Rules and Expectations | Rustic Pathways

As a participant on a Rustic Pathways program, you are required to agree to and acknowledge our rules both prior to your departure and again at the beginning of your program.

Rustic Pathways Rules and Policies

All Participants are responsible for their individual acts and omissions, and must abide by Rustic Pathways’ rules and policies as provided or posted by Rustic Pathways from time to time (“Policies”). Participants who fail to comply with Rustic Pathways’ Policies may be asked to terminate their participation in the Program without refund. In addition, Rustic Pathways reserves the right to remove any Participant from any program at any time without refund if their behavior or participation is detrimental to themselves or others, or they consistently disregard staff instructions.

For Travel Programs (click for more)

Rustic Pathways Travel Program Rules

As a Rustic Pathways student, you have a shared responsibility to ensure that your program is safe, fun, and meaningful. During your program, we expect that you always follow the rules below.

Do not consume or possess alcohol.
Do not use or possess illegal drugs, or misuse prescription drugs.
Do not use or possess tobacco or tobacco products (including electronic cigarettes and vaping products).
Do not have sex or engage in any act that is of a sexual nature.
Do not steal.
Do not get tattoos or piercings.
Do not bully others, which includes verbal, social, physical, and cyberbullying.
Do not engage in inappropriate, disrespectful, or disruptive use of cellphones, social media, or technology.
Do not leave your group without proper supervision.
Follow all directions given to you by Rustic Pathways staff.
Remain respectful and sensitive to local culture.
Represent yourself and Rustic Pathways in an appropriate manner. This includes choosing appropriate and respectful language, conversation topics, music, and clothing.

COVID-19 Addendum

The world has changed very quickly in recent months in ways that nobody could have imagined. In this new landscape, we will continue to evolve our best practices on a regular basis in the interest of safety.
We ask all of our students and staff to adhere to the guidelines of our Communicable Disease Plan throughout each day of each program. If you feel that you have been out of compliance in any way, you should notify our staff as soon as possible so that we can take any actions necessary to keep the group–as well as our partners on the ground–as safe as possible. Because each individual’s network is only as safe as its weakest link, we have committed to enforcing COVID-19 related precautions in the same way as other rules, with consequences up to and including dismissal from the program for violations. We therefore require that each participant–as well as their guardians–acknowledge this as a condition for joining any Rustic Pathways Program. Each signature provided in our Consent to Travel document (pre-travel) expresses agreement to these terms, and helps Rustic Pathways ensure that each participant understands the serious nature of of this policy.

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For Virtual Travel Programs (click for more)

Rustic Pathways Virtual Travel Etiquette

Mute when others are speaking
Keep your video on
Sit upright, no slouching or lying down
Post in the chat with questions
Pay attention and stay engaged
Wear comfortable, appropriate attire

Rustic Pathways Virtual Travel Program Rules

As a Rustic Pathways student, you have a shared responsibility to ensure that your program is safe, fun, and meaningful. During your program, we expect that you always follow the rules below.

Do not consume alcohol or participate while under the influence of alcohol.
Do not use illegal drugs or misuse prescription drugs, or participate while under the influence of illegal or misused drugs.
Do not use tobacco or tobacco products (including electronic cigarettes and vaping products).
Do not bully others, which includes verbal, social, physical, and cyberbullying.
Do not engage in inappropriate, disrespectful, or disruptive use of cellphones, social media, or technology.
Follow all directions given to you by Rustic Pathways staff.
Remain respectful and sensitive to local culture.
Represent yourself and Rustic Pathways in an appropriate manner. This includes choosing appropriate and respectful language, conversation topics, music, and clothing.

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Inclusivity Statement

At Rustic Pathways, we value community. We cherish diversity and inclusivity and we actively strive to create a culture of acceptance, tolerance, and respect. We welcome all students onto our programs, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic status. We believe that all stakeholders, including our students, have an obligation to create and maintain a healthy, safe environment for all on our programs.

Rustic Pathways defines bullying as repeated intentionally harmful acts perpetrated by an individual or group against someone who feels inadequately able to respond. We believe that any form, type, or level of bullying or discrimination is unacceptable and requires immediate attention. We reserve the right to dismiss any student who bullies or discriminates against others.

When a student is dismissed, no refund will be given for any unused program costs or flights. All costs associated with a student’s departure from the program will be the responsibility of the student and their family. Future participation in Rustic Pathways programs will not be permitted.

Failure to abide by the Rustic Pathways Rules and Inclusivity Statement will result in corrective action and likely result in immediate removal from your program at your family’s expense.

Use of Program Materials

During the course of the Program, materials and media such as written materials, ideas, photos or other images; screen shots; digital, video, audio or other recordings, and/or written or spoken statements of all Participant(s) (collectively, “Program Materials”) may be taken and/or collected by Rustic Pathways staff or by Participant(s) and supplied to Rustic Pathways. Rustic Pathways may copy, publish, distribute, display, modify and use the Program Materials at any time in the future, including for broadcast, sale, reproduction or display on the internet (including on the Rustic Pathways website, its Facebook page, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram or other social media applications or sites) or via other media, or for any other business use, including promotional or educational use, without compensation to individual Participants.

Program Dismissal

When a student is dismissed from a program for a breach of our Rules, Inclusivity Statement, or Communicable Disease Plan, no refund will be given for any program costs or flights (whether used or unused). All costs associated with a student’s departure from the program will be the responsibility of the student and their family. Future participation in Rustic Pathways programs will not be permitted.

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