For the 2020-21 school year, we encourage students to apply in the cycle closest to when funds are needed, but proposals for expenses that have already occurred will also be accepted.

For questions, email parsonagefund@northland.edu.

* This is the maximum amount awarded during this application period, and allows us to ensure there is money available for all application periods. Submit your application in the cycle closest to when your funds are needed.

The Parsonage Fund for student opportunities supports student-initiated projects that are outside the scope of regular coursework requirements, with the exception of research and capstone projects.

2020-21 COVID-19 Update
The Parsonage Fund will accept applications for projects that involve travel, but in order to promote community health and to be consistent with the College’s COVID-19 Travel Policy, preference will be given to projects that can occur within a forty-mile radius of campus, or virtual conferences, events and workshops. Students who wish to apply for experiences that involve travel outside of a forty-mile radius of campus will need to have their travel pre-approved by the Office of Student Affairs by submitting a Travel Registration form. Due to the unpredictable nature of COVID-19, applicants should be aware that awards may require review and/or withdrawal by the College if a project becomes unsafe to complete, with funds being returned by the student to the Parsonage Fund.

Examples of fundable projects include:

• Research supplies and equipment for capstone or research projects. Applied research or capstones that are done as internships are eligible for funding.
• Travel to and participation in professional conferences, events, or workshops
• Membership fees to join professional or academic organizations
• Community service projects
• Personal enrichment (i.e., conflict resolution seminars, leadership activities, etc.)

Funding priority is given to research projects and presentations/poster sessions at professional conferences, followed by capstone projects, attendance at professional conferences, cultural experiences, service projects and personal enrichment experiences.

Types of projects NOT supported:

• Tuition for internships or coursework
• Study abroad
• Payment for service, work, or internships
• Political action or protest
• Travel to or from an internship
• Northland co-curricular programs, including:
  • fees for participation in intercollegiate or athletic events
  • funding for student organization programming
  • advanced study options or course fees in the academic program

Preparing Your Application

This is a highly competitive proposal process—funding is not guaranteed. Submitting a well-written and complete application makes a difference. The application should be given at least as much effort as you would put into any written report for a grade. The review committee expects superior quality.

All students who meet the eligibility guidelines outlined below are invited to submit an individual or group proposal. Application forms are located below. We highly recommend using these resources when preparing your application:

Review the Instructions for Writing a Successful Proposal. Visit a writing tutor to ensure grammar, punctuation, and spelling is polished.

