Elevation Program | Participation Information and Pledge

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

Greetings Parents and Guardians!
Your teenager is requesting to participate in a Seward Park Audubon Center program called Elevation. Please review the details about the program, then download, complete, then return this document to the YouthPrograms Manager.

Our Elevation leadership development and environmental education program will create opportunities for youth in our communities, by
connecting teens with the environment and fostering a personal connection to nature, restoration, and ecology. As
teens take up the mantle of caretakers for their environment, they become role models for the wider community.
Our goal is to give teens an opportunity to center themselves, lead and develop community-based actions that
contribute to the ecological health and betterment of the places they call home.
During our program, we will have occasional site visits to locations other than Seward Park where students will
have the opportunity to meet with leaders of conservation in amazing settings. We will also attend nature walks
and reforestation events that will bring students outdoors for nature-based field study, investigation, and hands-
on exploration of the vibrant ecosystem of Seward Park and Lake Washington. Additionally, we may visit Olympia,
WA where students will have the opportunity to meet Representatives at the Washington State Legislature.

PARTICIPANT PLEDGE
• Have fun! We want you to enjoy your time with us and your time in nature. Help us make this an
amazing experience.
• Stay with the group. Listen carefully when the group leaders give instructions about sticking with the group or sticking with an assigned partner.
• Respect for each other. Our goal is to offer a safe space for everyone participating. We pledge to put forth our best selves when we show up for the program.
• Respect nature. During our program we might be in contact with animals or plants. For your ownsafety, be mindful of potential dangers and don't assume you can touch everything. Always ask first.
• Respect the rights of other park visitors and animals that live in the park to a pleasant and peaceful environment. Excessive noise or throwing things is extremely stressful to the animals that call the park home.
• Dress for the weather. It can always rain in Seattle. Come prepared for rain and cold weather. Try to dress in layers so you can add and subtract, as necessary. Don’t forget your rain jacket, and shoes appropriate for the weather.
• Protect the forest. Please place trash where it belongs, in either trash receptacles or recycling. Trash and recycling receptacles are available throughout the park.
• Connect to nature. Let’s be present for each other during our program and limit the use of smartphones, tablets and electronic devices as much as possible. There will be specific times when we will need electronic devices for the program.

Please note:
The safety of our students is our highest priority. We work hard to maintain an environment where students can participate in activities safely. If a student suffers a serious injury, we will call 911 and we will notify their parent or guardian.
For safety and liability reasons, people who are not signed up for the program are not allowed.

Accommodations, Medical Conditions & Disabilities
To help ensure that your student has a positive experience, please share information about any special needs that staff should know about at the time of registration. If it would be helpful, staff are available to meet with a parent or guardian to discuss special needs prior to the start of the program. If your child has any food or substance allergies, please let us know when you register. For severe allergies that require an EpiPen, please complete an Emergency Plan for Allergic Reactions. We'll follow up with families who submit an emergency plan. Please be aware that our program does not take place in a nut-free environment.
Parents/guardians are responsible for providing any necessary medical supplies for allergies (e.g., EpiPen).
Except for an EpiPen for severe allergic reactions, our staff are not licensed to dispense medications to
students.
Seward Park Audubon Center strives to help individuals overcome challenges by providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and education for individuals with disabilities. Please share how we can support your child’s participation in our programs prior to registration. For information on requesting disability accommodations, contact the Youth Programs Manager at gabriela.rivarde@audubon.org

Thank you and we look forward to hosting your student for our program.

Best Regards,
Gabriela Rivarde
Youth Programs Manager| 206.210.5620 | gabriela.rivarde@audubon.org