CALS Days 2026

Participants must read this Acknowledgement of Risk and Waiver of Liability carefully and in its entirety.  It is a binding legal document.  This document and its terms are considered accepted, and are legally binding on the parties, upon electronic submission to and receipt by the University of Idaho.  If you are under the age of 18, this form must be completed and submitted by your parent or legal guardian.

I, the undersigned participant or parent/guardian, am aware that participation in CALS Days (“Activity”) may include activities that are risky and dangerous. Both participant and his/her parent(s) / guardian(s) (“I”) acknowledge and accept the risks and give permission for my participation in the Activity. I acknowledge that participation in this Activity has the following non-exhaustive list of particular activities that bear risk and danger and from which bodily injury or illness to myself, or my child, up to and including death, may occur: being in unfamiliar physical and social environments; physical activities related to campus tours, touring facilities, attending demonstrations and presentations including, but not limited to baggage handling, falling, twisting, and walking that involve strenuous exertion that could place stress on cardiovascular and/or musculo-skeletal systems and result in broken bones, strain, sprains, joint injuries, heart malfunctions, and head injuries; social activities including but not limited to attending new student functions, meals, and meeting faculty and staff; physical activities related to the playing, practice of, and /or competition in a variety of games and activities, including but not limited to baseball, softball, basketball, dance, dodgeball, ice skating, running, ping pong, soccer, tennis/badminton/pickle ball, volleyball; all of these physical, sporting, and game activities can involve movements including but not limited to walking, hiking, carrying heavy objects, continual aerobic movements, sprinting, drowning, propelling, stepping, quick movements, arm swinging, hitting, striking, loss of balance, falling, slipping, lifting, bending, jogging, jumping, tackling, pulling, running, scrimmaging, stretching, tripping, twisting; all of these physical activities related to the playing, practice of, and /or competition in a variety of games and activities that would involve strenuous exertion that could place stress on cardiovascular and/or musculo-skeletal systems and result in cuts, punctures, broken bones, strain, sprains, joint injuries, eye injuries, heart malfunctions, concussions, and head injuries; use of equipment by myself or others in the condition in which it is found; being struck by other participants or bystanders; contact or collision with objects, participants or bystanders in the environment; being hit or struck by items used in the activities or in the environment, in the condition in which they are found; risks arising from control, performance or being in the presence of livestock that with or without warning or any apparent cause and regardless of previous training and past performance, could make unpredictable movements; physical activities related to touring livestock facilities including, but not limited to falling, lifting, bending, jumping, pulling, tripping, and twisting that involve strenuous exertion that could place stress on cardiovascular and/or musculo-skeletal systems and result in broken bones, strain, sprains, joint injuries, heart malfunctions, and head injuries; physical activities related to textile dying, forest tours, entomology tours, and plant science including, but not limited to arm movements, falling, lifting, bending, jumping, pulling, tripping, and twisting that involve strenuous exertion that could place stress on cardiovascular and/or musculo-skeletal systems and result in bites, allergic reactions, cuts, punctures, burns, broken bones, strain, sprains, eye injuries, joint injuries, heart malfunctions, concussions, and head injuries; risk of serious injury and disfigurement in the course of touring a food and meat processing facility, food preparation and cooking, including but not limited to cuts and burns; use or operation, by myself or others, of equipment, including but not limited to knives or other sharp objects, cooking devices, and/or mixing utensils or machines; use or operation, by myself or others, of equipment, including but not limited to cutting devices, conveyer systems, sealing systems, freezers, driers and or fryers; physical activities related to food preparation including, but not limited to lifting heavy objects, bending, pulling, and repetitive movements that involve strenuous exertion that could place stress on cardiovascular and/or musculo-skeletal systems and result in cuts, burns, punctures, broken bones, strain, sprains, eye injuries, joint injuries, heart malfunctions, concussions, head injuries; allergic reactions to food items; use or operation, by me or others of equipment in the condition in which they are found; access and exposure to machinery, electrical equipment, sharp objects and cutting instruments; exposure to chemicals; risk of severe injury, serious neck or spinal injuries, complete or partial paralysis, emotional and psychological injuries, injuries to internal organs, brain damage or death in the course of the following activities:  mountaineering activities, roped, top roped, auto belay and lead climbing; use of climbing walls, aerial silks, aerial hoop, lyra, lyra dancing, aerial ring, cerceaux, tissue, bouldering areas, weights and other training activities or events including gear demonstrations, parties, clinics, training, remote outdoor climbing,; camps, classes, rental of or borrowing of equipment from SRC Climbing Center; failure of climber to clip into the auto belay tether, to tie appropriate climbing knots, or to exercise proper belay techniques; bouldering; roped climbing; lead climbing; ice climbing; multi-pitch climbing; rappelling; and risks associated with being in the presence of other climbers which include, but not limited to, risk of dropped equipment, broken holds, falling from wall, and falling climbers; falling onto uneven, worn or hard landing surfaces; falling, collision with objects, people or structures, being struck by other participants or objects; loose handholds, equipment failure even if equipment is properly used; the conduct, including negligent conduct by other participants and visitors; physical and sporting activities related to the aforementioned activities including, but not limited to abrasions, balancing body, gear and other climbers weight, bending, broken bones, bruises, concussions, cuts, dropping, eye injuries, falling, flips, head injuries, heart malfunctions, joint injuries, jolts, jumping, lifting, pinches, pulling, punctures, rope burns, scrapes, sliding, sprains, strains, stretching, swinging, twisting, throwing, and competition in and/or practice of activities that involve strenuous exertion that could place stress on cardiovascular and/or musculo-skeletal systems and result in broken bones, strain, sprains, joint injuries, heart malfunctions, and head injuries with no supervision, while on campus or off; I understand that these risks arise from some or all of the following:  bad knots; improper belay techniques; human error; rope abrasion or entanglement; failure of ropes, knots, belays, slings, harnesses, climbing holds, anchor points, hardware, or any other part of the climbing wall, equipment failure, and my own, my dependent’s or other participant’s carelessness; I specifically acknowledge that climbing and aerial activities may involve an even greater risk of injury than other sports; because of the inherent dangers of participating in climbing wall and related activities, I recognize the importance of following instructions regarding techniques, training, and rules, and I agree to obey all instructions. I have, and my dependent has, or will obtain prerequisite skills, qualifications, preparation and training to participate in the Activity in a safe and competent manner; risks related to transit to or from the Activity locations including, but not limited to, travel by private auto, bus, UI owned autos and vans, including travel in unpredictable or extreme weather conditions that affect the method of travel safety; exposure to inclement weather including, but not limited to rain, sun, wind, snow, ice, fog, and extremes of heat or cold that could cause injury or illness including but not limited to heat exhaustion or stroke, sunburn, frost bite, hypothermia, and dehydration; staying overnight in campus housing, commercial hotels, with host families; contact with animals, plants, insects and biological or environmental hazards; activities supplemental to the Activity, such as walking or hiking to and from sites of interest; use of facilities, roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and trails that may or may not be properly maintained; contact with animals, plants, insects, biological and environmental hazards; exposure to contaminated food and untreated water; risk related to the rendering or receipt of emergency first aid, or other emergency treatment, and transport in medical emergencies; accident or illness in locations without access to appropriate medical facilities or supplies; exposure to infectious disease and/or illnesses; and other unknown and unanticipated activities and  risks.

