To the GOALS participant:

Access to the rivers on which we travel is highly limited - thus participation is a privilege and access to GOALS river programs is generally quite competitive.  By signing your initials at the bottom of this section, you are committing to conduct yourself in an appropriate manner as a GOALS participant, and agreeing to comply with the following requirements and expectations.

I agree to:

- complete all of my pre-trip requirements, as specified by the chaperons and GOALS leaders whose care I will be in throughout my expedition. 

- arrive at my program launch with the necessary equipment, as defined by the GOALS suggested packing list.

- make the trip fun and safe for everyone by first recognizing the difference between healthy risk taking and unhealthy risk taking, then embracing healthy risks and avoiding unhealthy risks. 

- be flexible, patient, and open in the face of new and challenging situations.

- be respectful of all other people in your group, including other students, professional river guides and chaperons.

- be respectful of the natural environment and ancient artifacts encountered on the river.

- be respectful of and properly care for all equipment on my expedition - belonging to me, my peers, or our professional outfitter and their employees.

- forgo the use and/or possession of weapons, tobacco products, drugs or alcohol.

- dress appropriately at all times.

- leave behind all electronic devices - with the exception of cameras.  Phones may NOT be taken along to be used as a camera.

- participate positively and fully in all group meetings and activities, and to take an active role while camped in the canyon by helping out whenever and wherever possible.

By initialing below (by participant), you are indicating that you have read and fully understand the requirements and expectations above.  You acknowledge that if, at any time, a GOALS representative, chaperon, trip leader, or professional river guide have cause to believe that you pose a risk to the group's overall safety in a wilderness environment because you are unwilling to follow or have willfully disobeyed directions, safety rules, the law, or that you represent an unacceptable risk to him/herself or to others in any way, that you may be separated from the group as soon as possible and evacuated from the trip by raft, on foot, or by helicopter under safe escort.  In such an event, the costs of your GOALS program will not be refunded, and the cost of such emergency evacuation will be borne solely by you and/or your parents/guardians.  Additionally, you may be held legally responsible if laws are broken while participating in a GOALS program, and are aware that such violations will be reported to law enforcement agencies immediately. 

There are inherent risks involved with participating in a GOALS program.  GOALS, along with the commercial outfitters with whom we partner, make every reasonable effort to minimize the risks that are within our control, but it is your responsibility to become informed about them and then to make a deliberate choice in supporting the child you are completing this release of liability for to participate.  Please be aware that:

- GOALS programs are open to all youth - we do not perform background checks on our youth participants.  Rather, we rely on your good judgment as a parent/guardian not to involve your minor in our programs if you believe he/she could pose a potential behavioral or safety risk to other participants. Failure to do so could make you liable.

- GOALS is not directly associated with any public or private school system. We are a private, non-profit organization incorporated in Colorado. As such, we have the right to exclude any participant who we believe, at our sole discretion and for any reason, could pose a risk to him/herself or other participants beyond our ability and resources to manage within an appropriate standard of care.

- Please be aware that if any adult in a leadership role - including but not limited to program coordinator(s), chaperon(s), GOALS staff member(s), or professional river guide(s) have cause to believe that any participating youth is unwilling to follow directions, safety rules, the law, or represents an unacceptable risk to him/herself or to others in any way, that youth may be separated from the group as soon as possible and evacuated from the trip by raft, on foot, or by helicopter under safe escort. The cost of such emergency evacuation will be borne solely by the parents/guardians. Additionally, youth may be held legally responsible if they break any law while participating in a GOALS program - such violations will be reported to law enforcement agencies immediately.

- Please talk with the child for whom you are completing this release of liability about 1) how important it is to follow all rules, warnings, and "safe practices" that GOALS and their professional river guides will teach them and 2) that if your child feels unsafe or uncomfortable for any reason, they should report their concerns to one of the adult supervisors immediately.

- The professional river guides that operate GOALS river programs have first aid training. They are not medical professionals, physicians or nurses. Your son/daughter is responsible for remembering to take & administering their prescription medications, even when placed under the control of their professional river guides or chaperons for the duration of the river program.

- It is neither possible nor desirable to eliminate all risks involved in participation of the program.  

