Terms Of Service - National Geographic Student Expeditions

 FAX: E-MAIL: MAIL: 802-387-4276 [email protected] 345 Hickory Ridge Road Putney, VT 05346 2015 Agreement, Statement of Responsibility, and Terms and Conditions AGREEMENT: National Geographic Society (NGS) will provide educational enrichment for NGSE as the sponsoring organization and has licensed Putney Student Travel, Inc., its employees, shareholders, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, and assigns, (collectively, PST), a Vermont corporation based in Putney, Vermont, to organize and administer NGSE. My child/ward (the “Student”) is enthusiastic and prepared and I believe Student is capable of handling both the emotional and physical aspects of the program. Furthermore, I agree that should Student's conduct, at the sole discretion of PST, be deemed to be in violation of NGSE rules or otherwise detrimental to the maintenance of standards or to the successful operation of the expedition, PST may dismiss Student from the expedition. I agree that PST and NGS's responsibility for Student ends with his/her dismissal from the expedition, and I agree that dismissal may occur at a location far from Student's home. I agree that should Student be dismissed from the expedition, I will make arrangements for, bear the cost of, and provide supervision for dismissed Student, even in situations that require extended international travel, and that no refund of the tuition will be given for dismissed Student. There will also be no refund for Student if he/she withdraws voluntarily, or as the result of illness or accident, during an expedition. Student and Student’s guardian grants to PST, NGS, and NGS­authorized third parties permission to use Student’s name and likeness as it may appear in photographs or videos for promotion of NGSE. This permission is a grant of worldwide rights, in any media now existing or subsequently developed, in perpetuity for the purposes stated above. Copyright in all photographs, video, and text (including correspondence) created by Student (“Expedition Materials”) shall belong to the Student upon creation. Student and Student’s guardian grant to PST, NGS, and NGS­authorized third parties a non­exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable license to use the Expedition Materials, in any media now existing or subsequently developed for the following limited purposes: editorial use, promotion of the editorial use, promotion of NGSE, promotion of the work of PST, or promotion of the mission of NGS. Binding Arbitration​
. Any dispute concerning this contract, an expedition or employee, the Responsibility statement and the Terms and Conditions attached hereto, the brochure, or any other advertising materials concerning this expedition itself will be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in the District of Columbia pursuant to the then current rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. District of Columbia substantive law will apply to all issues concerning any such dispute. We have read and agree to the Responsibility statement and the Terms and Conditions (as stated below), and understand that they include a release of liability that will be binding upon us and our family, heirs, and legal representatives. If any provision of this agreement is held to be unenforceable, the remainder of the agreement is enforceable. Please sign below where indicated confirming your agreement with the foregoing: Name of Student (Please print): Signature of Student: Date: / / Name of Guardian (Please print): Signature of Guardian: (If under 18 years old) Date: / / Please e­mail, fax, or mail the signed agreement form back to National Geographic Student Expeditions. The application process cannot be completed without this signed agreement form. RESPONSIBILITY National Geographic Society (NGS) will provide educational enrichment for National Geographic Student Expeditions (NGSE) as the sponsoring organization and has licensed Putney Student Travel, Inc., its employees, shareholders, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, and assigns, (collectively, PST), a Vermont corporation based in Putney, Vermont, to organize and administer NGSE. PST, in turn, has selected independent transportation carriers, hotels, ground operators, and other suppliers of the services connected with these expeditions (“Other Providers”), and those Other Providers are solely responsible and liable for providing their respective services. Neither NGS nor PST owns operates, supervises, and/or manages any person or entity which is to or does provide goods or services for the NGSE trip we are booking, including, for example, lodging facilities of any kind, airline, vessel or other transportation companies, local guides, guide services, or local ground operators (even if they use the PST or NGSE name), providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, neither NGS nor PST is liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity or of any other third party. In addition and without limitation, neither NGS nor PST is responsible for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or any damage to personal property, whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God or force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, acts of government, incidents, attacks or bites from domestic or wild animals or insects, strikes or other labor activities, athletic or sporting events or endeavors including the normal risk associated with same, epidemics or the threat thereof, adequacy or availability of health services and/or evacuation services if necessary, criminal, terrorist or threatened terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation, or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, loss , damage or delay in delivery of luggage and/or personal effects. I accept the entire risk attendant thereto and voluntarily accept the same as risks of my child/ward’s participation in the program. In addition, I agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions attached hereto including policies on refunds. NGS and PST reserve the right to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant on a National Geographic Student Expedition or to, without penalty, make a change in the published itinerary as they deem necessary or desirable. Neither NGS nor PST shall be liable for any air carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket to or from the participant’s NGSE departure city. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Basis of Rates: All tuitions are quoted in U.S. dollars. The rates are based on current tariffs and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed tuitions, if it is necessary to levy a surcharge, we reserve the right to do so. Eligibility: Students completing 9th through 12th grades are eligible to apply to participate in NGSE. Tuition Includes: All meals, lodging, activities, excursions, ground transportation, taxes, gratuities, and pre­trip materials are included. For students participating in photography and filmmaking On Assignment projects, there is a supplement to cover the cost of equipment and other materials required for these assignments. See http://www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/about/​
for these supplemental fees. Not Included: Tuition specifically excludes airfare and related fees, costs of obtaining passports or visas, baggage charges, trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance, personal expenses such as laundry, and any other items not specifically noted as included. Terms of Payment: DEPOSIT: An Application Deposit of $700 is required with all applications. The Application Deposit is credited to the total tuition fee for accepted students. Payment of the Application Deposit may be made by check or credit card. TERMS AND CONDITIONS (continued) FINAL PAYMENT: Final payment of the full tuition is due on March 16, 2015. For Applications submitted after March 16, final payment is due within five (5) business days after the initial deposit is made. Final payment must be made by check or wire transfer. Checks must be in U.S. dollars and must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Please make checks payable to National Geographic Student Expeditions and write the student’s name clearly on the check. For payment by wire transfer, please consult our office for wiring information. If an application is not accepted or if space is not available in the program listed as first choice, the full deposit amount will be refunded, or if payment of the full tuition has been made, the amount of the full payment will be refunded. WAIT­LIST: Wait­listed applications must include the $700 Application Deposit, which will be fully refunded if space does not become available or if the application is withdrawn prior to acceptance. A wait­listed application must be completed to be considered for acceptance. WITHDRAWAL: If a student withdraws from an expedition for any reason, either before or after their application is accepted, the following terms will govern any refunds. For a withdrawal on or before March 16, all payments will be refunded, less a $200 administrative fee. For a withdrawal after March 16, no refunds will be made. CANCELLATION: We reserve the right to cancel applications that are not completed in a timely manner; however, we will communicate with applicants to facilitate the admissions process prior to cancelling applications. We further reserve the right to revoke an acceptance when payment is past due. If we cancel an application on or before March 16, all payments will be refunded, less a $200 administrative fee. If we cancel an application or revoke an acceptance after March 16, the $700 Application Deposit will be forfeited. If we cancel an application or revoke an acceptance, we will send written notification to the address provided on the application form. Leaving a trip in progress, for any reason, will not result in a refund, and no refunds will be made for any unused portion of a trip. We reserve the right to cancel any trip because of inadequate enrollment that makes the trip economically unfeasible to operate or because of good faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If NGS or PST cancels a trip prior to departure, PST will provide a full refund of monies paid, except in the event the cancellation is due to a significant event that makes it infeasible to operate the trip as planned, in which case PST will provide a refund and/or trip credit equivalent to monies paid. If we cancel the trip in progress, you will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the trip. We will not be responsible for any refund for any expenses related to nonrefundable airline tickets. Trip Cancellation Insurance: Trip cancellation insurance is available at an additional cost and is strongly recommended. We will send you information about trip cancellation insurance with your first mailing. Itinerary Changes: We have carefully planned each of the trips in this catalog; however, there may be instances where the trip descriptions and staff presented in this catalog may change. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate trips as planned, but alterations may still occur after the final itinerary is sent. To get the most out of their experience, participants need to be flexible in responding to unforeseen situations and in taking advantage of unexpected opportunities. Passports and Visas: Valid passports are required for travel to the international destinations; check with us for the latest requirements and assistance. For destinations that require a visa for U.S. citizens, we will provide detailed information on how to obtain a visa. Non­U.S. citizens must check on their own visa requirements or contact us for help determining those requirements. Health Requirements: Participants must be in good physical condition and mental health. Any condition requiring special attention, diet, or treatment must be reported before May 20, 2015.