Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)

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EPIC Adventures aims to provide experiential programs that inspire confidence, foster inclusiveness, teach useful skills, and develop long lasting relationships within the broader EWU community.

The health and well-being of EPIC participants and staff members are our priorities. Due to the inherent risks associated with our activities, EPIC programs are open to individuals who acknowledge the ability to perform the following Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC). The following EEC are applicable to all EPIC program clients and companion caregivers. Companion caregiver is defined as an individual(s) trained to assist an EPIC client with physical, emotional, or communication requirements (please see Section 2 for companion-specific EEC).

Note: If you have any general questions or concerns about our EEC, please contact us; we may be able to assist you with a reasonable accommodation unless it would fundamentally change the nature of our programs, would increase unnecessary risk to you or others, or would place an undue financial or administrative burden on EPIC Adventures.

The following EEC pertain to all EPIC programs. Each participant and companion must have the ability to complete the following requirements.

1.1 Effectively signal or notify trip leaders, 3rd party designee, or other participants of personal distress, injury, illness, or need of assistance;

1.2 Perceive, understand, and follow instructions independently, or with the assistance of a companion or adaptive equipment. Including the following emergency procedures: (where are these emergency procedures get listed?};

1.3 Independently, or with the assistance of a companion, perform necessary self-care, activities of daily living, and manage known medical conditions;.

1.4 Perform bladder/bowel control and toileting needs according to activity-specific environments: These environments may include the use of pit-toilets, wag-bags, cat holes, etc.;

1.5 Perceive and comprehend the inherent risks of the activity, including but not limited to, risks identified and explained by EPIC staff;

1.6 Remain alert and focused for the duration of the programed activity or outing;

1.7 Withstand moderate physical activity;

1.8 Access EPIC’s trip-start locations independently or with the assistance of a companion;

1.9 Adapt to venue changes in the event that logistical conditions must change;

1.10 Withstand changing environmental factors associated with the EPIC program, including but not limited to, varying air temperatures, varying water temperatures (during paddling activities), rain, snow, ice, direct sun exposure, etc.; and,

1.11 When using EPIC transportation: Be able to enter and exit EPIC vehicles independently or with the assistance of a companion.

Note: EPIC Adventures will permit the attendance of an companion at no additional cost to the participant. However, the companion caregiver will be responsible for purchasing their own consumable resources (i.e. food) and individual access fees (i.e. lift tickets) required during the trip. For convenience, EPIC Adventures will provide these resources at cost, if requested. In the event that a participant requests the attendance of a companion caregiver during a trip experience, EPIC Adventures’s staff will work with the Director of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Compliance to determine the eligibility and implementation protocol for the companion caregiver.

If you are attending as a companion caregiver, you must have the ability to complete the following requirements:

2.1 Meet all of the General EEC listed in Section 1, in addition to those listed in 2.2-2.4;

2.2 Participate in the EPIC program according to activity-specific EEC;

2.3 Be willing and able to assist in the physical and cognitive needs of your client. This includes, but is not limited to, lifting, pushing, and pulling the weight of your client for the distance and terrain involved in the specifics of each particular program; and,

2.4 Offer one-on-one support for your client as needed

3. Activity Specific EEC

In addition to the General EEC and Companion Caregiver EEC listed above, each EPIC participant and companion caregiver must have the ability to complete the following requirements specific to the program or activity.

3.1.1 Physically navigate the campsite in order to attend instructional sessions and toileting needs, independently or with the assistance of a companion caregiver;

3.1.2 Sleep in tents, on padded ground surfaces according to activity-specific environments. Adaptive equipment approved by EPIC staff is allowed.

3.2.1 Travel over uneven and variable terrain; including but not limited to, uphill and downhill surfaces. Use of adaptive equipment approved by EPIC staff is allowed;

3.2.2 Travel distances at a slow or moderate pace for up to 1 hour between rest breaks.

3.2.3 For the duration of the activity, carry personal and group gear required for the specific activity in a backpack or lumbar pack, independently or with the assistance of a companion caregiver.

Additional EEC for snowshoeing activities

3.2.4 Independently, or with the assistance of a companion caregiver, put on snow-travel equipment; and

3.2.5 Independently travel and negotiate through varied snow depths and densities.

3.3.1 Meet Camping and Hiking EEC listed above (Sections 3.1 and 3.2.1 through 3.2.3), and those listed here; and

3.3.2 Travel over varied wilderness terrain while carrying a backpack weighing up to or exceeding 60 pounds, or 40%-45% of body weight.

3.4.1 Wear a properly fitted cycling helmet for the duration of the activity;

3.4.2 Visually identify routes and hazards, independently or with the assistance of a companion caregiver;

3.4.3 Independently mount, dismount, sit, and balance on the vehicle for the duration of the activity. Adaptive equipment approved by EPIC staff is allowed;

3.4.4 Independently, or with the assistance of a companion caregiver, pedal, steer, stop, and negotiate vehicle over a variety of terrain including flat, uphill, downhill, loose dirt, rocks, roots, stumps, and other natural and manmade terrain; and

3.4.5 When navigating on roadways, obey traffic laws and be able to visually signal other vehicles.

These EEC include river or lake programs involving flatwater canoes, flatwater stand-up paddleboards, and flatwater kayak activities, as well as river programs involving whitewater rafting and whitewater kayaking.

