Guidelines & Policies
● For Parents & Guardians: Thank you for your interest in The Bridge. We are honored to work with young people and families here in Round Lake. Please come by and visit us or call us to make an appointment. Our WiFi Café is open on selected weekday afternoons, with outdoor recreational sports offered from the spring through the fall, weather permitting. The days & hours we are open are posted on this website (under "What We Offer") & on Facebook (The Bridge Round Lake).
● Cooperation & Respect: We are honored by the interest and willingness students have in coming to The Bridge. In order to effectively meet and maintain our goals, everyone (leaders, volunteers, students, parents, and so forth) who participates in Bridge related activities is required to speak and act in a manner that is conducive to the mission & vision of The Bridge and with our values. This includes treating everyone, their possessions, and our property with respect. It also includes refraining from: the use of profanity or any form of speech or action that demeans, insults, bullies or intimidates another person; inappropriate physical or sexual contact; accessing inappropriate material over our WiFi or when using our computers; the use of alcohol, tobacco, or weapons; or engaging in any harmful or illegal activity. Thank you. Supervised computer use with internet access is provided, along with free printing for students' educational & vocational development.
● Our Leadership Team: This team consists of leaders & volunteers, many of whom have a variety of skills and several years of experience working with youth, including Round Lake High School graduates, Round Lake High School teachers, youth group leaders, parents, student volunteers and our sponsoring church's pastor. We also partner with other community leaders in order to help young people excel in all areas of life. For more information about our leaders & volunteers, see our "Leadership" webpage.
● Background Checks: We have adult leaders as well as adult & youth volunteers. Background checks are required for all adults, 18 years or older, who serve as a leader or as a volunteer (see the "Leaders & Volunteers" paragraph down below). Once a youth volunteer reaches the age of 18, a background check is required in order for him/her to continue as a volunteer or to become a leader. References are also required to approve new volunteers or leaders who are not already approved volunteers of Lake Region Bible Church, and do not already have a long-term established relationship with us.
● Supervision Policy: All Bridge related activities are supervised by at least two leaders or by one leader and one adult or youth volunteer. Usually multiple leaders and/or volunteers are present at Bridge events.
● Three Person Policy: Personal conversations or individual mentoring is provided, but a leader or adult volunteer will not meet with a minor alone (and youth volunteers must abide by our three-person policy when participating as a Bridge volunteer in a Bridge sponsored event). Private conversations may take place at our WiFi Cafe' or at other Bridge events, but in a context where another leader or adult/youth volunteer is visibly present. Meetings or interactions between a leader or adult volunteer and a minor may take place outside of a Bridge related activity, but the three person policy must be followed, or the meeting must take place in a public location. Rides home can be provided upon request. Drivers must be approved adult leaders or adult volunteers with a valid driver's license, who are driving a vehicle which is properly registered & insured.
● Community-based Christian Mission: We are sponsored by Lake Region Bible Church, and we partner with other organizations & leaders in the community. We work with young people & families from all backgrounds, regardless of spiritual interest or religious affiliation, in areas which we find common ground and which are beneficial to the community. Spiritual mentoring & referrals will be made available to those who are interested, without coercion and with no obligation, as with other assistance or referrals provided (see "Our Values" section on our "Mission & Vision" webpage).
● Leaders & Volunteers: Leaders must be adults (18 years or older) who are in agreement with our mission & vision and with our values (listed on our "Mission & Vision" webpage above). Volunteers must be students (ages 14 to 17) or adults who are in agreement with our mission & vision" and who also are either in agreement with our values or will work in cooperation with these values. Youth or adults may serve as volunteers if they have a different religious background or if they are unsure of their spiritual beliefs, if they are willing to abide by our guiding principles. A lot of what The Bridge offers is enriching activities (such as recreational sports) which people from various religious or spiritual beliefs can work together to support. Since The Bridge is a church sponsored mission which operates according to the Christian faith, all those in leadership positions must also be in agreement with our values, and all volunteers must respectfully abide by them. Thank you. Everyone is welcome to discuss or share their differing views in a respectful manner, and anyone who participates in Bridge related activities shall speak respectfully with each other in all situations, including conversations related to different religious or spiritual beliefs. Any adult or youth interested in becoming a volunteer should contact one of our leaders. Our leadership team will seek out additional leaders as needed. Thank you.
