Sparks Rowing Camps - Essential Eligibility Criteria

Introduction

Sparks (“Sparks”) does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Sparks has developed the following Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) which are applicable to all participants on all Sparks camps.

The purpose of EEC is to help potential Sparks participants identify the skills and abilities necessary to participate in a Sparks rowing or running camp. If a potential participant is unable to meet the EEC for the camp and its related activities listed below, with or without the assistance of an accommodation, that person will not be able to participate in the camp.  The EEC are applied uniformly to all potential camp participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability. The criteria exist for your own safety and that of all camp participants.

As you read through the EEC, if you think you may be able to meet the EEC only with the assistance of an accommodation or modification, please let us know, and we will discuss with you the potential for providing a reasonable modification or accommodation for the camp.

A reasonable modification or accommodation is one that does not fundamentally alter the nature of the camp activity or the services that Sparks provides, does not pose a significant health or safety risk to the participants or Sparks staff, or does not cause an undue burden or hardship on Sparks, including financial or administrative burdens. Please carefully consider the EEC below and speak to your physician prior to registering for a camp. The Sparks staff is available to answer any questions you may have.

To participate in a Sparks running or rowing camp, each participant must be able to meet:

(1) all of the following Universal EEC; AND
(2) all of the activity-specific EEC which are applicable to the activity/ies on your specific camp,

with or without an accommodation, including with the reasonable assistance of another person. For example, if you are participating in a rowing camp in Switzerland, each participant must meet all of the following EEC: Universal, rowing, hiking. If you have questions about which EEC apply to your camp, please contact the staff at Sparks.

If you plan to use an assistive device, please notify Sparks at the time of registration or as soon as practicable.

Universal Essential Eligibility Criteria:

For ALL camps and activities offered by Sparks, each participant must:

Health, Fitness, Endurance: Be in reasonably good health and fitness and able to endure extensive physical daily activity throughout the duration of the camp.

Breathing: Be able to breathe independently without any assistance from medical devices and/or trained professionals.

Inherent Risks: Be able independently to perceive, understand, and recall the inherent risks and hazards of the activity, including but not limited to those previously identified by the Sparks staff.

Focus: Be able to stay alert and to focus attention for several hours each day for the duration of the camp and during instruction and camp activities.

Communication: Be able independently to perceive, understand, and implement both verbal and non-verbal instructions in all situations and to effectively communicate with Sparks staff and other participants, particularly during personal distress, injury, illness, or when participant needs for assistance.

Self-Care:
• Be able to perform self-care and participate in all activities of daily living such as eating, hydration, personal hygiene, toileting (including bladder and bowel control), and dressing.
• Be able to properly manage and self-administer all personal medications, including prescription medications.
• Be able to remain active and manage personal care for extended periods of mobility and exertion of potentially over 10 hours per day.
• Be able to maintain self-care regarding food and allergies in an environment where allergen exposure (such as to nuts and stinging insects) and cross-contamination may occur.
• Be able to assess and address personal needs such as hydration, nutrition, and appropriate clothing in response to changing environmental variables to prevent injuries such as heat-related illness, sunburn, hypothermia, and dehydration.

Group interaction: Be mentally and physically able to participate in a group setting without negatively impacting or jeopardizing the health or safety of the other participants or Sparks staff. Be able to exercise age-appropriate social and emotional skills in managing personal boundaries, relationships, communication, stress, and conflict, with minimal guidance.

‍Schedule and time management: Be able to meet the demands of the camp within the time limits set by the camp itinerary and Sparks staff.

Overland or city travel: Be able to walk independently or travel with reasonable assistance around a city on pathways or sidewalks and via public transportation such as subway, trains, or busses for multiple hours in a day.

Multi-passenger vehicle travel (New Zealand trips only): Be able to enter and exit a multi-passenger vehicle, which may include a bus, van, or mini-bus either independently or with the reasonable assistance of another person. Entering and exiting certain vehicles may require a high step into or out of the vehicle. Be able to stay balanced and seated in a multi-passenger vehicle transporting up to 14 passengers, while the vehicle is moving, either independently or with the reasonable assistance of another person.