By initialing below (by parent/guardian), you are indicating that you have read and acknowledge the risks detailed in this form and consent to your child's participation in a GOALS program knowing of these risks.  Further, you are indicating that your child understands the requirements and expectations in the participant's personal contract, and that your child does not pose any behavioral or safety threat to others involved in the GOALS program. He/she fully understands and will adhere to all rules and warnings during the course of the program.

In consideration of the services of GOALS, their agents, owners, officers, volunteers, participants, employees, and all other persons or entities acting in any capacity on their behalf (hereinafter collectively referred to as "GOALS"), I hereby agree to release, indemnify, and discharge GOALS, on behalf of myself, my spouse, my children, my parents, my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and estate as follows:

1. I acknowledge that going on a guided river trip and all other activities related to participation in a GOALS program entails known and unanticipated risks that could result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to myself, to property or to third parties. I understand that such risks cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity.

The risks include, among other things: whitewater rapids and turbulent water, river currents will be encountered. I can be jolted, jarred, bounced and shaken about during rides through some of these rapids. It is possible that I could be injured if I come in contact or collide with storage containers, boat frames, oars, oarlocks or other fixed equipment necessary to the operation of the expedition and the outfitting of the raft. Rafts could capsize or I could be "washed" overboard into the water. I can slip or fall during a hike, at camp or on a boat, resulting in damage to equipment or personal injury. Accidents can occur getting on and off the raft. Rafts are slippery when wet. Exposure to the natural elements can be uncomfortable and/or harmful. I am aware that this exposure could cause sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat cramps and death. Prolonged exposure to cold water can result in cold shock or hypothermia and in extreme cases can cause death and accidental drowning. GOALS is not responsible for the acts of nature, including but not limited to contact with flora & fauna. Furthermore, the professional river guides operating GOALS river programs employees have difficult jobs to perform. They seek safety, but they are not infallible. They might be unaware of a participant's fitness or abilities. They might misjudge the weather or environmental conditions. They may give incomplete warnings or instructions, and the equipment being used might malfunction. In addition, there are risks involved in traveling to and from the river or other destinations as well as completing the necessary pre-trip requirements such as but not limited to community service and fundraising requirements. I expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all of the risks existing in this activity. My participation in this activity is purely voluntary, and I elect to participate regardless of the risks.

1. I hereby voluntarily release, forever discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless GOALS from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action, which are in any way connected with my participation in this activity or my use of GOALS equipment or facilities, including any such claims which allege negligent acts or omissions of GOALS.

2. Should GOALS or anyone acting on their behalf, be required to incur attorney's fees and costs to enforce this agreement, I agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs.

3. I certify that I have adequate insurance to cover any injury or damage I may cause or suffer while participating and I agree to bear the costs of such injury or damage to myself. I further certify that I am willing to assume the risk of any medical or physical condition I may have.

4.  I recognize that GOALS is not associated directly with any school district or other youth organization from which GOALS groups are assembled.  Participation by a group of youth from a particular school or other youth organization does not indicate direct involvement or acceptance of liability by such school districts or youth organization.  I hereby agree to release, indemnify, and discharge such organizations from liability associated with all risks described within this agreement. 

5. I agree that if any portion of this agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

PARENT'S OR GUARDIAN'S INDEMNIFICATION (Must be completed for participants under the age of 18)

In consideration of the minor for whom this application is being completed being permitted by GOALS to participate in its activities and to use its equipment and facilities, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless GOALS from any and all claims which are brought by, or on behalf of Minor, and which are in any way connected with such use or participation by Minor.  By signing this document, I acknowledge that if anyone is hurt or property is damaged during participation in this activity, I may be found by a court of law to have waived my right to maintain a lawsuit against GOALS on the basis of any claim from which I have released them herein. I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood it, and I agree to be bound by its terms.

By initialing below (by parent/guardian), you are indicating that in the event of an accident or illness which requires medical care for this participant, of whom you are a parent or legal guardian, you hereby give permission to attending medical personnel and GOALS: officers, directors, employees, representative agents, volunteers, contract individuals, partnering outfitters and their staff, and all other persons or entities associated with it the full power in consent to any and all necessary medical treatment.  

Please answer the following questions thoroughly.  This is a requirement for all participants, and is sometimes and important part of the selection process when permit space is limited.   HAVE FUN with this section - your answers help GOALS staff and guides to get to know you a bit before you arrive for your expedition!