Rocket Center Strengthens Policy Enforcement and Sets Eyes on the Future
March 29, 2024
Huntsville, Ala. - After a thorough review of allegations made recently over social media against a Space Camp employee, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center has concluded its investigation and taken necessary steps to move forward. We approached this situation with grave concern and extreme diligence. The results of our investigation revealed the following:
- There is no evidence of inappropriate behavior or malfeasance between any Space Camp staff and student campers.
- At no time were staff present in campers’ bathrooms. Our policies and our facilities are designed to create spaces where campers may dress, shower, and use the restroom in private.
- We have received differing accounts on whether an employee spoke to campers on subjects that are prohibited, such as disclosing personal details, religious, or political points of view. We have added a section to our camper and parent evaluations to better capture and address any potential violations quickly.
- All other policy violations that were the subject of the investigation have been addressed as an internal personnel matter and include transferring the employee in question to another job at the Center.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center adheres to all state and federal laws regulating hiring practices. Our camp staff undergo extensive nationwide criminal background checks which include state, county, and municipal court-level information, Department of Corrections data, state sex offender registries from across the country, and multi-panel drug tests. We are an apolitical organization with no social agenda. Our singular mission is to inspire and educate.
Under our employee code of conduct, it is the expectation that Space Camp staff act as ambassadors for the Space & Rocket Center, both on and off site. Campers also commit to a code of conduct while they are at Space Camp. Together, camper and staff codes of conduct work in concert to ensure a safe learning environment with clear boundaries where camper privacy is respected, and the camp experience focuses on our mission.
We are recommitting to ensuring all our policies are understood and enforced so that we can continue to provide a safe and friendly environment for campers who come from all 50 states and more than 70 countries each year. We remain focused on our mission and strive to maintain our position as the global leader for STEM education.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center updates response to social media post
March 15, 2024
Huntsville, Ala. - We value the safety of all individuals - our students, our employees, and our guests. In the past few days, many people on our staff have received threats, some general, and some very specific. This is not okay and is a subsequent, and very serious issue that we are dealing with internally and with the appropriate authorities.
These threats have been based on some concerns raised on social media about an employee. We take allegations of any violation or breach of trust very seriously. We fairly and impartially investigate any complaint of employee misconduct or policy violations to determine the validity of allegations and to impose any corrective actions that may be justified in a timely and consistent manner.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center would like to assure concerned parents, teachers and the public that no child has been physically harmed on our campus. In fact, no such allegation was ever raised as part of the recent social media controversy. In addition, our operation is designed with layers of protection to mitigate against single points of failure.
We are still gathering information but have been slowed down while schools are out for Spring Break and resources being diverted to deal with external safety threats. We will diligently continue with and conclude our investigation as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible.
Our communications and call center teams have been actively responding to questions and concerns raised by individuals and school groups. We have prioritized connecting with administrators of school groups with planned trips to Space Camp in the near future first and will then reach out to as many people as possible to address any additional concerns.
We will continue to regularly review and update our policies and procedures to ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety and risk prevention, as well as ensuring full compliance and oversight.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is and will remain an equal-opportunity employer adhering to all state and federal laws regulating hiring practices. We appreciate and want to thank our friends, colleagues, partners, and stakeholders who have supported us during this time, especially the Huntsville Police Department.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center responds to concerns raised on social media
March 11, 2024
Huntsville, Ala. – We are aware of rumors circulating on social media about a Space Camp employee. We would like to assure parents, teachers, and the public that the safety and security of Space Camp students is our number one priority. Any allegations of misconduct are taken very seriously. We are working to determine the facts in this case, after which we will take appropriate action.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center adheres to all state and federal laws regulating hiring practices. Our camp staff undergo extensive nationwide criminal background checks that include state, county, and municipal court-level information, Department of Corrections data, state sex offender registries from across the country, and multi-panel drug tests.
We also have rigorous standards and procedures regarding the behavior of Space Camp employees to ensure the safety of students. These include:
- No physical contact between staff and students beyond a fist bump or high five.
- No staff is allowed to be alone with a student behind a closed door.
- No sharing of personal details including personal phone numbers, email addresses, or social media information.
- No discussion of religion, sexual topics, politics, or sharing of opinions and beliefs that may be controversial.
Additionally, staff sleep in separate rooms from students and use separate bathroom facilities. We also provide 24-hour onsite security including round-the-clock video surveillance, regular foot and vehicle patrols, and controlled campus and building access.
We are an apolitical organization with no social agenda. Our singular mission is to inspire and educate.
Space Camp has been a trusted institution since its founding in 1982 with more than one million graduates from all 50 states and 150 countries. Many of those graduates have gone on to apply the leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills they learned at Space Camp to successful careers as scientists, engineers, teachers, doctors, and astronauts. We will continue to work hard to foster trust with each family and student that walks in our doors.
Media contact: Pat Ammons, pat.ammons@spacecamp.com; 256-721-5429