3.5.1 Properly wear all equipment required by EPIC staff (e.g. personal flotation device, helmet, etc.);

3.5.2 Breathe independently without the use of medical devices to sustain breathing, and be able to hold breath when under water;

3.5.3 Independently hold head upright without neck or head support;

3.5.4 Independently remain in an appropriate body position, while in or on the water-craft, for the duration of the activity. Adaptive equipment used to support body positioning approved by EPIC staff is allowed. Note: EPIC may be able to provide trunk, lateral, and back support). Some examples of activity specific appropriate body positions may include:

· Canoe: upright and seated or kneeling position

· Kayak: upright, seated and braced position

· Raft: upright, seated and braced position

· Stand-up Paddleboard: standing, kneeling, or sitting positions, and

· Riverboarding: prone position (on stomach)

3.5.5 While in the water wearing a properly fitted personal flotation device, be able to independently turn from a face-down to a face-up position keeping head above water;

3.5.6 Enter and exit from the water-craft independently, or with reasonable assistance from a companion caregiver;

3.5.7 Independently escape from underneath a capsized water-craft;

3.5.8 Following a capsize, reenter or remount the water-craft independently, or with reasonable assistance from a companion caregiver; and

3.5.9 Tolerate varying water temperatures and changing environmental conditions, including but not limited to, strong winds, sun exposure, rain, etc., when provided with proper equipment.

· Rivers and Lakes: 33 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit

· Hot Springs: 61 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit

Additional EEC for whitewater rafting and whitewater kayaking activities

3.5.10 Tolerate swift and erratic movement of the water-craft inherent with whitewater activities; and

3.5.11 Following an entry into swift moving water, demonstrate the ability to swim aggressively toward the water-craft or away from hazards, while wearing a personal floatation device.

3.6.1 Properly put on and take off skiing or snowboarding equipment independently, or with the assistance of a companion caregiver;

3.6.2 Tolerate temperatures below freezing (32° F) and strong wind gusts exceeding 60mph;

3.6.3 Travel on skis or snowboard over varying snow-covered terrain conditions independently, or with the assistance of a companion caregiver. Use of adaptive equipment approved by EPIC staff is allowed;

3.6.4 After falling down, be able to move away from high traffic areas and get into a position necessary to continue skiing or snowboarding, independently, or with the assistance of a companion caregiver;

3.6.5 Load, ride, and unload chair-lifts while wearing ski or snowboard equipment independently, or with assistance of a companion caregiver; and

3.6.6 Recognize and navigate through in-bounds terrain independently, or with the assistance of a companion caregiver.

3.7.1 Properly wear all equipment required by EPIC staff including, but not limited to: harness (seat, chest, or full-body), climbing helmet, etc.;

3.7.2 Independently, or with the assistance of a companion caregiver, communicate necessary climbing signals. These may include verbal or visual cues;

3.7.3 Independently control one’s upright position on a climbing wall, boulder, or rock surface while attempting to ascend. Use of adaptive equipment approved by EPIC staff is allowed; and

3.7.4 When bouldering: Appropriately withstand an impact from a fall above head-height onto a crash-pad.

In order to belay, each participant must be able to:

3.7.5 Independently and reliably manipulate a climbing rope through a belay device such as an ATC or Gri-Gri;

3.7.6 Independently maintain a firm grip on the climbing rope for the duration it takes the climber to ascend and descend the climbing or rock wall; and

3.7.7 Independently communicate with the climber using visual or verbal cues.

3.8.1 Meet all Camping (Section 3.1), Hiking and Snowshoeing (Section 3.2), Backpacking (Section 3.3), and Rock Climbing (Section 3.7) EEC listed above, and those listed here;

3.8.2 After instruction from EPIC staff, independently perform essential tasks without the direct supervision of EPIC staff. These include, but are not limited to, tying into a rope, clipping into or through an anchor, and using equipment properly (i.e. climbing harness and helmet);

3.8.3 Independently communicate in an oral dialogue over a distance of up to 50 feet during snow or glacier trave;

3.8.4 After instruction from EPIC staff, independently provide a reliable belay to other climbers when appropriate;

3.8.5 After instruction from EPIC staff, independently perform a self-arrest with an ice-axe if travelling on snow or glaciers; and

3.8.6 Tolerate temperatures below freezing (32° F) and strong wind gusts exceeding 60mph.

3.9.1 Properly wear all equipment required by EPIC staff including, but not limited to: caving helmet, headlamp, etc.;

3.9.2 When approaching the cave, negotiate through difficult off-trail terrain;

3.9.3 Tolerate temperatures below freezing (32° F);

3.9.4 Tolerate dark and confined spaces for up to 5 hours;

3.9.5 Independently negotiate through confined spaces of wet, dark, and slippery terrain; and

3.9.6 Independently communicate verbally over a distance up to 50 feet.