Safety Corner: Chaperone Policies are Ensuring a Pleasant Experience for All

RECENT SHIFTS IN TEENAGE BEHAVIOR and guest conduct have ushered in a new era of strict chaperone policies, especially during evenings and weekends.

“We cannot legally be responsible for watching your children,” says Kenneth Maguire, director of guest experience operations at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “We have other jobs to do, and we have to tend to other guests. We don’t have the staff availability or legal authority to watch your children and make decisions for them.”

The driving force to implement policies follows a rise in unruly behavior—including fights, large groups of teens who loiter, and security incidents—most often emerging during evening or weekend spikes. Many policies were implemented or expanded after major incidences and disturbances.

Funworld looks at how several operators have drafted and evolved chaperone policies that may assist industry facilities looking to implement similar standards.

Two of the Six Flags-branded properties in Texas: Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, have recently implemented a new chaperone policy for guests 15 years and younger that requires minors to be accompanied by a chaperone who is 21 years or older after 4 p.m. The chaperone may accompany up to 10 guests, must present a valid government ID, and remain with their party while entering the park—and throughout the duration of their stay. Many of Six Flags parks chaperone guidelines note that the policy may be enforced earlier than 4 p.m. on days when crowd dynamics require it.

“When chaperones are there, they are the first step if there’s something not going like it should,” says Holly Williamson, a public affairs specialist at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Knott’s Berry Farm was one of one of the first parks to implement a wide-reaching chaperone policy in 2022 after an incident involving teenagers occurred inside the park. The park’s policy has evolved and sets different guidelines on weekends. Monday through Thursday, guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old starting at 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, minors entering after 1 p.m. require a chaperone. Knott’s policy states the facility can adjust the times as needed at management’s discretion based on crowd behavior.

Set Clear Age Limits

In discussions with multiple operators, clear age thresholds— commonly under 15—help in establishing clear delineations needed for a chaperone. LaQuita Ford, senior director of guest engagement at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, sheds light on the age, noting, “Typically, it’s the ages of 16 to 17, when kids are able to legally drive where we will allow them into the museum without an adult.”

Establish Supervision Ratios and Guidelines

Most policies allow for up to 10 minors per adult chaperone. Attractions should detail and outline chaperone responsibilities—both from a supervision standpoint and an opportunistic standpoint—to set expectations early. This can be done with posts on social media channels, a proactive press release to spur coverage by local media outlets, printed leaflets handed to drivers at toll booths before guests park their vehicles, and signage at the front gate.