Rules and Eligibility

1. Proposals (and all accompanying documents) must be submitted electronically to parsonagefund@northland.edu by 4:30 p.m.  on the due date. You will receive a confirmation email indicating an application was received. Please note: This email is not an indication that your application is complete. It is only a confirmation that we have received your email. It is your responsibility to ensure that all of the necessary documents were included.
2. Maximum funding for a student per academic year is capped at $1,500. This can cover one expensive project or several smaller projects. This change is to ensure funds are available for a larger number of students. Exception: group service projects are capped at $400/individual applicant.
3.  In general, there is one application per student or group for each specific project per academic year allowed. If a request is denied, it is up to the Parsonage Fund committee whether or not to allow the proposal to be re-submitted. Make sure your application is complete and free of errors!
4. Incomplete applications will not be considered. A checklist is provided with a complete list of items to include for your application. The most frequently forgotten item is documentation. Double check that you have documentation for each expense you are requesting.
5.  Currently enrolled, full-time Northland College students in good academic standing (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0) are eligible. Projects that take place after graduation will not be funded. Part-time students enrolled in at least 6 credits in the semester of application will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with priority given to students with senior standing.
6. Student must be considered in good financial standing with the institution, including but not limited to: student accounts, financial aid, and residential life.
7. The project must be initiated, organized, and planned by students. Funding for staff, faculty, or organizations is not permitted, however, student costs related to collaborative research or presentations with faculty or staff are eligible for funding. The project cannot be a classroom expectation, e.g. all class members required to attend a conference.
8. Groups attending a conference, service project, or other experience:
   1. Faculty/Staff Recommendations: Only one group faculty/staff recommendation form will be required. Each applicant will be required to provide a reference who can be contacted about their participation in the experience.
   2. Full versus Partial Funding: Group leaders and students who will be presenting will be given special consideration for funding. For example, if a group is chosen for partial funding, the group leader may receive full funding if their individual proposal is strong. If some group members are presenting at the conference/workshop and others are not, presenters may receive full funding when others in the group receive partial funding.
   3. Check distribution: One check will be dispersed to the group leader for all expenses.
9. Limit on repeat experiences: Students will be eligible for funding to attend the same conference or service project up to two times. If the student would like to attend a third time, they will be eligible if they are a group leader, presenting at the conference, or participating in some other significant way (e.g. coordinating all fundraising for a group service project).
10. If you are requesting funds for a capstone project, your recommendation must come from your capstone advisor.
11. All equipment purchased becomes property of the College. Applicants should include a plan to turn equipment over to a specific department in their application.
12. You may not request funding for meals that are included in conference fees.
13. Projects may be funded partially or in full at the discretion of the Review Committee. For example, if it is determined that you could travel more economically or achieve the same goals at a closer destination, funding amounts may be reduced.
14. Documentation of all budget items must be provided with the application. Documentation may be scanned in or screen shots may be provided. Web addresses/URLs are not considered documentation. Applications with missing documentation will not be considered.
15. Special consideration will be given to applications that show contributions by the applicant (monetary or nonmonetary) and/or other funding sources.
16. As part of the application process, each applicant/group member must fill out and submit a Participant Agreement form on the website.
17. Awardees are required to submit a final reflection, and to share their experience with the Northland community. If an awardee fails to submit a final reflection, they will be ineligible for Parsonage Fund support in the future. See the Instructions for Writing a Successful Proposal for recommendations on sharing experiences.
18. If you’re creating a poster or another form of visual presentation for your Parsonage-funded project, download the Parsonage Fund logo on the website and include it in your acknowledgments.
19. In the event that an award goes unused (i.e. project/trip is cancelled, group member drops out, another funding source is substituted, etc.), funds will be returned to continue to provide opportunities to support other student projects. Email parsonagefund@northland.edu to inquire about returning any unused funds.

The Parsonage Fund for student opportunities is administered by the Office of Student Affairs with participation from faculty and staff representatives from throughout the College.

Please read and be familiar with the information in the Guidelines document before beginning your proposal.

Overview

When composing your Parsonage Fund Application, remember that you are applying to a competitive grant program with limited funding. The Parsonage Fund Review Committee consists of Northland College staff and faculty who have an expectation of superior quality for the applications they review. Make sure that your application is clear, complete, and concise; neatly organized on the provided application forms; and edited for spelling and grammar errors. Demonstrating a high level of care and attention in preparing your application materials increases the likelihood of your project being funded. Working with a writing tutor is highly recommended.

The Review Committee will rate your proposal based on the following criteria:

• Type of project: priority is given to research projects and presentations or posters at a professional conference, then capstone projects, followed by all other activities
• Strength and individualization of the faculty/staff recommendation
• Clarity and completeness of the general description of the project
• A clear explanation of how the project/event will benefit the applicant personally, professionally, and/or academically
• Plan for reflection is appropriate and shows deep thought about your personal goals for the project
• Methods of sharing project with Northland & broader community are effective and appropriate
• Budget is reflective of true costs and documentation is included
• Project proposed is likely to have a successful outcome
• Applicant’s contribution to the project (see budget section for tips on this)
• Fundraising for the project was carried out
• Application is free of spelling and grammar errors
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and are not eligible for funding – this includes applications that are missing documents, so be sure to look at the checklists before submitting your materials

Application Forms

All application forms, including an application checklist, are located on this page. Applications must be submitted using these forms.

