Safety, Dignity & Well-Being

Safety & Legal Notice

At G.O.T. Orchards, the safety, dignity, and well-being of every participant, volunteer, partner, and visitor are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for people of all abilities and generations. All participants—and parents, guardians, caregivers, volunteers, or mentors supporting them—should review this page before taking part in any G.O.T. Orchards program or event.

Participant Safety

Participation is voluntary. Indoor, outdoor, orchard, garden, craft, food, and community activities can involve ordinary and inherent risks. Depending on the activity and setting, these may include uneven or slippery surfaces; changing weather, heat, sun, plants, soil, or natural materials; insects and possible bites or stings; tools, art supplies, food or allergens; crowds; and movement during games or hands-on activities.

Participants, and parents or guardians supervising minors, are expected to:

  • Wear secure, activity-appropriate clothing and footwear. Shoelaces, straps, loose garments, cords, jewelry, costume accessories, and similar items should be secured when they could create a tripping, entanglement, visibility, heat, sun, or other safety concern.
  • Follow staff, volunteer, and host-location instructions and use tools, equipment, food, and activity materials only as directed.
  • Walk in activity areas unless an activity specifically permits otherwise; respect personal space and boundaries; and refrain from horseplay, fighting, throwing objects, harassment, unsafe costume accessories, or other conduct that could endanger anyone.
  • Supervise children or other individuals in their care and decide whether each activity is appropriate for them.
  • Promptly notify staff of a hazard, injury, choking, allergic reaction, bite or sting, or other safety concern. Call 911 immediately for choking or another emergency. A trained person should provide care when available; anyone who is untrained should follow the 911 dispatcher’s instructions.
  • Request a private accessibility or safety-planning conversation when support may be needed. Do not submit medical, allergy, medication, emergency, disability, or information about a minor through a public website form.

G.O.T. Orchards may pause, modify, or end an activity or an individual’s participation when conduct or conditions present a significant safety concern. When a concern may be related to disability, decisions will be individualized, based on objective information, and will consider whether a reasonable modification can reduce the risk. Decisions will not be based on assumptions or stereotypes.

Parent or Legal Guardian Permission & Supervision

For every G.O.T. Orchards public event and major special event, each participant under 18 must have advance permission from a parent or legal guardian before attending.

  • The participant must be accompanied by and remain under the active supervision of their parent or legal guardian throughout the event.
  • The parent or legal guardian must remain at the event and is responsible for deciding whether each activity, food, treat, or participation option is appropriate for the child.
  • G.O.T. Orchards staff, mentors, and volunteers do not assume custody or replace parental or legal-guardian supervision during public or major special events.
  • If the accompanying parent or legal guardian leaves, the minor participant may not remain at the event.

This is an organizational participation policy for public and major special events.

Food & Choking Safety

These practices apply whenever G.O.T. Orchards offers food, candy, tasting samples, or small edible or non-food treats.

  • Children must be seated and actively supervised while eating. Parents and guardians are responsible for deciding whether a food or treat is appropriate for the child’s age and individual chewing or swallowing ability.
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    CPR, AED & First-Aid Preparedness

    G.O.T. Orchards recommends and encourages CPR, AED, choking-response, and first-aid education for staff, volunteers, mentors, caregivers, teens, and interested participants who are able to complete a recognized training provider’s course requirements. Participation in training is voluntary.

    Teens are included in this encouragement and should obtain parent or legal guardian permission when the course provider requires it.

    • Anyone representing themselves as certified should maintain a current credential from a recognized provider and may be asked to verify it when serving in an organization-designated safety role.
    • An awareness video, self-directed practice program, or community demonstration may teach valuable skills but does not necessarily provide certification. Participants should choose a course that matches their intended role and clearly states whether a completion card or certification is issued.
    • In an emergency, call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. A currently trained person should provide CPR, AED assistance, choking response, or first aid when available. A person who is not trained should follow dispatcher guidance and should not attempt techniques beyond those instructions.

