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POLICIES

Kindling Collective Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)

Our multi-day programs include a variety of challenges: rugged backcountry conditions, group living, learning multiple new skills, and more. We’re committed to supporting participants throughout their experiences with Kindling—however, the challenges of each program may not be suitable for everyone. Our Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) help ensure that participants are well-prepared and a good fit for our programs. As you review the EEC, please consider whether or not you’re willing and able to participate in each item.

 

If you would be unable to perform some of the activities on the EEC but you would still like to join the trip, we invite you to contact us. Please propose accommodations that will allow you to join us on the trip—we are committed to providing participants with accommodations whenever possible given Kindling’s capacity, expertise, and funding. 

And if after you’re not sure whether a program is right for you, get in touch with us! We’re here to help you find a program that fits your needs and interests.

Kindling’s General Essential Eligibility Criteria:

1. Relationship with the group

Each participant must be willing and able to:

  • Work effectively as a team member by sharing responsibility with group mates in group chores such as cooking, washing dishes, collecting firewood, and filtering water, etc.;

  • Recognize and accept that the needs of the group often come above the desires of any one individual group member.

  • Contribute to a caring, welcoming, and safe learning environment and exhibit a willingness to participate in program activities;

  • Share a tent or room with at least one other group member;

  • Understand that evacuations are extremely laborious and can only be conducted in the case of emergency. 

  • Take a rapid COVID test and submit a photo of that test to Kindling staff in the 24 hours before trip start.

2. Relationship with space and activities

Each participant must be willing and able to:

  • Understand the duration and intensity of the activities of the trip as outlined in the sample itinerary and trip description, and be mentally and physically prepared to engage in the activity for the duration of the trip;

  • Adapt to the physical, emotional, and social demands of the trip: water, snow, or land travel; sleeping on the ground; living and working 24/7 with others; limited personal time;

  • Tolerate significant levels of ambiguity and unfamiliarity that naturally occur while on backcountry trips, such as: changes in diet, sleeping conditions, unfamiliar surroundings, long days, shifting itineraries, and unfamiliar routines;

  • Be understanding of scheduling and location changes and other shifting circumstances with short notice;

  • Navigate and travel independently to and from program start and end destination(s);

  • Recognize the hazards and risks of travel as presented in program materials and verbally throughout the program and comply with recommended measures and directions for risk reduction from program staff;

  • Independently perceive, understand, and follow directions and instructions given by others to avoid hazards and/or manage risks;

  • Stay alert and to focus attention for up to several hours at a time while traveling in backcountry terrain, attending classes, or receiving instructions. 

  • Manage stress in times of crisis, such as when encountering severe weather or a medical emergency. 

  • Exercise sound judgment in the absence of direct supervision and alert others of potential hazards observed;

  • Abide by the Participant Agreement, program expectations, and guidance of field staff while on the program;

  • Come prepared with the appropriate items required in the packing list OR have requested to borrow those items from Kindling. 

  • Care for and show respect to the natural environment and Wabanaki people and history.

3. Relationship with self

Each participant must be willing and able to:

  • Maintain proper dosage of any prescription medication by self-medicating without assistance from instructors or others (except possibly in emergency situations);

  • Effectively and proactively notify field staff or other participants of personal distress, emotional stress, safety or health concerns, or other needs for assistance;

  • Adapt to and cope with disconnection from standard sources of support (e.g., family, friends, doctors, mental health professionals, etc.);

  • Proactively act to maintain physical and mental health while on program and accept full responsibility for physical and mental health, including complying fully with medication routines and self-care strategies recommended pre-departure by medical/mental health professionals;

  • Communicate proactively, openly, and honestly about any physical or mental health challenges that arise prior to or during the program;

Any concerns about a participant’s ability to comply with these EEC should be addressed with Kindling Collective staff prior to program departure. Signing the EEC indicates that you understand and will be able to participate in the activities required for this program. Reviewing and signing the EEC allows both you and Kindling Collective to consent knowingly to your participation in the trip. If additional information arises during the application and pre-trip process about the activities of the program or about the participant’s ability or willingness to participate in the program’s activities, either party may revoke their consent.

Participant Agreement

Anyone who intends to join us for a Kindling Collective multi-day trip is asked to read and sign our participant agreement. Trip participants should understand that they are opting into a community with these shared agreements.

  • Move at the pace of the group, which is most likely a pace that is different from how you’d travel if you were alone. 

  • Center community building, belonging, and group cohesion. If you come with a friend or partner or make a new bestie, that’s great! Just be sure you’re not spending all your time with that person and that you are still putting in effort to connect with the rest of the group. 

  • Balance your needs and the needs of the group.

  • Work effectively as a team member by sharing responsibility with group mates in group chores such as cooking, washing dishes, collecting firewood, and filtering water, etc.

  • Seek consent in your interactions, including asking permission before taking photos of others, before posting photos on social media, helping people pack their bags, helping people fit or set up their equipment, physically interacting with fellow participants and instructors, and more.

  • Limit phone use to taking pictures. 

  • Understand that Kindling trips are alcohol and substance-free (unless specifically stated otherwise). Contact Kindling if you use a substance for medical or therapeutic purposes. 

  • Don’t have sex on trips! Tents aren’t soundproof & adding sex into a group environment changes dynamics.

  • Avoid any and all racist, homophobic, transphobic, and ableist behavior or language, as well as any language or behavior that is harmful or oppressive.

  • Be accountable for your words and actions and center the impact of your actions, even if you didn’t intend to cause harm.

  • Respect the knowledge and identities of the group and understand that our instructors are trained in the type of travel and environment of the trip, and each group member brings their own knowledge, culture, experiences, and identity to the trip. 

  • Treat the gear and spaces we occupy with respect and care, and never intentionally damage them.

  • Actively engage with the history and tensions of recreating on stolen Wabanaki land.

Refund Policies

We ask that our participants practice community care and let us know at your earliest convenience that you can no longer attend a trip or event that you are registered for. We put a lot of care and time into preparing participants for programming, and it’s often not possible to fill a spot when folks cancel close to the start of an event.

Multi-Day Trips
If you contact us to cancel your registration:

  • 4 weeks or more prior to the event, you are able to receive a full refund

  • 3 weeks prior to the event: you may receive a 50% refund

  • 2 weeks or fewer prior to the event: we are unable to offer a refund

Day Trips
If you contact us to cancel your registration:

  • 1 week or more in advance of the event, you may receive a full refund.

  • Less than 1 week prior to the event: we are unable to offer a refund

Waitlist Policies

  • In order to be eligible to get a spot off a program’s waitlist, you must fill out all required forms for that program. We will let you know if you are towards the top of the waitlist, so you know to fill out these forms.

  • If you’re offered a spot off the waitlist, you have 24 hours to accept or decline before we offer the spot to the next available person.

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