Choosing An Application Form

• Individual Application Form: Use this form if you are the only person applying for a particular project.
• Group Application Form: Use this form if more than one person is applying for funding for the same research project, event, conference, etc. Applicants will be rated individually, so if some students are presenting at a conference and others are not, this should be made clear.

Tips for Reflecting on Your Experience
Reflection increases the learning from an immediate experience. We include this requirement because the purpose of this fund is educational in nature, and a strong reflection component shows that you are serious about learning from the experience. Your reflection should help you connect this experience to new insights about past experiences, present initiatives, and future goals.

Tips for Sharing with the Community
If you are funded, you are required to share what you’ve learned from your experience with the Northland community. You may use any of the options that the review committee has approved, listed below. You are welcome to brainstorm and propose any other idea that you believe best delivers the learning from your experience. In your proposal, inform the committee why you chose the method you did.

• Present your findings to a classroom (please be specific about when/where/what class)
• Be part of a panel discussion at a future conference/presentation (please provide details)
• Write an article for Drifts about one aspect of the experience (provide a deadline for your Drifts article and anticipated issue)
• Present your project via the Honor’s Day Poster Session
• Other—be creative! Some possible ideas include sharing at club meetings, events like Science on Tap, or at other community events off-campus.

If you’re creating a poster or another form of visual presentation for your Parsonage-funded project, download the Parsonage Fund logo on the website and include it in your acknowledgments.

You should also reach out to the Office of Marketing Communications after your project is completed to arrange for a story and photo, so they can share your experience with the broader community.

Budgets

An Excel spreadsheet is provided for reporting your project budget. You MUST include documentation for EVERY item listed on the budget spreadsheet. Your proposal will not be considered if documentation is missing.

College Vehicles
Only College-authorized drivers are allowed to operate a College-owned vehicle. Please contact Sara in the Facilities Maintenance Office for specific information on becoming an authorized driver. After your trip is approved for funding, your faculty/staff sponsor will need to reserve the vehicle for your group as students are not authorized to reserve vehicles. Faculty/staff sponsors should indicate on the reservation form that it is a Parsonage Fund trip. Groups using College vehicles should establish an emergency plan that includes emergency contact information for all participants and for the College. Vehicles are available at these costs:

Showing Personal Contributions
Proposals which include personal contributions are given special consideration by the Review Committee. It is important to explain your contribution and its monetary value in the budget justification section, and to show the dollar value of your contribution in the “Your Contribution” budget line on the Budget Worksheet. Special consideration is also given to students and groups that conduct fundraising events. Students should also try to use cost saving measures such as carpooling, meeting early bird deadlines, room sharing, or cooking one’s own meals to keep project costs at a minimum.

Budgeting for a Flight
Airfare tickets are typically at their lowest cost and a relatively stable cost if they are purchased at least one month in advance of travel. Due to the day-to-day fluctuations in airfare ticket prices, students need to be prepared for the possibility that ticket prices at time of purchase may have increased or decreased from what was budgeted for in their proposal. In that circumstance, students would need to cover the difference with their own funds or reimburse the Parsonage Fund for any overage. The Parsonage Fund will not cover the cost of checked baggage or cover the cost of flight/trip protection insurance. If you feel that circumstances absolutely necessitate the purchase of either of these, you may write a justification for them in the “Budget Rationale” section of your application for consideration by the Parsonage Fund Review Committee.

Documentation for Budgeted Items
Lack of budget documentation is the most common reason funding is denied. Every item that you request funding for must have documentation or your proposal will not be considered. For example, if you include postage in your budget request, you must have documentation from the Post Office showing the current cost of postage. The committee may know the cost, but we hold all applications to the same standards. Web addresses/URLs are not considered documentation. The simplest way to submit your documentation is to cut and paste relevant information into a Word document.

If your project involves traveling, be sure to include costs like:

• Taxes: hotels, car rental, flights, train tickets
• Checking luggage on a train or airline
• Tolls charged on toll roads
• Parking fees
• Shuttle or cab fares

Make sure your costs cover all legs of your trip! That includes taxes, multiple hotel nights, multiple parking fees, multiple shuttle or cab fares, etc. This is your responsibility and the committee will assume you have budgeted for your needs. Requests for additional funding for “forgotten” budget items are unlikely to be reimbursed.

