HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — An internal investigation prompted by a social media post complaining about Space Camp having a transgender employee among counseling staff has been concluded. Despite there being "no evidence of inappropriate behavior or malfeasance between any Space Camp staff and student campers," it has been confirmed that the employee singled out in the social media post has been transferred to another position within the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
The statement issued by center officials does not specify why the employee was transferred. Expanding on those comments Friday, USSRC said it found that at no time were staff members present in camper's bathrooms. They did say there had been "conflicting stories" about whether an employee had engaged in discussion on "prohibited subjects," including religious and/or personal viewpoints.
The USSRC statement, in full, reads as follows:
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.
Earlier this month, a social media post complaining about the gender identity of a Space Camp employee prompted reaction from state lawmakers, and an initial statement from USSRC stating that employees had thus become the target of harassment and threats. They followed up by saying initial investigations had found no child had been harmed, and indeed no allegations filed against any member of staff connected with the social media furor.
