Child Protection Plan
Child Protection Plan
Ridgecrest Conference Center has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind involving any individual on our campus. Allegations are taken seriously, investigated, and reported.
We are committed to the protection of children on our campus. Child safety is a shared responsibility among Ridgecrest, event sponsors, group leaders/chaperones, and parents/guardians. We follow best practices for keeping children safe in a conference center environment and utilize a multi-layered approach built on policies, training, awareness, and accountability. Any suspected abuse of a minor will be reported to the appropriate government authorities.
Our Child Protection Plan focuses on the areas.
Leadership Qualifications
Our Ridgecrest Leadership Team provides years of experience, and all full-time leaders complete formal training by industry-trusted third-party experts.
Our Ridgecrest Leadership Team has a combined 150+ years of experience working at Christian conference centers and camps. We shape our Child Protection Plan by their firsthand experience, specifically at our unique setting in North Carolina.
Every full-time leader at our conference center completes MinistrySafe © Sexual Abuse Awareness Training upon hire and every two years thereafter. This is in addition to our annual training for all employees that includes preventing child abuse, identifying red flags (i.e., typical behavior patterns of child molesters and sex offenders that put children at risk), and the warning signs and symptoms associated with sexual abuse or child molestation.
In addition, the full-time Directors at Ridgecrest Summer Camps – also part of Ridgecrest Ministries – are an additional resource and provide expertise having completed a 15+ hour MinistrySafe © Institutes Course to deepen their understanding and provide support on identifying and preventing inappropriate behavior.
Screening and Hiring
From recruitment to onboarding, we carefully screen our Ridgecrest employees and volunteers using methods such as applications, screener questions, interviews, reference checks, and background checks which include sex offender registries.
We want Ridgecrest Conference Center to be a great place to serve. We also understand our conference center is not the right place to serve for every candidate. Interviews include not only discussion of the candidates’ skills and experience, but also an assessment of their potential fit within our ministry and alignment with our mission of Impacting Lives for God’s Glory Through Purposeful Hospitality.
We complete and review a background check on every potential employee and volunteer before they join our team. Disqualifying offenses include but are not limited to violent crimes, crimes with a weapon, distribution/trafficking of illegal substances, crimes against minors, and crimes of a sexual nature. We re-run checks for each employee and volunteer every three years.
Our contracts with temp agencies require them to complete and review background checks prior to sending workers to Ridgecrest and prohibit them from sending individuals with a history of violent crimes, crimes with a weapon, distribution/trafficking of illegal substances, crimes against minors, and crimes of a sexual nature.
Training and Culture
Training focuses on preventing child abuse and sexual abuse, identifying potential red flags, and reporting procedures.
We want a culture where any suspicious or harmful behavior is identified and addressed as quickly as possible. Our team training accomplishes two purposes:
-
- It promotes child protection by creating a network of individuals looking for scenarios and interactions that could put minors, guests, or our team members in danger or jeopardy.
- It communicates to our team members that we take this very seriously and are collectively monitoring our team as well.
Research shows that predators seek institutions where the guard is low. We want to intentionally communicate in a way that would intimidate and deter individuals with any such intentions.
We annually train every conference center employee and volunteer on items including:
- We define sexual abuse.
- A team member should never be alone with a minor in any private setting.
- North Carolina is a mandatory reporting state with respect to child abuse.
- The reporting standard is “any cause to suspect that any juvenile has been abused or neglected.”
- The suspected abuse or neglect must be reported no matter where or when it happened, i.e., even if in another location at another time.
- How to report externally: Call 1.800.4A.CHILD
- How to report internally, so our ministry can also report the suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities.
- Our reporting procedures are in no way meant to discourage anyone else from reporting suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities.
Every full-time conference center leader completes MinistrySafe © Sexual Abuse Awareness Training upon hire and every two years thereafter.
We also provide department-specific guidelines for interactions with guests to prevent suspicion and promote the protection of all individuals.
Policies and Safeguards
This vital element of protecting children includes policies for our Ridgecrest team members as well as requirements and expectations of organizations holding events at our conference center.
