Trips occur in remote places where rescue or medical facilities or expertise may be hours, or even days away. Communication and transportation are difficult and sometimes evacuations and medical care may be delayed. Activities may be supervised or unsupervised; in particular, Participants may spend time alone in remote areas such as on a program solo. I understand that Wilderness Kids Alexandria and/or the sponsors of Other Programs cannot and will not provide constant and total supervision and that Participants have responsibilities for their own welfare, including following directions and staying with the group. Additionally, Participants may be in urban or other areas with exposure to individuals who are not under the supervision or control of Wilderness Kids Alexandria or the sponsors of Other Programs. Among other things, participants may be transported to and/or from activities by taxi without a chaperone.
Decisions are made by the staff/volunteers, contractors, students and other participants in a wilderness setting and are based on a variety of experiences, perceptions and evaluations which by their nature are imprecise and subject to errors in judgment. Misjudgments may pertain to, among other things, a Participant's capabilities, environment, terrain, water and weather conditions, natural hazards, routes and medical conditions. Throughout the program, Participants are responsible for their own safety and for the safety of other members of their group. Participants understand and acknowledge that it is their responsibility to discontinue participation in any activity they believe may be unsafe.
I have read and I understand all of the information above, and I am aware that Wilderness Kids Alexandria programs and Other Programs include risks of injury or death. I understand that the descriptions of these risks above is not complete and that other unknown or unanticipated risks may result in property loss, injury or death. I agree to assume responsibility for the inherent risks described above and all other inherent risks of the activity. The Participant's participation in this activity is purely voluntary, no one is forcing Participant to participate, and Participant elects to participate in spite of and with full knowledge of the inherent risks. I acknowledge that I understand the information presented in this Agreement, that I have had the opportunity to ask any and all questions that I might have about the risks described in this Agreement. I also acknowledge that the staff of Wilderness Kids Alexandria and/or the staff of Other Programs has been available to more fully explain to me the nature and physical demands of this activity and the inherent risks, hazards, and dangers associated with this program.
COVID-19
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is reported to be extremely contagious. Evidence has shown that COVID-19 can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illness and even death. There is presently no known treatment, cure, or full-proof vaccine for COVID-19. WKA has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during participation in its activities and services; however, it is not possible to prevent the presence of the disease. WKA, therefore, cannot guarantee that it can prevent Participants from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID-19 while participating in WKA activities, programs, and/or services.
I have read and understood the above warning concerning COVID-19. I hereby choose to accept the risk of contracting COVID-19 by deciding to participate in WKA activities, programs and/or services, or by allowing my minor child to participate in such activities, programs and/or services. I voluntarily agree to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury to myself, the minor child, or my family, friends, and others who might contract COVID-19, after interaction with me or the minor child (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind), that I or the minor child may experience or incur as a result of participating in WKA activities, programs and/or services.
Agreements of Release and Indemnity
I hereby release, hold harmless, and agree not to sue Wilderness Kids Alexandria, its officers, directors, trustees, agents, and staff, including employees, volunteers, interns, and all other persons or entities acting under their direction ("Released Parties"), with respect to any and all claims or losses of any kind, including, but not limited to, claims of loss or damage to person or property by reason of injury, disability, death, or otherwise suffered by the Participant, arising in whole or in part from my, or the minor Participant's, participation in the Wilderness Kids Alexandria program or any Other Programs. I agree further to indemnify ("indemnify" meaning to defend, and pay or reimburse, including costs and attorney's fees) Released Parties against any claim or loss of any kind brought or caused by a member of my or the minor Participant's family, a rescuer, another participant, or any other person, which claim or loss arises in whole or part from an injury or other loss suffered by me or caused by me, or suffered or caused by the minor Participant, in connection with my, or the minor Participant's, participation in the Wilderness Kids Alexandria program or any Other Program. These agreements of release and indemnity include claims of negligence of a Released Party, but not of gross negligence or intentionally wrongful conduct. They are intended to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The National Park Service and certain other public lands services may not allow for the assumption of risks other than the inherent risks or for the release of liability for claims of negligence. Therefore, for activities that occur on lands controlled by these agencies the assumption of risk in the above paragraph shall be enforced to the fullest extent allowable, and may be limited in certain circumstances.
Additional Provisions
I have verified with a physician and other medical professionals that I, or the minor Participant, have/has no past or current physical or psychological condition that might affect participation in the program, other than as described on the health form. Wilderness Kids Alexandria has the right to fully rely on this information and I hereby confirm that it is accurate. However, if Participant's physical, medical or psychological condition changes during the course of an activity, the Participant will immediately alert staff. I authorize Wilderness Kids Alexandria and/or the sponsor of an Other Program to obtain or provide evacuation transportation,emergency hospitalization, surgical or other medical care for the Participant, including routine tests and treatment. I understand that situations may arise in which third-party medical care is not available and which require staff to provide first aid and possibly more advanced procedures, occasionally employing Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid training, as they deem necessary. I specifically hereby authorize any third-party medical care provider to exchange pertinent medical information about the Participant with Wilderness Kids Alexandria, the sponsor of an Other Program, and/or other medical personnel as necessary, and I authorize Wilderness Kids Alexandria personnel to share any pertinent medical information about Participant with any such medical care provider. I confirm that I have adequate medical/dental insurance to cover Participant's medical/dental expenses without recourse to Wilderness Kids Alexandria or any other person or entity, and I further acknowledge that any medical/dental expenses not covered by my insurance shall be paid by me.