FOR PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN (please read the following):
Elevation Outdoors is running our Leaders in Action program over the months of September to June for youth in the Kelowna area. The program involves teaching young people to snowboard, rock climb, hike, and mountain bike. It also involves reflecting upon this experience and using it as a metaphor for life experiences and learning. This letter is informing you of the inherent risks in these activities.
Snowboarding:
Injury to participants is always a possibility when taking part in this sport. When learning to snowboard participants tend to fall frequently, putting their body, especially their wrists and arms, at risk of injury. Other risks involved with the activity include other individuals on the mountain who are not involved in the program. It is a possibility that a participant could be injured from other skiers or snowboarders who are wreckless or out of control, thus impacting on someone in their path. While unlikely, there is a potential for life threatening injuries or death related to snowboarding. Participants will be supervised at all times when on the mountain, and elementary terrain park use will not be permitted unless all the relevant skills are demonstrated by each participant beforehand.
Hiking and other outdoor activities:
DEFINITIONS: In this Release Agreement the term "Wilderness Activities” shall include all activities, events or services provided, arranged, organized, sponsored or authorized by the Releasees including, but not limited to: hiking; backpacking; wildlife viewing; back country travel; orientational and instructional courses, seminars and sessions; accommodation; transport to and from the trail head or marshalling areas; and all other activities, events and services in any way connected with or related to these activities.
ASSUMPTION OF RISKS: I am aware that participation in Wilderness Activities involves many risks, dangers and hazards including, but not limited to: travel on extreme terrain, particularly high, exposed ridge tops, steep pitches, or where the trail or route is less defined and therefore rough or unstable; travel in areas where fallen timber, shrubbery, branches, rocks, roots or other obstacles or hazards may impede or hinder travel; travel on or through boulder fields, avalanche and landslide paths, snow fields and glaciers; travel across or beside creeks, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes; encounters with domestic and wild animals, sudden and unexpected changes or variations in the hiking terrain; collisions with motor vehicles and natural or man-made objects; miscellaneous health problems related to over-exposure to the sun, insect bites, fatigue, stress, dehydration, exertion, high altitude, and lack of fitness. Participants may become lost or separated from their guide or party. Communication in the alpine or backcountry terrain is difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and medical treatment may not be immediately available. Alpine and back country weather conditions may be extreme and can change rapidly and without warning. I am also aware that a further risk, danger and hazard of Wilderness Activities is negligence, inattention, or inexperience of other persons in the party and NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES, INCLUDING THE FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES AND THE PROVINCE TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF WILDERNESS ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE.
I AM AWARE OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WILDERNESS ACTIVITIES AND I FREELY ACCEPT AND FULLY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOSS RESULTING THEREFROM.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT: In consideration of the RELEASEES agreeing to my participation in the Wilderness Activities and permitting my use of their services, equipment and other facilities, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged, I hereby agree as follows:
1. TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS that I have or may in the future have against the RELEASEES AND TO RELEASE THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any loss, damage, expense or injury, including death, that I may suffer or that my next of kin may suffer, as a result of my participation in the Wilderness Activities, DUE TO ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR BREACH OF ANY STATUTORY OR OTHER DUTY OF CARE, INCLUDING ANY DUTY OF CARE OWED UNDER THE OCCUPIERS LIABILITY ACT, ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES, AND FURTHER INCLUDING THE FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE WILDERNESS ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE;
2. TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE RELEASEES for any and all liability for any property damage, loss or personal injury to any third party resulting from my participation in the Wilderness Activities;
3. This Release Agreement shall be effective and binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, assigns and representatives, in the event of my death or incapacity;
4. This Release Agreement and any rights, duties and obligations as between the parties to this Release Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the province where the Wilderness Activities take place and no other jurisdiction; and
5. Any litigation involving the parties to this Release Agreement shall be brought solely within the province where the Wilderness Activities take place and shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of that province.
In entering into this Release Agreement I am not relying on any oral or written representations or statements made by the Releasees with respect to the safety of participating in the Wilderness Activities, other than what is set forth in this Release Agreement. I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT PRIOR TO SIGNING IT, AND I AM AWARE THAT BY SIGNING THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT I AM WAIVING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH I OR MY HEIRS, NEXT OF KIN, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNS AND REPRESENTATIVES MAY HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASEES.
