Hello

Our Community Agreement

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Kids Who Explore was started by a pregnant hiking mom in the Canadian Rockies who believed that parenthood and adventure could grow together. What began on a single trail has grown into a global social enterprise powered by outdoor parents who bring families together to connect, to heal, and to raise children who feel at home in nature.

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Our community is more than hikes. It is a place for mental health support, postpartum healing, and lasting friendships. We are families helping families discover the outdoors, build confidence, and find joy in raising the next generation of explorers.

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Kids Who Explore is a choose your own adventure community. Our groups often move at different paces on the trail because hiking with small children looks different for every family. We are not a guiding service and do not provide guided tours. Our team and volunteers facilitate connection at the trailhead or in the outdoors, helping families find one another and build community.

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As a Kids Who Explore member, you commit to the following values:

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Welcome with Openness:
Come as you are. Keep an open heart and mind. Be curious about others’ perspectives and honor that each family has its own story.

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Share Authentically:
Our roots are in parents who were honest about postpartum struggles, mental health, and rediscovering themselves outdoors. Share your truth, knowing that authenticity builds trust and connection.

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Lead with Kindness:
Parenting is an adventure with highs and lows. A kind word or simple act of support can make all the difference. Our community is the first to offer encouragement, to share a snack, or to hand over the wipes to a parent who forgot them. These small moments of care remind us that we are in this together.

 

Practice Respect:
Discrimination, harassment, or judgment are not tolerated. Respect differences, respect families, and respect the land we gather on.

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Support All Families:
Kids Who Explore is a choose your own adventure community. Families connect at the trailhead and then hike in the way that works best for them. With babies, toddlers, and children of different ages, groups naturally spread out and everyone moves at their own pace. No one is responsible for waiting for another family, and each parent is responsible for themselves and their children. Our goal is to create accessible and affordable events so all families feel welcome to join, no matter their pace or stage of adventure.

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Use Your Voice:
Our community is powered by parents speaking up for inclusivity and kindness. Share your voice, listen with care, and help keep Kids Who Explore safe and welcoming for all.

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Online Community:
Our digital spaces, including our website, groups, and social media, are extensions of our mission. Share stories, resources, and encouragement that support families outdoors. Harmful or unsafe content may be removed to protect the integrity of our community.

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In-Person Gatherings:
Our hikes and family meet ups are the heartbeat of Kids Who Explore. Together we create positive and safe experiences by:

• Staying Together in Spirit: If one family needs to pause, we pause together when possible. But we also recognize that hiking with kids means moving at different paces. It is natural for groups to spread out, and every family is encouraged to go at the pace that works for them.

• Starting in Community: Events begin with introductions so families feel welcomed and connected.

• Creating Judgment-Free Spaces: Families parent in different ways. We replace judgment with encouragement.

• Caring for Nature: We model stewardship for our children by following Leave No Trace principles.

• Prioritizing Safety: Every family is responsible for packing the Ten Essentials when heading into the backcountry and for taking proper precautions outdoors. Safety is our top priority.

By participating, you agree to uphold these commitments, respect other families, and take responsibility for your own safety and that of your children. Kids Who Explore reserves the right to revoke membership if these standards are not upheld.

Kids Who Explore Waiver

Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnification

This document affects your legal rights. Please read carefully before signing.

Why We Gather
Kids Who Explore is a global social enterprise rooted in the belief that families thrive outdoors. Founded by a pregnant hiking mom in the Canadian Rockies, our community exists to nurture mental health, support postpartum parents, and help families form friendships through shared adventures in nature.

We believe nature is a place of connection and restoration. While our gatherings are supportive and community-driven, Kids Who Explore is not a guiding service. Our ambassadors and volunteers are community hosts who facilitate connection at the trailhead and in the outdoors, not professional guides. Every parent is responsible for their own choices and for their children’s safety.

Understanding the Risks
By joining a Kids Who Explore activity, I acknowledge that outdoor recreation carries risks. Hazards may include slips, falls, weather, wildlife, illness, or other unforeseen dangers. Medical assistance may be limited or unavailable.

Kids Who Explore events are choose your own adventure style, with families moving at different paces on the trail. It is my responsibility to decide whether participation is safe and appropriate for myself and my family.

My Assumption of Risk
I knowingly accept all risks of participating in Kids Who Explore activities, including the risk of injury, illness, or death. I will care for my own needs, including mental health and postpartum recovery, while participating with my children.

My Release of Liability
I release Kids Who Explore, its volunteers, ambassadors, event hosts, and partners from liability for harm or loss that may occur during or related to activities, even if caused by negligence.

Indemnification
I agree to hold Kids Who Explore harmless and defend against claims that may arise from my participation or my child’s participation.

Volunteer Hosts and Ambassadors
Events may be led by ambassadors or parent volunteers. Any advice, such as carrier adjustments or hiking tips, is offered as peer-to-peer support, not professional instruction. I remain responsible for my own choices and my child’s wellbeing.

Insurance
I understand Kids Who Explore does not provide insurance. I am responsible for my own medical or personal coverage.

Use of Photos and Media
I understand that photos or videos may be taken at events. I grant Kids Who Explore permission to use these images, with respect and care, to share stories and inspire other families to connect with nature. Kids Who Explore is mindful to avoid capturing children’s faces in photos unless clear consent is given, and will always prioritize the privacy of families.

Severability
If any part of this agreement is found invalid, the remainder shall remain in effect.

Governing Law
This agreement is intended to be valid globally. It will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the country or region in which the event occurs, or where the participant resides, whichever provides greater protection for Kids Who Explore. Any disputes will first be mediated in good faith and, if necessary, resolved through arbitration.

By signing, I confirm that I have read and understood this agreement, and that I voluntarily accept its terms.

If the participant is a minor, a parent or guardian must sign on their behalf, accepting full responsibility for the child’s participation.