POLICIES, RULES, WAIVERS & FAQ

Please see below our general course rules for all ages. Scroll down for our Air Quality Policy, Cancellation Policy, FAQ, etc.

NIGHTHAWK RULES OF RESPECT

All participants of our programs are familiar with these rules. They are taught and required of all youth participants and implicated and/or taught to all adult program participants.

RESPECT YOURSELF

This includes taking care of your self by drinking water, eating when needed, and wearing clothing appropriate for the weather. Instructors give reminders of these for younger participants and, upon request, may have borrowing library resources for forgotten or needed supplies.

Stay together. Groups of at least 3 for youth. For safety purposes, youth students must be able to stay within line of sight/sound from their group. If youth students need space, they must communicate with an instructor and/or be able to remove themselves to a safe (away from roads, fast water, etc.) place within eyesight of the group. Never eat plants without asking an instructor first.

RESPECT EACH OTHER

Keep each others' bodies and feelings safe. This includes listening to others when they're speaking, helping a friend who might need help, and no inappropriate physical contact.

Follow safety rules provided by instructors when using special equipment (carving knives, archery gear, etc.) or traveling in certain areas (bodies of water, trees/climbing, etc.).

RESPECT THE NATURAL WORLD

Respect plants and wildlife. Follow instructor and public land guidelines for plant use, fire safety, and natural resource use. Follow the public rules for the type of land we are on that day. Leave a place better than you found it.

YOUR AGREEMENT

By registering yourself, a child, or gifting a program to a friend, you are passing these responsibilities to the participant. We start each program by clearly establishing these guidelines with our clients. While all humans are around because of their ancestors' connection to nature and nature is genuinely therapeutic and transformative for many, Nighthawk's programs are not designed to address or rectify behavior or emotional issues. If, given reasonable modification and accommodations, a participant repetitively shirks these rules, alternative options--including potential removal from the program--will be discussed.

CANCELLATION POLICY

*Please understand that our programs are small groups and we invest a lot of our resources into outreach to fill them. When you sign up, you and the rest of those who are registered become the specific group of people to which our instructors tailor the program, including group size and specific needs. If you aren't sure you can attend your program, please wait to sign up until you know you are able! Please refrain from registering with the prior intent to switch enrollment to other courses, cancel later, etc. *

Before signing up for a program, please know that refunds are not typical.

If you, the PARTICIPANT, CANCEL:

We can offer credit for future programs if your space can be filled.
If you contact us to cancel your spot, we'll reopen it and if it fills you'll then receive a coupon code for part of your tuition (minus processing fees, cancellation fee, etc.) to use in the future.
You will not receive a credit or a refund if you miss part or all of your program, your space does not fill after you cancel, you no-call-no-show, etc.
If you decide to gift/swap your space to a friend because you can no longer attend, great! Please communicate with us before the program so we can contact them with pertinent needs/info.

"OOPS" Refund:

If you registered by mistake, you may contact us via email WITHIN 24 HRS AFTER REGISTRATION AND AT LEAST 48 HRS BEFORE THE PROGRAM to request a refund.
We will not honor "oops" refund requests outside of this timeframe.

If NIGHTHAWK CANCELS an entire program (not typical), due to extenuating circumstances:

You'll be contacted ASAP and offered credit or refund, situation depending, if rescheduling isn't possible.
We do not offer refund or credits if we have to call a late start, early pickup, or partial course cancellation due to air quality or weather. See below.

Inclement weather and Air Quality Policy:

Know that we do our best to run programs as safely as possible given inclement weather. These calls are made on a day-by-day basis and your main contacts will be notified of any changes by 2 hours before the start of that day's programming. That is the absolute best we can do. Weather, especially air quality are unpredictable.
We reserve the right to shift the day's program location, operate indoors, or call late start or early pickup based on unsafe conditions. We very seldomly cancel a day of program and only do so if none of these other shifts are possible that day.
See Air Quality Policy on this page for more on AQI-specific circumstances.