Rowers EEC

In addition to meeting the Universal EEC, each Rowing Camp participant must:

Be able to properly wear and use all required protective gear and clothing to include, including a personal floatation device (“PFD”).

Be able to enter/board and exit/disembark a shell in the water from a dock, four to six times a day.

Be able to tread water for 10 minutes, independently and without a floatation device, while wearing clothes and shoes.

Be able to tolerate water temperatures below 50F for 10 minutes or more.

Be able to endure exposure to diverse and changing weather conditions, including temperatures potentially below freezing (32^o F/0^o C) and potentially above 85^o F/29^o C or even above 100^o F/37^o C degrees, extremely dry and/or humid environmental conditions, intense sun exposure, and potentially rapidly changing weather conditions such as dry, hot conditions to intense or extreme rain, wind, lightening, and thunderstorms.

Be able to move and travel on a paved incline and/or a paved or wood-planked dock, either independently or with the reasonable assistance of another person.

Be able to handle, lift, and carry oars and personal gear to and from the boathouse, on a paved incline and/or dock.

Be able to squat and bend while lifting and carrying weight while traveling to and from the boathouse, on a paved incline and/or dock, for participation in retrieving, lifting, carrying, rolling the shell into the water, and putting away a shell.

In the event of a capsize, be able to exit from the shell and participate and assist in your own rescue, including being able to:

• Get out from under an overturned shell and/or oar,

• Keep your airway passages sealed while underwater,

• Regain control of your breathing when potentially being submitted to repeated submersion under waves or currents,

• Orient yourself to new water surroundings,

• Swim to a boat or to shore in rough water,

• Receive and grip a rescue rope, oar, or human assistance, and possibly let go of the same.

Position specific:

• For participants in Learn to Row, it is anticipated that the participant will experience a progression of learning and developing the abilities listed below during camp.

For rowers only:

• Be able independently to stay seated in a shell while simultaneously gripping and rowing oars in each hand, unassisted, while traveling over potentially rough and moving water.

For coxswains only:

• Be able independently to stay seated in a shell, unassisted,  while simultaneously gripping both gunwales and maneuvering the steering cable.

• Be able independently to call verbal commands to rowers on and off the water.

• Be able to perceive and respond to environmental conditions, including wind and current, for boat navigation.

Hiking EEC

In addition to meeting the Universal EEC, each participant at a camp that includes hiking must:

Be able to travel over backcountry trail terrain that may be narrow, uneven, rough, rocky, muddy, icy or snow-covered, has loose soil, or is cactus or sagebrush covered, and which may also have exposed cliffs or ledges.

Be able to travel over backcountry trail terrain at least 2.5 miles/hours in a day while carrying personal gear and equipment as described below.

Be able to carry personal gear and equipment for a day hike, either independently or with the assistance of another person. Such gear and equipment may include a day-pack, at least two liters of water per person, extra clothing, rain gear, sunscreen, food and snacks, and other supplies.

Be able to travel for up to one hour between rest breaks and longer if the conditions require it.

Be able to endure exposure to diverse and changing weather conditions, including temperatures potentially below freezing (32^o F/0^o C) and potentially above 85^o F/29^o C or even above 100^o F/37^o C degrees, extremely dry and/or humid environmental conditions, high altitude, intense sun exposure, and potentially rapidly changing weather conditions such as dry, hot conditions to intense or extreme rain, wind, lightening, and thunderstorms, including monsoons and flash floods.

Bicycling EEC (Netherlands trips only)

In addition to meeting the Universal EEC, each participant at a camp that includes bicycling must:

• Be able independently to ride a bicycle, including ability to mount and dismount a bike; pedal a bike to move it forward; engage the brakes and shifting levers using hand controls; make a quick and controlled stop; and the ability to make controlled turns.

• Be able to wear a properly fitted helmet.

Be able to understand and follow basic rules of safe riding on a bike trail or lane, including the ability to navigate street crossings; read and comprehend street signs and signals; move predictably; ride in single file with other cyclists; and yield to pedestrians, obstacles, and hazards.