition arena
• Wear safety glasses when using power tools
• Wear safety glasses when cutting any material

Robot Safety:

• Only operate the robot when all hands are clear of the robot systems
• Only drive the robot in the arena with the safety walls in place
• Be sure that the robot power switch is clearly labeled
• Follow safe battery charging to avoid risk of fire and damage to equipment
• Use Digital Voltmeter to test energized circuits and troubleshoot wiring

Power Tool Safety:  

• All power cutting and power tool operation must be shadowed by an adult team mentor. This includes the band saw, chop saw, jig saw, metal brake, and drill press
• Be sure all hands are clear of cutting blades and when using
• Unplug tools when changing blades (jig saw, band saw)

FIRST Aid Response:

• In the event of a personal injury, (cut, scrape, gouge)  everyone stop working on the robot
• Immediately notify an adult team mentor of any injury or accident
• See a mentor to access FIRST AID supplies
• Clean the wound with soap and water and protect it with a bandage
• Clean up and sanitize the area and tools where any blood may be present

Failure to follow and adhere to this personal protection and safety policy may result in dismissal from the TRC program.