Due to upcoming trapping demonstrations with kids, I am wondering what kind of forms should be signed by parents to allow/forbid photos including their children to be used in any type of social media. Or is that the duty of the school or association who is hosting the event?
I’m going to a local elementary school at the end of the month ….and now another session is in the works at a sportsman’s club.
Is this something I could draw up on Microsoft word and be sufficient?
Can’t be too careful these days and unfortunately, our local school district is already under scrutiny for some separate problems involving teachers and inappropriate conduct with students. Tensions are high in the Laurel Highlands.

I would suggest you contact the PA Trappers association or even the PA DNR. They may have something typed up that you can get a base line to writing or even use for the events you are hosting. It is sad our world has come to this but it is what it is.

As an educator I would not take any pictures and put on social media. Not what I believe is right but way too many problems can occur. If you get a permission slip I would have it drawn up by an attorney. Seriously. Or get the permission slip and still only take pictures that do not show their face, or any kind of identifying characteristic at all.

Photo releases can be tricky, best to have a lawyer take a look.

A photo release form for minors is a legal document, signed by a parent or legal guardian, granting permission to use a child’s (under 18) photo or likeness for commercial, promotional, or public use. It is crucial for schools, photographers, and organizations to obtain this, as it protects against legal issues related to privacy, digital manipulation, and unauthorized marketing.
eSign
eSign
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Key Elements of a Minor Photo Release Form
A valid release should contain:
Minor’s Information: Full name of the child.
Parent/Guardian Details: Name, signature, and relationship to the child.
Usage Scope: Specifically how the image will be used (social media, website, print, brochures).
Compensation Clause: A statement that the use is non-compensated or negotiated.
Liability Release: A promise to hold the photographer or organization harmless from future claims.
Termination Clause: Notice that consent can be revoked, though it cannot reverse previously published materials.
eforms.com
eforms.com
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When You Need One
Commercial Use: Marketing, ads, websites, and flyers.
Social Media: Posting children's pictures on professional pages.
School Activities: School photos, team sports, and school talent shows.
Projects: Film productions, auditions, and portfolio work.
eSign
eSign
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Key Considerations
Signature: Only a parent or legal guardian can sign, not the minor (unless legally emancipated).
Duration: Often irrevocable once signed, though some specify a time limit.
Storage: The organization should store these forms securely for legal compliance.
eforms.com
eforms.com
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For specific needs, consider using tools or templates from SignWell, Jotform, or eForms to generate a release, but consider consulting with a legal professional for complete protection.
WaiverSign
WaiverSign
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For additional info
information regarding minor photo releases[/url]info

This free form shown would need to be modified to specify no compensation was available for non-commercial uses or some similar wording.

Are you planning to take the pictures and post them? Or planning ahead for the school to be taking the pictures and how they might use them? My daughter is in 5th grade and every parent had to sign a media release at the beginning of the year letting the school know if they could use her image and name (first only or first and last).

Depending on who's taking the pictures, it might already be covered.

If the school is taking and posting that is their deal. If it is you then you will/would need your own. If it is you I would not mess with it.

You'll also need a release for any adults in the photo to be totally protected.

Boggles my mind that people are constantly posting pictures of both kids and adults on the internet without bothering to ask. Of course it also boggles my mind that so many people are okay with it.

Save yourself alot of headaches. Just blur out the kids faces before you post. Trust me if ain’t worth the stress you will have trying to get permission. Then there will be one in background and parents find out.
Or don’t post pics with kids unless they are just hands or backs turned

Just my .02 but as others have suggested, I would not be posting any pictures or even taking any for that matter.

Let the school do it if they want

Way too many possible issues to bother with pictures

It's a shame that the world is turning in such a different circle these last years. God Bless you for what you set out to do!!!! Good luck.

Thank you all for great input. Yes I did contact the PTA and they have no such form drawn up. The elementary school as a fb page and I’ll leave it up to them if they decide to post. If they do, I may be able to share a link. I don’t have FB and this is the only place where I would share but now I probably will not; at least none with the little tykes faces as mentioned.

And yes it’s very sad we have to be so cautious but I’m all about protecting the little ones.

When my wife has events or is face painting , or her classes she has a photo and video release forms at sign up and if parents have any issues they let it be known at that time. One didnt want them im any photos another at a different class didnt care as long as his face was not visible.

For her face painting photos she just let's the parents that want to post the photos to her page themselves. No way they can complain about that.

Its sad we have to even think about it but this is the world we live in today.

Teach, educate and have fun! Leaves photos/ posting alone. My 2 cents

In a previous career I've taken hundreds of newspaper photos and never once asked for permission to print them, and never even considered doing so. Not sure what makes the internet different but it is, I guess.

There is a pic on the social net
of my wife and I from 1980.
I'm not impressed.
Any lawyers need work?
Send black helos.

No disrespect intended to any forum member but your best bet would be to contact a licensed attorney not an internet wannabe

most school boards will have something in place also as i remember when my kids where young there was a form that gave the school permission to use kids pictures in school newspapers or events

I use to give a lot of trapping demo at our rural school system. Several per year for many years. I was asked by the school often. I never took a camera. Why take pictures. The school could do what they wanted to do. I just went to have an educational program about trapping. Lot of parents would see me later and tell me about their kids trappings adventures. ( which I always enjoyed the stories) I’m sure some parents may have objected but never heard a thing. I only gave programs and my view was not my circus Not my monkeys but I know the clowns. Don’t sweat the small stuff. I would not take a camera. Give your program and let the school deal with any issues if they develop.

I took a day long training this year on the requirements of reunifying students with parents after some type of emergency situation and my oldest teaches for MKE schools.

unfortunately you have so many parents in divorces , parents who do not have custody , people raising kids that are not theirs and they do not actually have legal custody of. if you can think of the mess it exists and in ways you can't even think of yet. day time soaps had fewer twists and turns than some of these kids living situations.

a neighbor down the street had a X from 20 years ago show up at her door , he had come from the east coast to small town WI and found her because her name came up in court documents recently.