“What Separates a Good Adventure Company From One You Can Truly Trust-Why an Adventure Company’s Code of Ethics Matters More Than Ever”

The topic of safe and enjoyable wilderness adventure trips is multifaceted. When you are researching a wilderness river trip vacation there are so many variables and questions that an adventurer is faced with asking. Who will be joining us on this adventure? What will they be like? What will the guides be like? We want to make sure there is no question when it comes to a strong code of ethics and values regarding our trip culture and experience. A code of ethics keeps all guests and guides honest and accountable in a manner of which they participate in our trips. It can, but shouldn’t sound scary, and what it all boils down to is that we all treat one another with kindness and respect regardless of any potential differences. River trips are one of the most profound shared human experiences available, and our code of ethics makes sure it stays that way. We are in the business of connecting; connecting people to landscape and helping people connect with family and friends, and we plan to keep it that way!

We respect your individuality and believe that everyone, despite their political views, religious beliefs, physical qualities or any other attribute that makes you unique- are still entitled to experience our wilderness adventures. In wilderness we can all enjoy and experience the natural world void of all of the noise and complexity of the modern world. Read more below on the WRO Code of Ethics.

WRO Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics Purpose and Commitment

This Code of Ethics establishes the standards of conduct and shared responsibilities for all guests, guides and staff participating in our multiday wilderness river trips. It is designed to ensure that every participant is provided an equal opportunity to enjoy a safe, respectful, inclusive, and meaningful wilderness experience.

Our company is committed to:

•  Upholding the dignity, safety, and well-being of all people.
•  Providing equitable access to positive trip experiences.
•  Protecting the natural, cultural, and social environments in which we operate.
•  Maintaining clear expectations and fair accountability when behavior undermines the experience of others.
  Agreement to this Code of Ethics is a condition of participation in our trips.

Guiding Principles This Code of Ethics is grounded in widely accepted professional river-running standards, including the ethical framework promoted by Wilderness River Outfitters (WRO) that reflects our specific values and operations. All participants are expected to act with:

•  Respect for people, communities, cultures, and the environment.
•  Responsibility for their actions and their impact on others.
•  Inclusivity that recognizes and values diverse identities, backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

We strive to provide equal opportunity experiences for all guests. Discrimination, exclusion, or differential treatment based on personal characteristics is not permitted.

This includes, but is not limited to, characteristics such as:

•  Race, ethnicity, nationality, or ancestry
•  Age
•  Politics, religion or belief system
•  Sexual orientation
•  Disability or medical condition
•  Body size or physical ability
•  Gender, gender identity, or gender expression
•  Socioeconomic background All participants should:

•  Respect personal identities, names, and pronouns.
•  Refrain from comments or behavior that marginalize, stereotype, or demean others.
•  Allow space for different comfort levels, abilities, and ways of engaging with the trip experience.

Safety and Well-Being Safety is a shared responsibility and a foundational value of our trips. Participants should:

• Follow guide instructions related to safety, logistics, and risk management.
• Act in ways that do not endanger themselves or others.
• Communicate openly with guides about concerns related to physical, emotional, or psychological safety. Harassment, intimidation, threats, or reckless behavior that compromises safety will not be tolerated.

Technology in the Wilderness

Wilderness River Outfitters takes great pride in offering the highest quality wilderness experience available. In light of a culture with recent major technological advances, we want to create trip norms that uphold the integrity of our wilderness experience.

All participants are encouraged to:

•  Use phones for the purpose of capturing photos while on our trips and take the opportunity to take break from phones and technology while on these these adventures *If a participant deems the use of a personal device for communication necessary for whatever reason, they need to use that device in the privacy of their own tent or away from other trip participants. Most people who come on our trips are looking to disconnect from technology, and this is one of the only opportunities left to do so in a world driven by technology. We ask that you respect the company and trip culture by keeping any other use of your device outside of photos separate from other trip participants and common areas.
•  If any outside information is obtained via a personal communication device, we ask that you do not share it amongst group members. Participants are coming to disconnect, and while not everyone’s motivation for joining WRO on a vacation is the same, we’d like to honor the wilderness tradition.

Respectful Conduct All participants are expected to contribute to a positive group environment. Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to:

•  Verbal abuse, yelling, aggressive language, bullying, shaming or humiliation
•  Sexual harassment or unwanted attention
•  Discriminatory jokes, slurs, or gestures
•  Persistent disruptive behavior after being asked to stop
•  Retaliation against anyone who raises concerns
•  Substance use shouldn’t lead to behavior that becomes unsafe, disruptive, or disrespectful.
  While a potential respectful disagreement may happen; disrespectful conduct is not allowed.

Consent, Boundaries, and Personal Space

Consent and respect for boundaries are essential. Participants must:

•  Respect personal space and emotional boundaries.
•  Accept and honor requests to stop specific behaviors without argument. Failure to respect boundaries is considered a violation of this Code.

Environmental and Cultural Ethics In alignment with Wilderness River Outfitters’ principles and Leave No Trace ethics, participants should:

•  Minimize impact on natural environments and respect wildlife and natural resources
•  Follow all land management rules and permit requirements
•  Respect cultural, historical, and sacred sites

Environmental harm or disregard for cultural values undermines the integrity of the trip and is not acceptable.

Enforcement and Accountability This Code of Ethics exists to protect the group experience and ensure fairness. Extreme violation of this code may result in removal from the trip at the participant’s expense. Concerns may be reported to any guide or staff member and will be taken seriously and handled with discretion to the extent possible.

Agreement

By participating in our trips, all guests acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by this Code of Ethics. Failure to do so could result in corrective action, including removal from the trip, without refund.

This Code of Ethics is intended to create a shared foundation of respect, accountability, and enjoyment so that all participants can have a safe and memorable wilderness experience.