Participation Guidelines

As a 501(c)3 corporation, we take seriously our responsibility to make every reasonable attempt to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere at our events for our member families. We have enjoyed a long history of God's protection and favor over our membership and we pray for many more. We are not unaware, however, of the ever-changing and challenging cultural climate in which we live and operate.

In order to follow the Biblical mandate of being "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16), we have agreed to adhere to legal counsel given by an expert in non-profit organizations regarding participation at our events and field trips.

Please take a few moments to become familiar with our guidelines as follows:

Eastside Explorers’ calendared events are limited to member families, other than three introductory visits by prospective member families to Park Days or Mom’s Nights Out.

In order to allow multi-generational participation, extended family members may attend events as a guest from time to time with (but not in place of) the member family. No one may attend an Eastside event if they could reasonably be deemed to pose a safety risk for our members (including but not limited to sex offenders). As our organization is unable to be aware of and monitor every guest at every event, each member family bears the responsibility for their guest(s) at Eastside events, ensuring that they pose no real or perceived safety risks to others.

Neither non-member teens nor adults may accompany children in place of the member parent(s) at our events. No student should be left alone at any event with less than two adults present (unless one adult is the student’s parent or guardian). Parents are responsible for their children at all times at both public and private venues.

Extended family members who fully participate in the home schooling of the member family’s children and who have security clearance are allowed to participate in Eastside’s events with the member family (not subject to the 24-hour field trip sign-up policy) on a case-by-case basis as approved by the Board.

Parents who allow their children to attend any drop-off event at any public or private venue without their direct supervision are deemed to have delegated responsibility for their children to the Eastside volunteer team leader in charge. All adult volunteers who serve at drop-off events must be willing to have their background checked and are subject to dismissal for any reason at the Board’s discretion.

Registration for field trips is complete once payment is made, with PayPal as our preferred method of payment. Unpaid registrations (not paid within 24 hours of signing up) will be deleted without the requirement of providing advanced notice to the individual member family.

Field trip fees are non-refundable. If a member family is unable to participate in a field trip for which they have already paid, they are welcome to gift their openings to another Eastside family or sell them privately by advertising them on our website forum.

Because of the size of our group and the necessity of keeping field trip spots open to as many members as possible, extended family members may be signed up to attend field trips with the member family within 24 hours of the field trip sign-up deadline if openings exist at that time. As our organization is unable to be aware of and monitor every guest at every field trip, each member family bears the responsibility of ensuring that their guest(s) pose no real or perceived safety risks to others.

Extended family members who fully participate in the home schooling of the member family’s children and who have security clearance are allowed to participate in Eastside’s field trips with the member family (not subject to the 24-hour sign-up policy) on a case-by-case basis as approved by the Board.

Neither non-member teens nor adults may accompany children in place of the member parent(s) on field trips. No student should be left alone on any field trip with less than two adults present (unless one adult is the student’s parent or guardian). Parents are responsible for their children at all times at both public and private venues, as Eastside offers no drop-off field trips.