FAQ
Event Registration Terms & Conditions
Everybody who registers to participate (hereafter referred to as “Participants”) in a live hosted event hosted by Shaggy Jack & Co. Ventures Inc. (hereafter referred to as “Host”) must read and agree to the following terms & conditions.
Liability Waivers
All Participants joining Forest Walks are required to sign Acknowledgment of Risk & Liability Waiver documents in advance of the Forest Walk.
Shaggy Jack Acknowledgement of Risk and Liability Waivers:
Transportation To Class & Forest Walk Sites
All Participants are expected to take care of their own transportation to the locations of Classes and Forest Walks, as transportation will not be provided by the Host. Most Classes & Forest Walks occur in or near Gibsons, British Columbia, which is on the Sunshine Coast, an area that is only accessible from off-Coast locations by sea or air travel. Most visitors to the Sunshine Coast travel via BC Ferries. Visiting Participants are encouraged to check BC Ferries schedules before registering for an event and plan to allow enough time in advance of their booking to make it on time. Travel to the Sunshine Coast via BC Ferries is sometimes unreliable, so visitors are encouraged to make reservations for sailings, and/or to plan to arrive early, especially during statutory holiday weekends, in the case of long delays.
Forest Walk Locations
Forest Walk locations often take place in areas that are only accessible from unpaved forest service roads, so Participants are advised to take this into consideration when making travel plans. Vehicles parked along or near forest service roads may be in danger of damage by falling trees or vehicle accidents, wildlife, vandalism or theft, and Participants are expected to take responsibility for securing their vehicles. Most Forest Walk locations take place within a 10-minute drive from a highway or populated area. Forest Walk locations are often subject to change on short notice due to a variety of factors including the productivity of local fungal blooms, weather & road conditions.
Preparedness For Forest Walks
Participants are expected to be prepared for Forest Walks by:
- Being healthy enough to handle beginner to intermediate level forest trails, and off-trail forays, in a mountainous area.
- Wearing the appropriate clothing & footwear for hiking in forested areas, taking current weather conditions into account.
- Bringing necessary provisions in terms of food & water to sustain themselves for the duration of the Forest Walk.
- Being educated on and prepared for the possibility of wildlife encounters, including bringing along appropriate wildlife deterrents (air horns, pepper sprays & insecticides are acceptable, firearms and “bear bangers” are not).
- Understanding that most Forest Walk locations do not have bathrooms nearby, so participants will have to plan accordingly. Participants are also expected to stay within sight and/or hearing range of the Host and the Forest Walk group while hiking through the forest; Participants who wander away from the group assume their own risk of getting lost or injured.
Availability of Wild Mushrooms
The availability of wild mushrooms on Forest Walks for purposes of identification and harvesting can be variable depending on the season and climate conditions. The Host endeavours to schedule and host Forest Walks during times and in places that allow most students to practise their identification and foraging skills. However, there is no guarantee that mushrooms will be available for participants to harvest on any given Forest Walk. This is particularly true for Forest Walks booked January through August, as peak mushroom season is typically September through December. Please take this into consideration when booking a Forest Walk, as there will be no refunds issued if mushrooms are not found. In some cases, the Host may reschedule or offer free “make-up” Forest Walks at a later date in the case of no mushrooms, at his sole discretion.
Harvesting & Consuming Wild Mushrooms
As noted in the Acknowledgement of Risk and Liability waiver that Participants are required to sign, the Host is not responsible for any adverse reactions Participants may have to edible or medicinal wild mushrooms they consume after harvesting, nor is the Host responsible for any errors in identification a participant may make after completing the class. The Host will provide accurate identification of mushrooms collected during a Forest Walk and inform Participants of potential risks associated with eating wild mushrooms, but Participants agree to assume their own risk when consuming wild-foraged mushrooms.
Client Cancellations, Refunds & Rescheduling
Participants may cancel bookings & receive a full refund if they cancel with at least 72 hours notice. No refunds are available for the purchase of Online Classes; partial refunds may be issued in the case of package deals which include Live Classes and Forest Walks, with the refund value equal to the price of each individual Module. Refunds may take up to 14 days to process and be returned. Participants unable to make it to a booking due to health reasons, delays with BC Ferries or other factors beyond their control will have the opportunity to reschedule for a later date with no penalties incurred.
Host Cancellations, Refunds & Rescheduling
In some cases, the Host may need to cancel or reschedule a class. Full refunds are available for cancelled bookings, and participants will receive these within 14 days of the cancellation notice. All participants will be given the opportunity to reschedule cancelled bookings.
Participant Conduct
All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a civil manner, and to not interfere with the educational experience provided by the Host, or to negatively impact the learning or enjoyment of other participants within the group. Participants who engage in bullying, bigoted, abusive, threatening, harassing or violent behaviour towards the Host or any participants will be asked to leave immediately at the discretion of the Host, and will not be eligible to reschedule their booking or receive a refund, and will lose access to online learning modules.
Children
Children 14 and under need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian for all Forest Walks.
Children 5 & under can join Live Classes & Walks for free, but the Host must be notified in advance of any children not registered for the event. Parents or guardians are responsible for appropriately assessing a child’s ability to participate in events for their full duration without major disruptions in the learning process or the enjoyment of others within the group. Parents or legal guardians are required to sign Liability waivers on behalf of the children they are caring for.
Dogs
Only trained guide or service dogs that are certified & registered with a recognized guide & service dog regulating body are allowed on Forest Walks, and participants bringing a guide or service dog must let the Host know in advance. At the discretion of the Host, exceptions for pet dogs or emotional support dogs may be made only for non-scheduled, custom, privately booked Forest Walk experiences, but the Host reserves the right to refuse dogs, or the right to charge the full price of one adult ticket per dog. Any participant showing up with a dog that has not been cleared in advance of an event will be asked to leave and will not be eligible for a refund.
Smoking
Smoking is absolutely prohibited on Forest Walks during seasonal fire bans. During times when smoking is permitted, smokers are expected to respect other participants and smoke or vape a suitable distance away from others, and to respect the environment by not discarding spent smoking materials on the ground.