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SAFETY AGREEMENT FOR USE OF MORE THAN ME YOUTH RANCH, OWNED BY ALLIES IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT,
A TEXAS NON-PROFIT CORPORATION
I understand that Allies in Youth Development (“Allies”) will not allow myself and/or my child to participate in any agritourism activates
or other activities at More Than Me Youth Ranch (“More Than Me”) unless I enter into this Safety Agreement (“Agreement”) for my and/or my
child’s use of the More Than Me premises. In connection therewith, Allies and I, individually, and on behalf of my child (if applicable),
acknowledge and agree as follows:
General Safety Guidelines
1. Adult Supervision
(a) Minor children (“Youth”) will be supervised by qualified adults (including both the child’s parent as well as those responsible adult(s)
supervising the event the child is participating in and, where applicable, various Allies employees and staff) at all times on the More Than Me premises;
(b) For the events that Allies is managing, Allies will maintain an appropriate adult-to-Youth ratio at all times on the More Than Me
premises based upon the type(s) of activity(ies) and the age group(s) of Youth participating; and
(c) For events that Allies is not managing, i.e., independent youth groups, scouting troops, trail life groups, etc., Allies will ensure that the adult guardians or leaders responsible for overseeing those events are aware that they are responsible for supervising and managing the minor children participating in their events and activities.
2. Emergency Preparedness
(a) Allies will post in conspicuous place(s) an emergency evacuation plan and
Allies will ensure that emergency evacuation procedures are practiced
amongst staff and participants regularly and at least bi-monthly;
(b) Allies will keep and maintain properly stocked first aid kits in each of the
main/central locations of the More Than Me premises;
(c) Allies will ensure all of its staff members are trained in its official
Emergency Action Plan (EAP) & Procedures; and
(d) Allies staff or volunteers may or may not be trained in current basic first
aid and CPR techniques and procedures. In the event of an emergency,
Allies recommends you call 911.
3. Check-In / Check-Out Procedures
(a) Allies will ensure that secure check-in and check-our processes and
protocols are practiced for all Youth participants; and
(b) For Allies-managed events, Allies will ensure that only authorized
person(s) may pick-up Youth from the More Than Me premises, and a
valid form of identification will be required for same.
4. Health and Medical Information for Youth Participants
(a) For Allies-managed events, Allies will maintain updated medical records,
allergy information, and emergency contacts on each Youth participant on
file;
(b) Youth and/or other participants will reasonably cooperate with Allies’ staff
and personnel in providing relevant health care information for the
participant to Allies staff and personnel;
(c) Allies will maintain emergency contact information for each adult
participant on file; and
(d) Medications to be administered to Youth participants will be stored
securely by Allies employees and personnel and will be administered to
said Youth only by Allied authorized personnel.
5. Alcohol and Drugs
(a) Use of alcohol and/or non-prescriptive use of medication or drugs by any
Youth, other participant or employee or agent of Allies is prohibited at all
times on the More Than Me premises; and
(b) Use of the More Than Me premises and participation in the More Than Me
activities is prohibited by any Youth, other participant or employee or agent
of Allies that is under the influence of alcohol and/or non-prescriptive
medication or drugs.
6. Rules and Regulations
(a) Allies will post in conspicuous place(s) the Rules and Regulations in force
at the More Than Me premises;
(b) Youth and/or other participants agree to abide by all rules and regulations
in force at the More Than Me premises at all times; and
(c) Youth and/or other participants agree to respect the natural environment of
the More Than Me premises and participate in any agritourism and/or
other activities thereon in the spirit of safety and stewardship.
Facility & Environmental Safety
7. Property Condition
(a) Youth and/or other participants acknowledge and understand that no
warranty, either express or implied, is made by Allies as to the condition of
the More Than Me premises or any roads, trails, buildings, gates, fences,
and/or other improvements located thereon; and
(b) Youth and/or other participants acknowledge that their presence and
participation in activities on the More Than Me premises exposes both
them and their property to dangerous conditions, risks and hazards
including, but not limited to: poisonous snakes, wildlife, insects, spiders,
erosion and general condition of the land and trails, both on and off trails
and other passageways, creating rough, hazardous and dangerous
walking conditions, animals, both wild and domestic that may be diseased
and/or potentially dangerous, deep water, and persons with archery and
other potentially dangerous equipment both on and off of the More Than
Me premises.
8. Property Maintenance
(a) Youth and/or other participants will timely report any and all hazardous or
dangerous conditions on the premises such as loose boards, sharp
objects, or overgrown paths to Allies’ personnel and staff;
(b) Allies will regularly inspect, maintain and repair (if necessary) all facilities,
trails, sports fields, and equipment;
(c) Allies will promptly remove or remedy any and all hazards known to Allies,
such as loose boards, sharp objects, or overgrown paths; and
(d) Youth and/or other participants agree to leave the More Than Me premises
and buildings and improvements on it in good order and repair and in a
safe and clean condition after each visit to the More Than Me premises.