We have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind involving any individual on our campus. Allegations are taken seriously, investigated, and reported. We always report suspected abuse of a minor to the appropriate government authorities and fully cooperate with them.
Our Child Protection Team is responsible for reviewing our policies and procedures, recommending areas for improvement, ensuring the training of employees and volunteers, and confirming to the Board and Executive Team that the Child Protection Plan is operating as intended.
Our Child Protection Coordinator leads our Child Protection Team and ensures reports of suspected child abuse are reported in accordance with North Carolina law and that we are fully cooperating with government authorities. The Child Protection Coordinator also works with the Child Protection Team and CEO if an internal investigation is needed. An outside investigation by the appropriate authorities always takes priority over an internal investigation.
Additional Safeguards:
- We utilize armed security on our campus.
- We restrict campus access to team members, guests attending events, and individuals with an appointment or reservation.
- We do not allow firearms, other weapons, or alcohol on campus.
- We post signs in public restrooms that have instructions for reporting abuse or neglect of minors, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and domestic scenarios.
- We utilize an independent third-party child abuse expert who provides counsel in these scenarios – but never in lieu of reporting to government authorities.
- While no system stops 100% of objectionable content, we utilize content filters on our WiFi.
- It is against Ridgecrest policy for an adult to stay alone in a guestroom with a minor who is not related by blood or adoption.
- Ridgecrest uses a visual identification system for all guests on campus.
Groups bringing minors to events at Ridgecrest Conference Center provide chaperones. Conference center staff do not have direct oversight of minors.
Recommendations for Event Sponsors with Minors Attending
We strongly recommend the following guidelines based on Child Protection best practices:
- Have policies in place that address Child Protection issues, including the risk of child sexual abuse and peer-to-peer abuse, recognizing sexual abuse offender characteristics and behaviors, and legal reporting requirements within the state of North Carolina – and to ensure these policies are known and followed by all Attendees who are 18+ years old.
- That the Event Sponsor run background checks at least every three years on all Attendees who are 18+ years old to ensure no Attendees (a) are registered sex offenders; (b) have been convicted of a state or federal offense that involves harm to a child and/or violence to others. In some cases, it might be more practical for the Event Sponsor to require each attending organization to run the background checks on that organization’s Attendees who are 18+ years old.
- The following ratios for supervision of minors attending the event:
| Age Range of Minors | Minimum Ratio |
|---|---|
| 4-5 years old | 1 chaperone per 5 minors |
| 6-8 years old | 1 chaperone per 6 minors |
| 9-17 years old | 1 chaperone per 8 minors |
- The presence of at least two chaperones with each group of minors whenever possible. Chaperones should never be alone with any minor unless they are in plain view of others.
- Individuals under 18 years old should not serve as chaperones.
- Chaperones should be at least two years older than the minors with whom they are working.
Recommendations for Parents and Legal Guardians
- MinistrySafe © Parent/Guardian Training is a great resource for parents and guardians.
- Remind your child:
- Tell Someone: If ANYTHING makes you uncomfortable, tell someone! You can tell a chaperone, any Ridgecrest team member, or a staff member of the event you are attending.
- Private body parts are private: Help your child understand the boundaries with private parts and what’s appropriate and not appropriate. For example, no one should ever touch or call attention to anywhere on your body that is normally covered by a bathing suit.
- Bullying is not ok. If they see or experience it, they should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.
Ridgecrest Ministries’ Board of Directors includes both independent directors and camp parents who work with the Ridgecrest Leadership Team to ensure we are implementing, consistently improving, and held accountable for policies and procedures related to Child Protection. Board members complete MinistrySafe © Sexual Abuse Awareness Training upon joining the Board and every two years thereafter. Ridgecrest Ministries’ leadership team has direct lines of communication to the Board so that every team member – including our CEO – is held accountable to our Child Protection Plans.
P.O. Box 128
Ridgecrest, NC 28770
email@ridgecrestconferencecenter.com
(828) 669.8022
© 2026 RIDGECREST CONFERENCE CENTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.