    Encouraging CPR and first-aid education does not guarantee that a certified responder or particular emergency equipment will be present at every event unless G.O.T. Orchards specifically announces it.

ider and may be asked to verify it when serving in an organization-designated safety role.
  • An awareness video, self-directed practice program, or community demonstration may teach valuable skills but does not necessarily provide certification. Participants should choose a course that matches their intended role and clearly states whether a completion card or certification is issued.
  • In an emergency, call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. A currently trained person should provide CPR, AED assistance, choking response, or first aid when available. A person who is not trained should follow dispatcher guidance and should not attempt techniques beyond those instructions.

    • Encouraging CPR and first-aid education does not guarantee that a certified responder or particular emergency equipment will be present at every event unless G.O.T. Orchards specifically announces it.

    Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations

    G.O.T. Orchards welcomes people of all abilities, backgrounds, and ages. We consider accommodation and communication requests individually so participants can take part meaningfully and safely.

    Depending on the activity, location, timing, and available resources, reasonable options may include an accessible route or seating location; adapted tools, materials, or activity steps; written or visual instructions; communication support; participation with a support person; additional processing time within the event schedule; or a non-food participation option.

    Request a private conversation as early as possible and preferably at least seven calendar days before an event when advance arrangements are needed. Later requests will still be considered when feasible. Use the public form only to request contact; do not include medical, disability, emergency, or other sensitive details.

    Not every requested change can be guaranteed. A request may be unavailable when it would fundamentally alter an essential activity, create an undue financial or administrative burden, or leave a significant health or safety risk that cannot be sufficiently reduced through reasonable modifications. G.O.T. Orchards will discuss the individual need and consider feasible, effective alternatives whenever possible.

    Volunteer Expectations

    Volunteers play an important role in fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. We expect all volunteers to treat participants with kindness, respect, patience, and professionalism. Harassment, discrimination, bullying, or unsafe behavior will not be tolerated.

    Photography & Media

    G.O.T. Orchards photographs or records participants only when the required written permission has been obtained. Identifiable media involving a minor requires permission from a parent or legal guardian and age-appropriate youth assent when applicable. Declining media permission will not reduce access to programs or opportunities.

    Program Scope & Professional Services

    G.O.T. Orchards provides community education, intergenerational activities, and opportunities for learning, creativity, service, and connection. The organization is not a medical, mental-health, counseling, therapy, diagnostic, nutrition, or social-work provider.

    Program participation does not replace care, evaluation, advice, or support from a physician, licensed mental-health professional, social worker, registered dietitian, or other qualified provider. Participants should consult appropriate professionals about individual health, mental-health, nutrition, or support needs.

    Participation, Responsibility & Legal Notice

    G.O.T. Orchards and its host locations use reasonable care and safety practices, but no community activity can be guaranteed to be free of every injury, illness, allergic reaction, environmental exposure, bite, sting, loss, or other ordinary risk. Participants are responsible for following safety instructions, making appropriate participation choices, supervising those in their care, and avoiding unsafe conduct.

    To the extent permitted by applicable law, each participant accepts responsibility for their own choices and conduct. G.O.T. Orchards is not responsible for personal belongings that are lost, stolen, or damaged during participation.

    This website notice is not a signed release and does not create or waive legal rights beyond what applicable law permits. It does not limit responsibility where the law does not allow responsibility to be limited. Organizations seeking a binding participant release should use a form reviewed by a licensed Rhode Island attorney.

    Nothing on this website should be interpreted as medical, legal, or professional advice.

    Fruit-Sharing Program Status

    G.O.T. Orchards is seeking written guidance from the Rhode Island Department of Health for a proposed seasonal, same-day whole-fruit sharing initiative. No public fruit collection or distribution dates are currently scheduled, and fruit must not be left or dropped off.

    If approved, only inspected, traceable whole fruit would be offered during an announced community collection window. Fruit would not be frozen or stored overnight. Safe, usable surplus may be transferred the same day to a confirmed food-relief partner. Unsafe, rejected, or unaccepted fruit would be discarded or composted using an approved method.

    Residents with established fruit trees may request information about possible future participation. Participation and fruit acceptance will depend on applicable health requirements, source documentation, inspection, and program approval.

    Website Information

    We make every effort to ensure the information on this website is accurate and up to date. Program details, schedules, partnerships, and services may change based on written health guidance, partner requirements, and available resources.

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