This Participant Agreement (“Agreement”) affects your legal rights. Please review it carefully and ask if you have any questions.
Introduction: In consideration of the services of Parallel Adventures, LLC, a Maine Limited Liability Company, its members, owners, agents, employees, officers, medical advisors, facilitators, and contractors, (collectively referred to as "Parallel"), I understand, acknowledge, and agree for myself (referred to individually and collectively herein as “you,” “me,” “my,” and “I”) to the following:
I. Acknowledgment of Risks
I am participating in a Parallel program in 2025. Although Parallel has taken reasonable steps to guide my selection of an appropriate program, guide me in my selection of equipment, guide my pre-trip physical preparation, and provide field staff for the program, I acknowledge that the activities in which I will be engaging have risks, including certain inherent risks which cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of this activity. The same elements that contribute to the unique character of this activity can cause loss or damage to me that may include accidental injury, illness, or in extreme cases, permanent trauma, disability, or death, and may also cause damage to or loss of property.
I understand that Parallel does not want to frighten me or reduce my enthusiasm for this activity, but Parallel believes it is important for me to know in advance what to expect and to be informed of the activities' inherent risks. The following describes some, but not all, of those risks.
Activities on Parallel Programs: As a participant on a Parallel program, you may be subject to certain risks, environmental and otherwise. Parallel programs occasionally occur in remote places, often outside of the United States, and sometimes many hours from medical facilities. Communication and transportation may be difficult and sometimes evacuations and medical care may be significantly delayed. Activities on Parallel trips vary from program to program, and may include, but are not limited to: hiking and walking in remote areas, urban, and suburban environments; outdoor living, cooking, and food preparation; riding in motor vehicles, boats, and on public transportation; running and playing active games and sports; sea-kayaking; and swimming and wading in pools, lakes, rivers, streams, and ocean water.
Travel on Parallel Programs: Travel may be by foot, motorized and non-motorized boats and watercraft, motor vehicle (both public and private), and by other means, over rugged and unpredictable terrain, both on-trail and off, including boulder fields, forests, downed timber, rivers, rapids, steep slopes, slippery rocks, ocean tides, currents, waves, and urban environments. Attendant risks include collision, falling, capsizing, drowning, equipment failure, and others usually associated with such travel, as well as environmental risks. In exigent circumstances, Parallel may use available vehicle services, including private vehicles not owned, leased, or previously-hired by Parallel, to facilitate care for a participant who is ill or has been injured.
Equipment Used on Parallel Programs: The equipment you use on a Parallel program may be owned by you, Parallel, or a third party. There are inherent risks in the misuse, failure, or malfunctioning of equipment, whether owned by Parallel or another party. Parallel and its contractors may require safety equipment (such as personal flotation devices) for certain activities. The use of safety equipment is not a guarantee of safety, and injury may occur despite the use of safety equipment.
Living Conditions on Parallel Programs: Environmental risks associated with hiking, walking, outdoor living, and other activities on Parallel programs include, but are not limited to, falling and rolling rocks and trees; rapidly moving, deep, or cold water; insects; animals, large and small, including predators; lightning; wildfires; and unpredictable forces of nature, including extreme weather events such as tornadoes, flash flooding, or hail storms that arise with little or no notice. Possible injuries and illnesses include, but aren't limited to, concussion and head injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, hypothermia, frostbite, burns, sunburn, heatstroke, dehydration, illnesses and injuries caused by insects or contact with animals, injuries and illnesses caused by overexertion, and other mild or serious conditions, including death or permanent disability. Water may require disinfection before use and consumption. Meal preparation risks and hazards include, but are not limited to, burns, cuts, diarrhea and gastro-intestinal illnesses, insect bites, parasites, insect- and parasite-born illnesses, and common and uncommon viruses and other illnesses. Some Parallel programs stay in hostels, hotels, inns, and guest houses - risks associated with these accommodations include those inherent to a lack of privacy and security and sharing spaces with unrelated parties. Portions of Parallel programs may also occur in urban environments, with the attendant and environmental risks associated with the same. Adults may have access to alcoholic beverages, and in some cases, to other legal recreational drugs, on some Parallel programs, with the attendant risks to judgment and decision-making that alcohol and other recreational drugs may present.
Travel To and From Parallel Programs / Geo-Political Conditions on Parallel Programs: There are inherent risks associated with travel to and from Parallel programs in domestic and foreign locations. These include risks inherent to travel by air and motor vehicle; risks associated with potentially dangerous political, legal, social, and economic conditions; differing standards of building codes; confusion and misunderstandings with regard to differences in language; exposure to infectious diseases; and differing standards with regard to drinking water, medical practices, and local conditions. You may be subject to laws and legal systems in foreign countries that do not provide the same protections as the U.S. legal system. You are encouraged to review independent sources of information with regard to political unrest, terrorist activity, and the need for vaccinations. Independent sources of reliable information include the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization, among others.
