ONTARAH RESERVATIONS

Your accepetence of the Terms of Service is also acceptance of our Liability Waiver.

Terms of Service – Retreat and Events

Effective Date: September 2025

Welcome to Ontarah. By attending, or participating in any of our retreats, events, or camping, you agree to the following Terms of Service. Please read them carefully, as they outline the expectations, responsibilities, and limitations that ensure a safe and meaningful experience for all.

1. Eligibility

• • • Participants must be at least 18 years of age, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
    • By registering, you confirm that you are physically and mentally able to participate in outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and group sessions.

2. Registration & Payment

• • • Registration is confirmed only upon receipt of full payment (unless otherwise stated).
    • Fees are non-transferable. Refunds are subject to the Cancellation & Refund Policy (see Section 6).
    • We reserve the right to deny participation or access to anyone at our discretion.

3. Code of Conduct

We strive to create a respectful, inclusive, and safe environment. By attending, you agree to:

• • • Treat all participants, staff, and the natural environment with respect.
    • Refrain from disruptive, unsafe, or unlawful behavior.
    • Follow all instructions from retreat leaders regarding safety, camp rules, and activities.
    • Abstain from illegal substances and excessive alcohol use during the Retreat.

Violation of these guidelines may result in removal from the Retreat without refund.

4. Assumption of Risk & Liability Waiver

• • • Outdoor activities involve inherent risks, including but not limited to: uneven terrain, wildlife encounters, weather changes, and physical exertion.
    • By attending, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation.
    • You release the organizers, staff, property owners, and affiliates from liability for injury, illness, loss, or damage to personal property.

5. Health & Safety

• • • You are responsible for disclosing any relevant medical conditions or allergies prior to Retreat attendance.
    • You must bring and manage your own medications.
    • In case of emergency, you authorize retreat staff to seek medical assistance on your behalf.

6. Cancellation & Refund Policy

• • • Participant Cancellation: Cancellations made [30 days] before the event, or your stay, may be eligible for a partial refund, if your selected site and date is resold. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within [14 days] of the event or your stay.
    • Organizer Cancellation: If a retreat event is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., extreme weather, insufficient enrollment), participants will receive a full refund or credit toward a future event or stay.

7. Photography & Media Release

• • • By attending the retreat, you grant permission for photographs, video, or audio recordings taken during the Retreat to be used for promotional and educational purposes, unless you opt out in writing prior to attending the retreat or an event.

8. Personal Property

• • • You are responsible for your belongings. The organizers are not liable for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

9. Modifications

• • • We reserve the right to update these Terms of Service at any time and you agree to abid by these updates. The most current version will always be available on our website.

10. Governing Law

• • • These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Jackson County, Illinois.

11. Guests Acknowledgement

• • • • Guest Agreement Clause

        By occupying the premises, you ("Guest") acknowledge and agree to the following terms:

        1. Non-Tenancy Status: You understand and agree that your occupancy does not constitute a tenancy and that you are not a legal resident of the property. You waive any rights or claims to tenancy under applicable landlord-tenant laws.
        2. Occupancy Limitation: You agree to limit your stay to no more than twenty-four (24) days within any calendar month.
        3. Right of Removal: You further agree that, regardless of the duration of your stay, you shall vacate the property immediately upon request by management, without the need for formal eviction proceedings.

        4. Late Checkout and Payment Authorization Clause

           Guest agrees that checkout must occur no later than the designated time set by management. In the event of a late checkout, Guest authorizes management to charge the payment method on file a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00 USD) per hour, or any portion thereof, beyond the scheduled checkout time. If the delay exceeds one (1) hour, Guest further agrees to pay the full daily rate applicable to the property for each additional day or portion thereof.

           Guest expressly authorizes management to process these charges without further notice or consent, and acknowledges that such charges are reasonable and enforceable as liquidated damages, not penalties, due to the disruption and loss of use caused by the delay.

Acknowledgment

By registering for and attending the Retreat, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Service.

Liability Waiver

Ontarah Retreat Attendance requires agreement with and confirmation of our liability waiver.

You agree to hold Ontarah and AdvanCN and all employees, vendors, and merchants harmless for any and all accidents, injuries, loses, or theft while you are at retreat property, including accidents and injuries caused by other attendees. You also agree to have any disbute settled through AdvanCN's mediation process, and that you accept the liability for your children and all members of your party as well. Children are welcome at the retreat, however, parents must take full responsibility for them and assume all liability for their children, due to the following conditions: 

• • • You're in the wilderness so a close eye on children is required at all times.
    • Their is no lifeguard on duty at the ponds nor at the pool (Est. 2027). Children must be accompanied by their parents at all times.
    • Children must not be left alone to wander around the property due to steep ridges.

.

Please be adviced, the retreat property is located near a National Forest, therefore there may be animals such as deer, snakes, racoons, bobcats, cats, cayotes and other creatures which AdvanCN has no control over. Also, do not attempt to feed any of these animals as they are wild, and they may harm you in an attempt to procure food items that they smell or you attempt to share with them.

You must also take care while walking about the property due to uneven terrain and divots from hoves and those dug into the ground by animals. 

Also, you will be near landowners that may make use of chemicals -- although we does not use chemicals on our land, you must also agree to hold Ontarah and AdvanCN harmless for chemicals spread by surrounding land owners. 

If you do not agree to these terms and the Waiver of Liability, please do not stay at the retreat, nor should you attend any events at the retreat.