In consideration of the University of Idaho (“UI”) permitting me/my dependent to participate in the Activity, I and my dependent hereby voluntarily accept all risks associated with participation. To the extent permitted by law, I agree to indemnify, defend, save, hold harmless, discharge and release the State of Idaho, the Regents of the University of Idaho, their agents and employees from any and all liability, claims, causes of action or demands of any kind and nature whatsoever that may arise out of or in connection with my participation in any activities related to the above-named Activity. 

It is my express intent that this Acknowledgement of Risk and Waiver of Liability shall serve as a release, discharge and acceptance of risk for my heirs, estate, executor, administrator, assigns and all members of my family. The venue of any dispute that may arise out of my or my dependent’s participation in the Activity, if the University is a party to the dispute, shall be in Latah County, Idaho. 

I understand I am responsible for all medical expense and/or property losses.

I am aware that if I provide a vehicle not owned and operated by the University for transportation to, at, or from any Activity site, or if I am a passenger in such a vehicle, the University is not responsible for any damage or injury caused by or arising from my use of such transportation.  I acknowledge that the university makes no representation with respect to the safety of any personally owned vehicle in which I may travel, or with respect to the qualifications of the driver of any personally owned vehicle.  I understand that if I choose to travel in a personally owned vehicle, it is my responsibility to determine the safety of the vehicle and qualifications of the driver.  Furthermore, I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for any action that I take that is outside the scope of the scheduled Activity, regardless if occurring before, during or after the period of the Activity. 

I hereby certify that I am in good health and I know of no medical reason why I am not able to participate in the Activity. I hereby consent to first aid, emergency medical care and if necessary, admission to a hospital when necessary for administering such care, for treatment for injuries or illness that I may sustain while participating in the Activity.

If this is a University of Idaho sponsored and conducted Activity, and if I or my dependent has a disability, food or drug allergy, dietary requirements, or any condition requiring accommodation, I will contact the Center for Disability Access and Resources (208) 885-6307 at least three weeks (21 days) prior to the start of the Activity. If this is not a University of Idaho Activity, even if the Activity is being held at University of Idaho facilities, I will contact the organization that is conducting the Activity.

Whether or not I am a student, I will abide by:  the University of Idaho Student Code of Conduct, Articles II through IX at https://www.uidaho.edu/governance/policy/policies/fsh/2/2300; the behavioral expectations of the Activity; and all applicable city, state and federal laws. My failure to do so may be considered grounds for denying my/my dependent’s participation in the Activity.

I agree that you may photograph or video me or my child during, and in connection with, the Activity.  I agree that you shall be the exclusive owner of all images and all copyright and other rights in the images.  I agree that you may use any image in any media you wish related to the University of Idaho.