Faculty or Staff Recommendations

The recommendation is a key factor in a proposal’s success. Plan ahead and provide a copy of the proposal and budget to the person doing the recommendation, as the recommendation form specifically asks him or her to address the proposal and budget. The faculty or staff member should submit their recommendation form online on the website by the application deadline. For groups, one faculty or staff member may fill out one recommendation form for the entire group; however, each group member must provide a reference person that can be contacted by the Review Committee.

Submitting the Proposal

We strongly recommend referring to the application checklists on the website before submitting your materials.

For Individual Applicants:

• Submit all documents as attachments in one email to parsonagefund@northland.edu. Remember to submit your Participation Agreement form online.
• Your faculty/staff recommendation can also be submitted online by your advisor.

For Group Applicants – Group leaders should:

• Submit all group application documents and all group member responses together. Group members should not submit separately.
• Submit all documents as attachments in as few emails as possible to parsonagefund@northland.edu.
• Remember to have all group members submit their Participation Agreement forms online.
• Your faculty/staff recommendation can also be submitted online by your advisor.
• Ensure that the group members listed as applying for funding are on the group form AND that you have all of their individual pieces. If you have group members traveling with you, but not applying for funding, please enter their name(s) in the box after the group member list. Indicate they are not applying for funding.
• Group leaders: you are ultimately responsible for your group. It is your job to make sure budget accounts for all expenses. Reimbursements for “forgotten” expenses are unlikely to occur. It is your job to make sure your group members submit their materials. In essence, make sure your ducks are in a row before submitting a group application!

If you need to send an update, please make it very clear what document(s) is/are being replaced. Use “updated” or “new” in the file name so it is easy to tell which file is which.

File names: It is incredibly helpful to have easily identifiable file names for processing. Please note the formatting instructions for each form.

It is your responsibility to ensure the application is complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and are not eligible for funding. Individual & group application checklists have been provided to help verify everything that is required.

Special Requests

Groups Over 15
Proposals for groups with over fifteen people are strongly encouraged to consider the following:

• Make sure each applicant is serious about the experience. Group members with strong proposals may receive more funding than members with weak proposals. Some groups have found the following to be helpful with large group experiences:
  • Require attendance at planning meetings
  • Require help with fundraising efforts
  • Set deadlines for application materials and hold members to them
  • Determine a small steering committee who will review all individual applications for consistency before submitting as a whole. Request revisions from applications that are not as strong as others by having the individual work with a writing tutor.
• Fundraise. Plan fundraisers and/or set personal contribution levels for participants. The sheer size of large group requests can overwhelm our allotted budget. Diversify your funding strategy as much as possible.

Individual Checklist»
Group Checklist»

Individual Application Checklist

☐ Individual Application Form

• Your submitted file name should follow this format: yourname.application

☐ Budget worksheet (Excel document; be sure to fill out all sections)

• Your submitted file name should follow this format: yourname.budget

☐ Documentation supporting all budgeted items (maps to justify mileage, conference brochures hotel quotes, order forms, screenshots, etc.) DO NOT send web links!

• Your submitted file name should follow this format: yourname.mileagemap, yourname.hotel, etc.

☐ Faculty or Staff Recommendation form.

•  Your faculty/staff advisor can submit the form here.

☐ Participant Agreement (one from each group member seeking funding)

• Submit the agreement here.

Group Application Checklist

☐ Group Application Form

• Your submitted file name should follow this format: projectname.application
• For example, a group doing a Habitat trip would name their file: Habitat.application

☐ Individual Questions (one from each group member seeking funding)

• Your submitted file name should follow this format: projectname.budget
• For example, Alex Johnson who is going on the Habitat trip would name their file: Habitat.alexjohnson

☐ Budget worksheet (Excel document; be sure to fill out all sections)

• Your submitted file name should follow this format: projectname.mileagemap, yourname.hotel, etc.
• For example, a group doing a Habitat trip would name their file: Habitat.budget

☐ Documentation supporting all budgeted items (maps to justify mileage, conference brochures hotel quotes, order forms, screenshots, etc.). DO NOT send web links!