Participant's Mental, Physical, Emotional Conditions: Combined with the activities on Parallel programs, additional risks may be present as a result of your mental, physical, and emotional conditions, regardless of whether you have disclosed or failed to disclose those conditions, and regardless of whether those conditions are known or unknown to you. Parallel will review health and medical information you submit to us, but Parallel cannot anticipate or eliminate all risks or complications associated with your mental, physical, or emotional conditions.
Decision-Making and Personal Accountability: Decisions are made by Parallel staff, facilitators, contractors, and by you and your fellow participants in urban, rural, and outdoor and wilderness settings, based on a variety of perceptions and evaluations which by their nature are imprecise and subject to errors in judgment. You will encounter and interact with fellow program participants, Parallel staff, contractors, and members of the general public. By design, you and your fellow program participants will have substantial periods – most of the day on some programs – that are independent and away from Parallel staff members. During those times, you are entirely responsible for your own well-being. Throughout the program, even those times when you are with Parallel staff members, you will share responsibility for your own well-being.
II. Assumption of Responsibility
I acknowledge and understand that Parallel programs include risks of injury or death. I understand the description above of these risks is not complete and that other unknown or unanticipated risks may result in loss or damage to me that may include accidental injury, illness, or in extreme cases, permanent trauma, disability, or death, and also can cause damage to or loss of property. I agree to assume responsibility for the risks identified herein and those inherent risks not specifically identified. I agree that Parallel is not responsible in any way for me during travel to and from my Parallel program. I acknowledge that participation in this activity is purely voluntary, no one is forcing participation and participation is elected in spite of, and with full knowledge of, the risks. I acknowledge that engaging in this activity may require a degree of skill and knowledge different from other activities and that I, and other participants, have responsibilities with regard to our own well-being. I acknowledge that Parallel’s staff has been available to explain more fully the nature and demands of this activity and the inherent risks, hazards, and dangers associated with this activity.
I have read and understand the following: Parallel’s Terms and Conditions, the forms and information Parallel has provided in association with my choice of program, and this Agreement. Additionally, I agree to Parallel’s Terms and Conditions as if they were set forth here in their entirety. I have verified with my physician and other medical professionals as necessary that I have no past or current physical or psychological condition that might affect participation in the program, other than any I have disclosed to Parallel. I represent that I am fully capable of participating in this activity, without causing harm to myself or others. I assume and accept full responsibility for any injury, death, or loss of personal property, and expenses suffered as a result of those risks and dangers identified to me, and those inherent risks and dangers not specifically identified, and as a result of my negligence in participating in this activity.
III. Release & Indemnity
Release: I have read, understand, and accept the associated Acknowledgment of Risks and Assumption of Responsibility provisions above; I acknowledge and assume all risks of the program, known and unknown, inherent or otherwise.
I release and discharge Parallel from all claims and liability for any injury, loss, or damage in any way connected with my participation in this program. This release includes loss or damage caused by the negligence of Parallel, but does not include loss or damage caused by gross negligence, or by reckless, willful, or wanton misconduct on the part of Parallel.
I understand that in signing this document, I surrender my right to make a claim or file a lawsuit against Parallel for personal illness, personal injury, property damage, wrongful death, or otherwise, except in cases of gross negligence, or reckless, willful, or wanton misconduct on the part of Parallel.
Indemnity Agreement: Additionally, I (personally and on behalf of my child/ward, if applicable) agree to indemnify (that is, protect by payment or reimbursement) Parallel:
(i) from any claim which may be brought by or on my behalf, or by any member of my family, for injury, illness, or loss resulting from those inherent risks of the program (described and not described above), except injury, illness, or loss caused by Parallel’s gross negligence; or by reckless, willful, or wanton misconduct on the part of Parallel, and
(ii) from any claim which may be brought by any third party for injury, illness, or loss resulting from my acts or omissions, whether individual or collective.
IV. Additional Provisions
The laws of the State of Maine (not including its choice-of law or conflict-of-law rules or laws that apply or might apply the laws of another jurisdiction) shall exclusively govern this Agreement and any dispute. I consent to jurisdiction in Maine and agree that any suit, mediation, or arbitration arising from or in any way related to this Agreement shall be filed and occur only in the State of Maine. Any suit shall be filed exclusively in the Superior or District Court of Cumberland County, in Portland, Maine, or in the U.S. District Court for Southern Maine.
If any portion of this Agreement is found by a court or other appropriate authority to be void, inapplicable, or invalid, the remainder of the agreement nevertheless shall remain in full force and effect. If I contest the validity of this Agreement and do not prevail, I agree to pay all of Parallel’s attorney’s fees and costs in litigation.
I have read, understand, and voluntarily accept the terms and conditions stated herein and acknowledge that this Agreement shall be effective and binding upon me, my heirs, assigns, personal representative and estate, and all members of my family.
Finally, I understand and agree my electronic signature, as typed below, constitutes the legal equivalent of my written signature for all purposes, but particularly with regard to the purposes of the validity, enforceability, and admissibility of this Agreement.
