Gender of the person filling out this questionnaire: Male Female

1. Do you believe the working climate on the river is becoming less respectful? Yes No
   Do you believe the working climate on the river is becoming more respectful? Yes No
   
   
2. At the present time, do you have concern about any of the following issues involving any persons on the river?
   
   Sexual harassment: Yes No
   Sexual intimidation or hazing: Yes No
   Sexual or physical assault: Yes No
   
   These concerns involve (check all that apply):
   
   Staff with Client
   Client with Client
   Staff with Staff
   Adults with Minors
   Same Sex with Same Sex
   
   
3. If you witness disrespectful behavior on the river, what are your thoughts and beliefs about intervention?
   
   I would intervene only in extreme circumstances.Yes No
   (Example: A desperate cry for help. An imminent threat to life and physical safety.)
   
   In less extreme circumstances, would you feel at risk for censure or retaliation from other staff on the trip? Yes No
   
   Have you in fact ever tried to intervene? Yes No
   If yes, were you supported by the other guides? Yes No
   If yes, were you supported by the trip leader? Yes No
   
   
4. After completion of a trip, have you ever reported your concerns about these issues of disrespect to your company? Yes No
   
   If yes, were you supported? Yes No
   Were there consequences to your career? Yes No
   
   Please note your comments below:
   
   
   
5. Have you personally felt unsafe on the river in regard to any of the following events?
   
   Sexual harassment: Yes No
   Sexual intimidation or hazing: Yes No
   Sexual or physical assault: Yes No
   
   Did you feel that you had support of other guides to keep you safe? Yes No
   
   Did you feel that you could report your concerns to your company? Yes No
   
   
6. The Whale Foundation will offer a fall workshop focusing on mutual respect issues.
   
   Would you be interested in attending? Yes No
   
   Do you have other additional suggestions on this subject for the Whale Foundation?
   
   
   
7. Please list any other specific topics that you would like the Whale Foundation staff to concentrate upon or skills that you would like to acquire.
   

THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IS ANONYMOUS.
If you would like to speak with a health professional about this issue or other life challenges, please call the Whale Foundation helpline: 773-0773 or toll free 866-773-0773.
ACCORDING TO LAW, OUR HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS MAINTAIN STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY.
Our website (www.whalefoundation.org) also provides mental and physical health articles plus information about the Whale Foundation and all of our services. Thanks, again!

Whale Foundation Mission Statement
In loving remembrance of Curtis "Whale" Hansen, the Whale Foundation provides confidential access to mental and physical health care professionals and a network of support services designed to restore, promote and celebrate the well being of the Grand Canyon River Guiding Community.

We wish to thank the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund for supporting our outreach and educational efforts.

SUMMARY OF QUESTIONAIRE COMMENTS

Summary of 2006 GTS questionnaires on issues of mutual respect, sexual harassment, intimidation, and hazing in the working river community.

By Norm Hansen, MD

The questionnaire was distributed to all attendees at Spring GTS. Thirty questionnaires have been returned, 13 from women, and 17 from men through April 15th.  The results do not have statistical significance, and cannot be used to provide a meaningful estimate of actual prevalence of these problematic behaviors.  The results are meaningful, however, in so far as they represent the personal observations of 30 people who work on the river and provide one more small window of objectivity about a topic which is often fraught with hearsay, rationalizations, and minimization.

1)  Strong interest was expressed for the Whale Foundation to provide future workshop or seminar on topics of prevention and intervention.

2)  Over half of respondents believe that the working climate on the river is becoming more respectful over the years, but a small number believe that it is less respectful.

3)  A significant number of both sexes, women and men, said they were concerned about events of sexual harassment, intimidation or hazing in the work environment.

4)  These incidents involved all categories of relationships:  staff and staff, staff and client, client and client; but most disturbing were the observations (8 of 30 respondents) of abusive behavior involving an adult with a minor.

5)  One fourth of respondents said they had personally experienced feeling unsafe due to sexual harassment, or intimidation, or hazing.  One man and one woman reported being victims of assault.

6)  Questions about intervention and finding support from colleagues and employers provided a wide variety of responses.  Most persons said that they would try to intervene if they witnessed abusive behavior amongst members of their trip group; but they often expressed uncertainty about best ways to do so, and uncertainty about whether or not other staff or their employer would support their actions.  Two persons stated that they have experienced consequences to their career after reporting incidents to their company - while others reported receiving immediate respect or sympathy but lacking follow through.  In regards to actual experience while still on the river, fellow guides were noted to have provided varying degrees of immediate positive support and safety. 

7)  Nearly all respondents wrote additional comments, notably thoughtful, expressing the many dimensions which should be considered in addressing these issues.  These are not easily summarized and deserve to be read one by one.  In general they supported WF in bringing attention this topic, and for planning to provide follow-up education.  Several advised “not skirting the issue,” and another said…”you are late for the party”.  There was also a plea not to degrade the community as a whole and emphasize the context of its wonderful strength in dealing with these issues. 

And finally, a number of suggestions were given for content of future education which included explicit definitions and norms of socially (and legally) acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, education on interventions and how to give and get support, providing handouts on key points that every outfitter and guide could have as reference, and one suggestion to bring in an outside team (eg. As per FFA training) into Guide’s training/orientations.