In order to get the most out of this experience, students must meet our requirements.
Carefully review the information here before signing up.
We are on a mission to deliver an exceptional, life challenging, outdoor experience. Our classrooms are remote. Our campus is “off-the-grid” from the normal services and amenities that go along with many other schools or campuses. Instructors and camp staff cannot constantly be with all the students, all the time. We will be operating in many areas that may be environmentally, culturally, or climatically different than what students are used to. It is critical that students show up on Day One physically, mentally and emotionally capable of managing themselves as they face these daily challenges.
Being outdoors and off-the-grid requires us to ensure potential students are ready to navigate the landscape we live in so we can deliver a high-quality outdoor educational expereince to our groups.
In order to help ensure that our program is for you, you must read and agree to our eligibility criteria as follows:
Physical Fitness
You don’t need to be an athlete but should have at least average level of fitness from already living an active lifestyle. At a minimum, you should be able to stay on your feet and hiking for several hours a day and ready to repeat this for a few days in a row.
Fitness is more than muscles and speed. Fitness also means you are comfortable being outside all day long, no matter the weather. You have to be up for the challenge.
Disability or Injury
We do our best to make reasonable accommodations for disabilities or chronic injuries without fundamentally altering the nature of the experience for everyone. We’re happy to discuss on a case-by-case basis. Reach out if you have specific questions.
Mental Health
- Students who have a mental health condition (e.g. depression or anxiety) must disclose this on their application. They will then be contacted to ensure they meet our essential eligibility criteria for safe participation in the program.
- We may require a report or letter from a Doctor/Psychiatrist/Psychologist which states the student is suitable to participate in our program.
- If a mental health condition is not disclosed on the application form, MOI reserves the right to withdraw the student from the program.
- Students must be able to self-manage their condition.
Language and Communication
Students must be able to communicate effectively in English. We wish we all were multi-lingual but alas, we are not. Accommodations can be made for the hearing impaired and this will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Current Health Conditions
Students must commit to showing up to join us healthy, fit and stoked for the challenges ahead. The days will be full and long… and it doesn’t get dark. Our camp is basic and the backcountry is rough. This is not the place to be sick or recovering.
Our community is tight and your team will be together 24/7. You will primarily be outside but will also be sharing meals, tents and vehicles. “Social Distancing” is impossible or impractical.
Students who take prescription medications need to be able to self-manage. This means carrying and caring for the medication and self-administering medication at appropriate dosages/intervals without instructor supervision. If loss of medication could be problematic, program instructors can carry a backup/emergency supply of medication. No provisions will be made for temperature controlled storage of medications.
Allergies and Dietary Restrictions
Allergies, food preferences and other dietary restrictions must be shared with MOI in the application process so that we may have an honest discussion about the realities of joining. For example, a severe peanut allergy could be very problematic since much of the food provided could be peanut based and cross contamination will be impossible to avoid.
Many, but not all, dietary preferences can be accommodated. Please review complete details on the realities of the food provided here: Food is Fuel
During the program, our focus on risk management and the overall experience of the team necessitates the following requirements of all participants:
Safety and Judgement
Each student must be able to exercise sound judgment, with and without direct supervision.
Each student must be able to recall and understand instructions, hazards and risks previously explained by program instructors.
Each student must be able to independently identify and recognize potential hazards and warn others.
Students must be able to act reliably around stated hazards to minimize risk even when not directly supervised.
Students must have the ability to stay alert and focus attention for several hours at a time in potentially hazardous and/or uncomfortable environments.
Behaviour
Students must practice good self care: Maintaining adequate hydration, sufficient food intake for energy needs, sufficient sleep/rest, and dressing appropriately to remain generally healthy and be able to avoid environmental injuries such as hypothermia, heat illness, sunburn or frostbite.
No student may continually take a greater share of the instructors focus and energy than other students.
Students must be able to work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions.
Students must be able to take care of and know the location of their possessions and any equipment issued to them at all times during the program.
Environmental Stewardship
Students must commit to maintaining a respectful attitude and actions towards the natural environment.
Smoking, vaping, drugs, alcohol
No smoking, vaping, edible marijuana, tobacco, alcohol or other recreational drug use on the MOI campus or during field sessions.
MOI is a dry, zero-tolerance program, period. There are no second chances when it comes to such substances and that includes tobacco. If your teen is caught with these substances it is an immediate removal of the program and you will be required to come get your teen immediately.
Electronic Devices, Communication
To get the most out of the experience, students must be present, not plugged in. This program relies on student/instructor attention and presence.
Our campus does not often have service and field sessions will definitely not have service. Also, we can make no provisions for charging of devices.
Therefore, a prohibition of personal phones/devices is in place for the duration of the camp. This includes personal music devices or offline video/music devices as well.
We do understand that communication with family is important, especially during a big week, so here is how we manage it:
- show up with a fully charged phone – turned off
- turn phones into the instructors on the first day
- Instructors keep phones safe
- We have two separate hours during the week where we try to drive to a cell signal so students can get their phones and have an hour to call family. We will notify at drop-off (first day) when these hours will be.
- Phone goes back to instructor for the rest of the week.
Violation of our policy on personal electronics could result in a student having to leave the program early.
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