FILES FOR PARTICIPANTS

Air Quality Plan

Download

Liability Waiver for all Participants

Teen Backpacking Gear List

Download

FAQ

WHERE WILL PROGRAMS BE HELD?

Our locations will change from time to time depending on the activities we're doing, but we will primarily be at Bend city parks, Tumalo State Park, nearby BLM land, and occasionally land further away in the vicinity of Sunriver or Sisters, for certain camps and Adult classes. We operate under Special Use Permits with various land agencies. We will give plenty of advance notice for class locations for those who are enrolled. Please check your email a couple weeks before your program, allow nighthawknaturalistschool.com in your email address book, and check your Spam or promotions folder just in case.

IS YOUR HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OR ASSOCIATION?

No. This program is an alternative educational program designed for families who want an ecology and/or wilderness skills addition to their home curriculum, free school lifestyle, unschooling, charter, or other plan. It is provided in the style of a decidedly non-campy, and more educational outdoor "camp" whose goal is deep, life-long nature connection. We are willing to submit approval as a vendor for your charter school upon request, but do not guarantee your schools' approval.

ARE YOU A WILDERNESS THERAPY ORGANIZATION?

No. Many people find experiences in nature to be therapeutic or transformative. However, our programs are not designed to address or rectify behavior, any physical or medical ailment, or emotional issues. We do not discriminate against protected classes or individuals. If, given reasonable modifications and accommodations, participants repetitively violate Nighthawk's safety rules, alternative options, including removal from the program, may need to be discussed.

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?

Education. Small groups. Ancestral technologies.

We are a small organization who places the utmost importance on an educational experience through hands-on experience, play, and exploration. If students are keen on learning skills and are passionate about learning more about their natural surroundings, this is the place for them.

Teachers all have many years of experience in education, ancestral skills, ecology, and human history.

We believe small groups provide for an enhanced sense of awareness and community and allows us to better tailor programs to the needs and interests of the students and their families. We operate most programs at a 1:5 Teacher:Student ratio

We are passionate about teaching and learning the ancestral technologies to which we all owe our humanness.

DO YOU MAKE AGE EXCEPTIONS FOR PROGRAMS?

Please follow the age ranges for your chosen camp. We do not allow younger than the age range into our courses. With prior approval, one year older may join with understanding that the camp is at the age group level as listed. If you register a student out of the age range without prior approval, we may cancel your booking.

There are a number of reasons for our age ranges. Among these are our commitment to developmentally appropriate program activities for youth, cultivating a safe and healthy group dynamic, insurance reasons, commitment to our vision and our team's values, and so much more. If the program you're looking at isn't for your age group, it is likely we have a different option another time for you, or you can ask us about custom group programs.

We do not have programs for ages younger than 7, but we are happy to recommend other local options who do.

WHAT DO STUDENTS BRING TO CLASS?

See your email for specific info on what to bring for your specific program. It is typical that students bring at least the following:

Day Pack
Full Water Bottle
Lunch and/or snacks
Wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
Fill eWaivers well before your program please!!

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY?

We teach through a style that balances inquiry with giving real information and answers. We teach by a curriculum outline, but we also value flexibility and a level of student-led learning. So, we allow for wiggle room on the topics we cover, the activities we do, and the craft projects we take on with the students. Our curriculum for all programs dovetail with the seasons. So, we let the weather and seasons guide what we do.

WHAT IS YOUR POLICY FOR AIR QUALITY AND INCLEMENT WEATHER ISSUES?

Know that we do our best to run programs as safely as possible given inclement weather. These calls are made on a day-by-day basis and your main contacts will be notified of any changes by 2 hours before the start of that day's programming. That is the absolute best we can do. Weather, especially air quality are unpredictable.

We reserve the right to shift the day's program location, operate indoors, or call late start or early pickup based on unsafe conditions. We very seldomly cancel a day of program and only do so if none of these other shifts are possible that day.

See Air Quality Policy on this page for more on AQI-specific circumstances.