Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute outings and trips are open to all Northland College students, staff, and faculty who are able to meet the Essential Eligibility Criteria. Accommodations may be made as long as it does not compromise the health or safety of staff members or other participants or significantly alter the fundamental intended outcomes of the program.

Essential Eligibility Criteria are not intended to be exclusionary, but to honestly identify the basic and fundamental elements of outing or trip participation that are integrally tied to safety and risk management considerations. These criteria are the essential skills that each participant is required to perform for safety in each type of program offered and are applied equally to all potential participants.

Please read the EEC requirements.

Please review the Participant Agreement carefully before signing. It contains important information about the programs at SOEI and Northland College, and affects the legal rights of participants and families in the event of an injury or other loss.

Participating in SOEI Youth Outreach programs may require being engaged in outdoor activities. Consequently, the participant might be exposed to certain risks due to the activities involved, unpredictable weather conditions, natural hazards, or human hazards. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary and involves a risk of injury and/or illness due to certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries, such as, but not limited to, contact with other individuals engaged in program activities, impact against objects, broken or improperly used equipment, weather hazards, environmental hazards, falls, falling objects, and separation from the group.

The specific risks vary from minor injuries, scratches, and sprains, to major injuries such as broken bones to catastrophic injuries. To minimize the risk of injury, the staff needs to be aware of any existing physical, mental, or emotional conditions the participant may have that could in any negative way affect, or be affected by, participation in the activity. By signing this form you voluntarily agree to the following:

1. To assume full responsibility for any risks or loss, or personal injury, including death and damage to property that may be sustained by participating in the program; and
2. To release, waive, hold harmless, discharge it from any and all liability, and agree not to sue the person or entity responsible for administering the program, Northland College, or its trustees, officers, employees, participants, staff, volunteers, and any other persons affiliated with the program, as well as their successors from all claims, losses, damages, and causes of action whatsoever, present or future, whether known, anticipated, or unanticipated arising out of, or incident to the participation in the program. This release is intended to be the most expansive release allowed under the applicable law. If any part of this release is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the enforceability of the remainder of this release and agreement will continue in full force and effect.
3. I understand that by agreeing to this clause I am releasing claims and giving up substantial rights, including the right to sue.

Student Conduct Agreement

SOEI Youth Programs are designed to provide experiences that promote learning and growth in a safe and positive environment. It is important for the wellbeing of all participants for the participant to cooperate with and follow the direction of program staff, instructors, and facilitators. By signing the Student Conduct Agreement, the participant will do their best to be a safe and respectful group member and will refrain from exclusive relationships or sexual or inappropriate physical contact with other participants. The participant also understands SOEI Youth Programs are drug-free, alcohol-free and smoke-free. The participant will behave in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, and abide by all expectations. Using drugs or alcohol during the program will automatically constitute an early dismissal from the program.

Please thoroughly read and review the COVID Pledge with the participant.

Cancellations made prior to fourteen (14) days before the event will result in a full refund.

Cancellations after fourteen (14) days receive no refund. However, at the discretion of the program coordinator, a refund may be offered. If SOEI Youth Outreach programs need to cancel a full refund will be issued.

Be certain to click the SUBMIT button. You will receive an email confirmation soon after submitting the form. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please check your spam folder. If it has been a few minutes and you don’t see it in your spam folder or your inbox, it means your form did not go through and you need to refresh the page and resubmit. Thank you!