Student Safety & Supervision Policy
At Xtatic, the primary responsibility of our summer staff is to assess risks and supervise students to ensure the safest experience possible.
Staff-to-Student Ratios:
- For Xtatic’s International Programs, we maintain a 10:1 student-to-staff ratio. In some locations, the Local Director is included in this ratio; however, this is not universal.
- For Xtatic’s Domestic Internship Programs, we uphold a 10:1 student-to-staff ratio. Similar to our international programs, the inclusion of the Local Director in this ratio may vary by location.
- The student-to-staff ratio on all programs will never exceed 10:1 at any time, including during travel to and from different sites.
Companion System:
Xtatic employs a “companion system” where students are grouped in pairs or small groups of 2 or 3. Students are expected to stay within their assigned companion system, especially in designated areas where staff may be present but not directly accompanying them, such as during excursions and cultural activities. It is crucial that all students are accounted for before staff leave any location, upon arrival, and throughout activities.
Free Time Supervision:
During free time at the Home Base, students may remain in their rooms or use common areas, but they must be supervised at all times. Staff will be present in common areas, even during their meetings, to assist students as needed. For safety reasons, students are not permitted in rooms that are not assigned to them. If a pool is available, students must have at least two staff members supervising the area before swimming.
Nighttime Policy:
It is Xtatic policy that students remain in their assigned rooms for the night once program leaders have instructed them to do so. Violating this policy (e.g., sneaking out) jeopardizes the safety of everyone involved and can lead to dismissal from the program. Each night, participants will be informed of the designated time to return to their rooms and the lights-out schedule, along with the next day’s itinerary. For health reasons, we encourage students to achieve a full eight hours of sleep whenever possible.
Local Staff Qualifications:
Local staff, who meet the same qualifications as our international staff—including first aid and CPR training—are included in the supervision ratio and hold full supervisory rights over students. Local staff with partial qualifications may be assigned limited supervisory roles for brief periods (e.g., a Home Base manager supervising a sick student while others are engaged in a service project for up to three hours).