Essential Eligibility Criteria

For all trips, each participant must be able to:

• Perceive and comprehend the inherent risks of the activity, including, but not limited to, the ones identified in Trail Mavens’ Acknowledgement of Risk form.
• Stay alert and focus attention for the duration of the outing.
• Effectively signal or notify Trail Mavens guides or other participants of personal distress, injury or need for assistance.
• Manage all personal care or activities of daily living independently or with the assistance of a companion, excluding the Trail Mavens guides.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment. No harassing or abusive behavior of others for any reason is tolerated.
• Follow verbal and/or visual presentation independently or with assistance of a companion or adaptive equipment.
• Practice Leave No Trace principles.
• Access and exit Trail Mavens’ venue locations independently or with the assistance of a companion. Ease of access and exit might be impacted by weather changes.
• Adapt to venue terrain changes brought on by inclement weather and changing light conditions. This may include rain, snow, ice, cold, tree cover, etc.
• Meet the physical demands of the trip itinerary within the timeframe allotted for the trip.
• Independently, or with the assistance of a companion, understand and follow directions and instructions given by others to avoid hazards and /or manage risks. This includes following emergency procedures.
• Withstand environmental factors associated with the trip (i.e., temperatures below freezing during winter activities, temperatures above 80°F or hotter during summer activities, or variable water temperatures during kayaking trips).

additionally, For backpacking trips, each participant must be able to:

• Independently travel over and negotiate varied terrain for duration of the trip while carrying all personal equipment (i.e., pack, gear, shelter).

Additionally, For snowshoeing trips, each participant must be able to:

• Independently, or with the assistance of a companion, put on and take off snowshoes.
• Independently travel over and negotiate varied terrain for duration of the trip (i.e., different snow depth and density encountered while snowshoeing).

Additionally, For kayaking trips, each participant must be able to:

• Hold their breath while under water and, while in the water wearing a properly fitted lifejacket, be able to independently turn from a face down to a face up position keeping their head above water.
• Independently remain in an appropriate and safe upright and seated position while in the kayak for the duration of the trip.
• Independently or with a companion enter and exit the kayak on shore.
• Independently exit from the kayak in the event of a capsize and perform an appropriate self-rescue or cooperate with an assisted rescue.
• Independently propel the kayak with the use of a paddle or other adaptive piece of equipment.