● Cooperation & Respect: We are honored by the interest and willingness students have in coming to The Bridge. In order to effectively meet and maintain our goals, everyone (leaders, volunteers, students, parents, and so forth) who participates in Bridge related activities is required to speak and act in a manner that is conducive to the mission & vision of The Bridge and with our values. This includes treating everyone, their possessions, and our property with respect. It also includes refraining from: the use of profanity or any form of speech or action that demeans, insults, bullies or intimidates another person; inappropriate physical or sexual contact; accessing inappropriate material over our WiFi or when using our computers; the use of alcohol, tobacco, or weapons; or engaging in any harmful or illegal activity. Thank you. Supervised computer use with internet access is provided, along with free printing for students' educational & vocational development.
● Our Leadership Team: This team consists of leaders & volunteers, many of whom have a variety of skills and several years of experience working with youth, including Round Lake High School graduates, Round Lake High School teachers, youth group leaders, parents, student volunteers and our sponsoring church's pastor. We also partner with other community leaders in order to help young people excel in all areas of life. For more information about our leaders & volunteers, see our "Leadership" webpage.
● Background Checks: We have adult leaders as well as adult & youth volunteers. Background checks are required for all adults, 18 years or older, who serve as a leader or as a volunteer (see the "Leaders & Volunteers" paragraph down below). Once a youth volunteer reaches the age of 18, a background check is required in order for him/her to continue as a volunteer or to become a leader. References are also required to approve new volunteers or leaders who are not already approved volunteers of Lake Region Bible Church, and do not already have a long-term established relationship with us.
● Supervision Policy: All Bridge related activities are supervised by at least two leaders or by one leader and one adult or youth volunteer. Usually multiple leaders and/or volunteers are present at Bridge events.
● Three Person Policy: Personal conversations or individual mentoring is provided, but a leader or adult volunteer will not meet with a minor alone (and youth volunteers must abide by our three-person policy when participating as a Bridge volunteer in a Bridge sponsored event). Private conversations may take place at our WiFi Cafe' or at other Bridge events, but in a context where another leader or adult/youth volunteer is visibly present. Meetings or interactions between a leader or adult volunteer and a minor may take place outside of a Bridge related activity, but the three person policy must be followed, or the meeting must take place in a public location. Rides home can be provided upon request. Drivers must be approved adult leaders or adult volunteers with a valid driver's license, who are driving a vehicle which is properly registered & insured.
● Community-based Christian Mission: We are sponsored by Lake Region Bible Church, and we partner with other organizations & leaders in the community. We work with young people & families from all backgrounds, regardless of spiritual interest or religious affiliation, in areas which we find common ground and which are beneficial to the community. Spiritual mentoring & referrals will be made available to those who are interested, without coercion and with no obligation, as with other assistance or referrals provided (see "Our Values" section on our "Mission & Vision" webpage).
● Leaders & Volunteers: Leaders must be adults (18 years or older) who are in agreement with our mission & vision and with our values (listed on our "Mission & Vision" webpage above). Volunteers must be students (ages 14 to 17) or adults who are in agreement with our mission & vision" and who also are either in agreement with our values or will work in cooperation with these values. Youth or adults may serve as volunteers if they have a different religious background or if they are unsure of their spiritual beliefs, if they are willing to abide by our guiding principles. A lot of what The Bridge offers is enriching activities (such as recreational sports) which people from various religious or spiritual beliefs can work together to support. Since The Bridge is a church sponsored mission which operates according to the Christian faith, all those in leadership positions must also be in agreement with our values, and all volunteers must respectfully abide by them. Thank you. Everyone is welcome to discuss or share their differing views in a respectful manner, and anyone who participates in Bridge related activities shall speak respectfully with each other in all situations, including conversations related to different religious or spiritual beliefs. Any adult or youth interested in becoming a volunteer should contact one of our leaders. Our leadership team will seek out additional leaders as needed. Thank you.