9. Water Safety
(a) Allies will enforce strict supervision of Youth near ponds, streams, or any
water features on the More Than Me premises; and
(b) Youth and/or other participants agree to wear life preserver jackets at all
times for any boating or water-based activities on the More Than Me
premises.
10. Animal Safety (if applicable)
(a) Allies will educate Youth on proper behavior around animals;
(b) Allies will supervise all Youth interactions with animals and prohibit Youth’s
unauthorized feeding or petting of animals; and
(c) Allies will promptly inform Youth and/or other participants of any
dangerous propensity of a particular animal used in any activity that is
known to Allies or should reasonably be known to Allies.
11. Weather Precautions
(a) Allies will monitor weather conditions in the area of More Than Me and
have and maintain plans in the event of severe weather; and
(b) Allies will suspend outdoor activities during thunderstorms, excessive
heat, or poor air quality.
12. Known Dangerous Conditions on the More Than Me Premises
(a) Youth and/or other participants acknowledge and agree that More Than
Me premises are intentionally maintained in their natural, unimproved and
wild state which creates a potential injury to Youth and other participants,
as well as anyone else on the More Than Me premises;
(b) Wild animals capable of causing serious bodily injury or death are or may
be present on the More Than Me premises, including on the areas where
Youth and/or other participants will engage in agritourism activities and
other activities; and
(c) Archery bows and other related equipment capable of causing serious
bodily injury or death might be periodically used on the More Than Me
premises.
Activity-Specific Safety
13. Sports & Recreational Activities
(a) Allies will ensure all equipment is in safe working condition;
(b) Youth and/or other participants will report to Allies any equipment that is
not in working or safe condition;
(c) Allies will provide proper protective gear (helmets, pads, etc.) to Youth and
all other participants and Allies will enforce Youth and/or other participant
use thereof; and
(d) Youth and/or other participants agree to use proper protective gear
(helmets, pads, etc.) provided by Allies at all times while participating in
activities requiring same.
14. Archery, Gaga Ball, and High-Impact Sports
(a) Allies will ensure that only trained instructors supervise and lead archery
related activities;
(b) Allies will define and enforce safety zones on the More Than Me premises
for high-intensity games and activities; and
(c) Youth and/or other participants agree to abide by the defined safety zones
on the More Than Me premises.
15. Playgrounds and Trails
(a) Allies will regularly inspect playgrounds for age-appropriate equipment
and Youth safe surfacing;
(b) Youth and/or other participants will notify Allies’ employees or staff of any
dangerous playground equipment or playground condition(s);
(c) Allies will enforce the use of buddy systems or trail guides by Youth and/or
other participants for hikes and/or bike rides; and
(d) Youth and/or other participants agree to use buddy systems or trail guides
at the direction of Allies for hikes and/or bike rides.
Behavioral Expectations
16. Code of Conduct
(a) Allies will set and explain clear expectations for respectful, responsible,
and safe behavior to Youth and/or other participants;
(b) Youth and/or other participants agree to not engage in bullying,
physically aggressive conduct and/or other unsafe, reckless or threatening
behavior;
(c) Bullying, physical aggression, and/or other unsafe, reckless or threatening
behavior on the part of Youth and/or other participants will not be
tolerated; and
(d) Youth and/or other participants agree not to act in any manner that will
obstruct, interfere with, or infringe on the rights of other residents of the
surrounding community to More Than Me.
17. Boundaries and Off-Limits Areas of More Than Me
(a) Allies will ensure that restricted areas of More Than Me are clearly marked
and that such markings are maintained;
(b) Youth and/or other participants agree to not access restricted areas of the
More Than Me premises; and
(c) Allies will educate Youth and/or other participants regarding the physical
boundaries of More Than Me.
Security Measures
18. Fencing and Gates
(a) Allies will ensure that all fences are secure and gates are locked on the
More Than Me premises when same are not in use; and
(b) Allies will control access points to the More Than Me premises and
monitor visitor entry and exit.
19. Visitor Policy
(a) All visitors to the More Than Me premises will be required to review and
sign the Safety Agreement and Waiver(s) to be permitted access to the
More Than Me premises;
(b) Allies’ staff will be required to complete background checks and training
prior to commencement of their job duties at the More Than Me premises;
(c) Allies’ volunteers that work with or around minor children will be required
to complete background checks and training prior to commencement of
their volunteer service at the More Than Me premises;
(d) Training for employees and staff of Allies involved in agritourism
activity(ies) will be tailored and structured specific to the agritourism
activity(ies) that the employee or staff member is involved in; and
(e) Training for any volunteers of Allies involved in agritourism activity(ies)
will be tailored and structured specific to the agritourism activity(ies) that
the volunteer is involved in.
Allies reserves the right to require that any Youth or other participant leave the More
Than Me premises at any time.