AIRLINE TICKETS
Students on Gap Year Programs are allowed to arrange their own flights to our programs. You must arrive on the scheduled arrival day and time window otherwise you will incur a minimum of a $100 dollar fee. We can arrange your airfare for you at an extra cost, though sometimes our prices are cheaper because of our contacts with the airlines. We are also able to book refundable fares, unlike many websites. Keep in mind that if you book your flights with us, schedule changes DO occur and may impact your student’s flight. Rustic Pathways is not able to alter or transfer your son or daughter’s flight arrangements at any time.

The total cost of your trip is simply your $ 100 Application Fee, plus the cost of the trip or trips that you have selected, plus the cost of the airfare for your program. You are also responsible for any tax on your plane ticket, as well as departure taxes from the country or countries you visit. Our acceptance letter will provide a careful breakdown of your total trip cost. Spending money for souvenirs, film or other purchases is your responsibility.

Included in the cost of your trip is a free Rustic Pathways T-shirt!
Rustic Pathways gives every student one FREE 2008 Summer t-shirt. We ask you to wear our cool shirts whenever you are flying with Rustic Pathways or connecting between trips. Please check your t-shirt size below (these are men’s sizes) and we will send your free shirt with your airline tickets.

In the box below, indicate the size of your free t-shirt.

Rustic Pathways (USA), Inc., (“Rustic Pathways”) is based in the State of Ohio. The company offers travel programs throughout Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, Costa Rica, The Fiji Islands, The South Pacific, Africa, India, Vietnam, and the world. Rustic Pathways offers adventure, community service, language, and educational programs for high school students, college students, groups, individuals, and families.

Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or completely cancel a trip at any time. We will advise you when possible of any significant changes to airline schedules or internal touring scedules that may alter your trip. Aside from adjustments due to things such as closed roads and flight schedule changes, we rarely cancel or change significant aspects of our programs. If a particular program or session does not fill, Rustic Pathways reserves the right to offer an alternate trip or departure date prior to the beginning of your trip. If you are unable to accept an alternate date or program, Rustic Pathways will refund the money you have paid toward your trip, including your application fee. Our programs are very popular and it is rare for us to cancel a program. Your trip must be paid in full no later than 45 days prior to your departure.

MEDICAL INSURANCE
Parents are responsible for medical coverage for the entire period that their son/daughter is traveling. Rustic Pathways does NOT provide ANY form of medical coverage for students on our trips. Participants and their parents are responsible for any costs incurred before, during, or after participation in a Rustic Pathways Gap Year Program regardless of cause. Particpiants are reaquired to provide documentation of overseas medical coverage for the duration of the program NO LATER than 45 days prior to the departure of the student. COVERAGE MUST INCLUDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION. Some parent’s insurance plans do provide overseas coverage. Please call your individual provider to find out details on student’s specific benefits. If you plan on having your son or daughter use their home insurance policy overseas, get an international contact number for your insurance provider and MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STUDENT HAS A COPY OF THEIR INSURANCE CARD.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Rustic Pathways does not offer a travel or medical insurance program, nor are we affliated with any insurance programs. However, we have used travel insurance companies in the past and find them quite affective. Access America is a provider that many of our previous clients have used.

Both participants and their parents will be required to sign and comply with various liability waivers and releases prior to the beginning of any Rustic Pathways trip. Rustic Pathways operates various trips in diverse countries, terrain and conditions. Many Rustic Pathways trips include challenging components such as bungee jumping, sky diving, heli-skiing, paintballing, zorbing, river boarding, kayaking, boating, cycling, 4-wheel-driving, horseback riding, rafting, aircraft flight, rappelling, abseiling, mountain climbing, zip-lining, elephant riding, scuba diving, mountain biking, surfing, skiing, hiking, camping, game viewing, working with machinery and tools, snowboarding, and travel in remote areas, as well as other potentially dangerous activities. Neither Rustic Pathways nor its officers, directors, contractors, employees, agents or staff can safeguard against injuries or accidents which may occur for whatever reason on any trip. Participants will not be permitted to travel on any Rustic Pathways trip unless all required paperwork has been received in our Ohio office at least 30 days prior to the commencement of the applicant’s trip.

All students require a valid passport. To be considered valid , it must be god for at LEAST SIX (6) months from your return date. Please make a black and white copy of your passport and send it along with your first payment. If you do not currently have a passport or it needs to be renewed, a mandatory copy is due to Rustic Pathways no less than 65 days prior than departure. STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING THEIR OWN VISAS

Rustic Pathways expects participants to be enthusiastic, cooperative and appreciative of the opportunities afforded to them through our programs. Trips sometimes operate under difficult and challenging conditions, and Rustic Pathways expects participants to be cooperative and attentive at all times. Rustic Pathways reserves the right to remove any student from any trip at any time without any refund if a student endangers the lives of other students, or consistently disregards staff instructions. Students who use drugs, possess an uncooperative attitude or are unwilling to work happily within a team environment should not apply for a Rustic Pathways program.

DRUGS and ALCOHOL
Use of drugs is illegal in all of the countries in which we operate. Punishment for possession or use is often much more severe than in the Unites States. While traveling with Rustic Pathways, students are subject to local laws and police action. The use of drugs is prohibited. Alcohol use is permitted in moderation by students over the age of eighteen. Abuse of alcohol or behavior resulting from the abuse of alcohol that puts the program or its participants at risk will result in immediate termination from the program without a refund.

The total cost of your trip is payable in equal monthly installments. Your first monthly payment is due 15 days after your acceptance date. Remaining payments are due monthly. Complete trip payment must be received 65 days prior to your scheduled departure. During the normal application period trip payments are spread out into equal monthly installments as this makes it easier for many families to afford a summer program for their children. The non-refundable Application Fee can be placed on your Visa or Mastercard, or paid by cash or check. All other trip payments must be paid either by check or cash and must be paid on or before their due date. All late payments will incur a $50 late payment charge.

Rustic Pathways reserves the right to cancel a student’s place or reservation on any program if payment is not made on time.

We would like to apply for admission to a Rustic Pathways program. We have read the Rustic Pathways brochure and application form carefully, and we willingly agree to comply with all of the various requirements and conditions spelled out in these materials. We understand that student travel can be dangerous and we agree to abide by the rules, conditions and instructions provided by Rustic Pathways to minimize the risk of injury, accident, damage, or death. We further understand that Rustic Pathways has the right to remove any applicant from any program at any time if their behavior or participation is deemed to be detrimental or dangerous to themselves or others. We also understand that we will be required to sign and comply with various written waivers, liability releases, and terms and conditions as a condition of participation in this program. We fully understand that the relationship between us and Rustic Pathways (USA), Inc., (“Rustic Pathways”), will be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio and any suit, mediation or arbitration of any dispute with Rustic Pathways must be filed exclusively in the State of Ohio. We have enclosed our Application Fee with this application. We understand Rustic Pathways will send a confirmation letter within 5 days of their receipt of this application.

IMPORTANT: Please be sure both applicant and parent/guardian complete of this application