Climbing:
Climbing days will run primarily at Beyond the Crux Climbing Gym in Kelowna with 1-2 trips to an outdoor climbing area with a certified guide from Hoodoo Adventures to go climbing outdoors. Injury to participants is always a possibility when engaging in climbing. These risks include, but not limited to: falling, mechanical failure of the equipment; loss of balance or control; variable and difficult climbing conditions; collision with walls, climbing holds, exposed or hidden structural supports or beams, or the floor; rope abrasion, entanglement and other injuries resulting from activities on or near the climbing wall such as, but not limited to climbing, belaying, rappelling, lowering on ropes, rescue systems and other rope techniques; Injuries resulting from falling climbers or dropped items, such as, but not limited to ropes, auto belays, climbing hardware or wall parts; failure of ropes, harnesses, slings, climbing holds, anchor points, or any part of the climbing wall; collision with other equipment or structures; collision with other persons; illness or trauma; the proximity of medical care which may or may not be readily available; the failure to act safely or within one’s own ability or to stay within designated areas; negligence of other climbers and/or other persons; and negligence on the part of Elevation Outdoors Experiential Programs Association or its staff and volunteers, including the failure on the part of Elevation Outdoors Experiential Programs Association or its staff to safeguard or protect from the risks, dangers and hazards of the activitiesWe are requesting that you fill out the form below stating that you have read and are aware of the inherent risks of this activity before your child is permitted to participate in the program.
Mountain Biking:
Our mountain biking days will be using various terrain within the Okanagan valley, including cross country and downhill mountain biking. The program also involves reflecting upon these experiences and using it as a metaphor for life experiences and learning. The participants will go to Big White for downhill riding during the program, dates are to be determined. This letter is to inform you of the program and the expressed interest, and also of the inherent risks in the activity of mountain biking.
On my behalf, and on the behalf of any minor children participating in these activities, for whom I am legally responsible, I agree to the following:
ASSUMPTION OF RISKS: I am aware and understand that MOUNTAIN BIKING activities involve many risks, dangers and hazards, including but not limited to the following: I acknowledge and accept that mountain biking involves risks, dangers and hazards in addition to those normally associated with bicycle riding and that injuries are a common and expected part of mountain biking. The Live to Ride program may take place on steep and rugged terrain and will expose the rider to many risks, dangers and hazards. The terrain may be un‐inspected, uncontrolled and unsafe do to constantly changing conditions. The inherent risks, hazards and dangers include but are not limited to the following: collision with other riders, vehicles, bicycles, trees, tree stumps, tree wells or other objects; fences and other man made structures; mechanical failure of equipment; rapid an uncontrolled acceleration on hills and inclines; changing weather conditions; unsafe terrain including steep or slippery sections, cliffs, rocks, holes, or crevices; extreme variation in cycling terrain; encounters with domestic and non domestic animals; falling or being thrown off the mountain bike; negligence on the part of there leases – including the failure to protect the participant from the risk, dangers and hazards of mountain biking or to predict the whether the terrain is safe for mountain biking; negligence of other riders. I understand and acknowledge that no amount of caution, experience and instruction can eliminate all of the risks involved and I freely assume all such risks, dangers and hazards and the possibility of personal injury, death, property damage and damages or loss resulting therefrom. I understand and acknowledge that no amount of caution, experience and instruction can eliminate all of the risks involved and I freely assume all such risks, dangers and hazards and the possibility of personal injury, death, property damage and damages or loss resulting therefrom. Elevation is requesting that you fill out the form below stating that you have read and are aware of the inherent risks of this activity, before your child is permitted to participate in the program. Please be assured that all appropriate safety measures and risk management practices will be exercised while the program is being delivered. Helmets are mandatory. Body armour will also be worn on the downhill days. Participants will be supervised during all bike trips, and ‘black’ or most difficult runs will not be utilized unless appropriate skill has been demonstrated beforehand.
Elevation is requesting that you fill out the form below stating that you have read and are aware of the inherent risks of this activity, before your child is permitted to participate in the program. Please be assured that all appropriate safety measures and risk management practices will be exercised while the programs are being delivered. It is our intention to create a long-lasting, learning experience for the young people involved and we will be taking their safety very seriously.