INFORMED CONSENT
SETTING- Lands adjacent to Briggs Lake including Canadore College Grounds and including Town of Parry Sound Forested Lots within a five kilometer distance from the college or Land within a five kilometer distance of the Foley Agricultural Hall. Lands may also include the Kinsmen Park forested lots; the Holmstead Farm and Forest; and Land of the Wasauksing First Nations.
EXPERIENCE- All programs at Parry Sound Forest School Inc.
INTRODUCTION - At Parry Sound Forest School Inc. we support children in becoming confident, capable people who have a sound sense of their abilities and interests and the capacity to take age-appropriate responsibility for their own safety. We extend this support to adult caregivers, who may join their child while participating in family-focussed activities as well as volunteers and staff members.
Parry Sound Forest School Inc. takes reasonable steps to manage and balance risks, while at the same time allowing children to play freely. Program participants including staff, volunteers, adult family members and caregivers acknowledge its inherent risks of harm and personal injury.
Participants may also have direct or indirect adult-supervised contact with pet animals (rabbits, goats and chickens) that are fenced in coops, fences and/paddocks.
While minor injuries like bruises, bumps and scrapes are not uncommon, serious injuries are rare, and life-changing injuries and fatalities are unlikely in the extreme. Still, as with almost any activity, indoors or outdoors, it is impossible to guarantee that they will not happen. You are required to accept this as a condition of your participation.
RISKS - The variety of risks is more than can be listed here and will vary depending on the program. Below is a list of some of the more significant risks:
• Injuries from executing strenuous and demanding physical activities
• Injuries resulting from matches or fire or use of knives
• Injuries resulting from the presence of harmful plants, natural loose parts, wild animals, and/or ticks
• Changing and inclement weather, including storms, high winds, and lightning
• The possibility that you may not heed safety instructions or directions given to the group or delivered individually
• Injuries arising from the actions of other participants
• Negligence on the part of other participants
• That while the injuries sustained in outdoor activity are mostly minor, they can be severe, and on extremely rare occasions, even fatal
• That all rules are designed to enhance the safety of your safety and are to be followed at all times
• That fire and open-fire cooking require special instructions and training from the facilitator
• That your risk of injury increases with fatigue
Related to pet animals (goats, chickens, rabbits):
- Bites, scratches, nips or pecking
- Being accidentally stepped on or bumped by an animal
- Allergic reactions to animals, bedding, dander or feed
- Exposure to germs or zoonotic illnesses (e.g. salmonella, ringworm)
- Contact with dirt, fur, feathers or animal waste
In unstructured, outdoor play, you as an adult freely choose which experiences and activities and experiences you are comfortable engaging in. You are under no obligation to participate in all experiences and may choose not to participate at any time during the program.