• Your submitted file name should follow this format: projectname.DocumentType
• For example, the Habitat trip would name their files: Habitat.MileageMap, Habitat.Motel, etc.

☐ Faculty or Staff Recommendation Form.

• Your faculty/staff advisor can submit the form here.

☐ Participant Agreement (one from each group member seeking funding)

• Submit the agreement here.

Individual Application Materials

• individual application
• budget form
• faculty/staff recommendation form
• participant agreement

Group Application Materials

• group application
• group questions
• budget form
• faculty/staff recommendation form
• participant agreement

Recommendations are a key factor in determining funding for student projects. You may choose to submit a letter instead of this form. For group proposals, only one recommendation is required for the group.

Please complete form or letter by 4:30 p.m. on the application due date.

Read and sign below:

Please review this document carefully before agreeing. It contains important information about the programs at Northland College, and affects the legal rights of participants and families in the event of an injury or other loss. All students, volunteers and guests (hereafter “Participants”) fourteen (14) years of age and older must agree. If the Participant is a minor—under eighteen (18) years of age—a parent or legal guardian (together “Parent”) of that minor must also agree, for themselves, and on behalf of the minor.

In consideration for the services of Northland College, in offering me or the minor child participation in certain activities, I Participant, and Parent of a minor participant, for myself and, to the maxim extent allowed by law, on behalf of the minor participant, agree as follows:

Activities and Risks

Although Northland College has taken certain steps to provide Participants with equipment and instructors so they can enjoy an activity for which they may not be skilled, the activities of Northland College include risks. Certain of these risks are inherent—that is, they cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the activities. I understand that these risks and others may contribute to accidental injury or illness, permanent trauma or death. Northland College does not wish to frighten its Participants or reduce their enthusiasm for field activities, but believes it is important for them to know in advance what to expect and to be informed of the activities and their risky nature.

The activities of the Northland College program and their risks are described in the Northland College document entitled “Descriptions of Activities and Risks” and are otherwise available from staff. I have carefully read and understand the nature of the activity in which I, or the minor child, will be participating as described in the program description and the document “Description of Activities and Risks” which is an appendix to this agreement.

I, adult or minor Participant and Parent of a minor Participant:

• Understand that the description of activities and risks provided to me may not be complete. Other risks may be encountered, inherent and otherwise. Participant may engage in other activities, organized or not, and authorized and supervised or not, which may cause injury and other loss, including, but not limited to, permanent trauma or death.
• Have carefully read and understand all Northland College information which I have received or been directed to. I have not been coerced or rushed in that reading. I have had the opportunity to review this information with legal counsel.
• Have carefully read, reviewed, completed and signed the forms and other paperwork presented to me.
• Acknowledge that the Northland College staff is and has been available, should I have questions about the nature and physical demands of the Northland College program and courses and the risks associated with them.
• Understand that Northland College cannot assure a Participant’s safety or eliminate the risks of the program, and that each Participant shares in the responsibility for his or her own safety.
• Represent that I am voluntarily participating, with knowledge of the risks, and can do so without causing harm to others or myself.
• Assume and accept full responsibility for myself, and for any minor who accompanies me, for the inherent or other risks (both known and unknown) of these courses and for any injury, damage, death, or other loss resulting from those risks.
• Understand that Northland College will engage the services of independent contractors for certain services. Northland College is not responsible for the acts or omissions of those persons or entities and will not supervise their activities. Independent contractors may ask for releases to be signed by Participants and Parents. Northland College is not a party to those releases, and is seeking protection from in kind claims on its own behalf by means of this Participant Agreement.
• Understand that risks of injury from the activities, the staff, contractors and equipment utilized and the environments in which the activities are conducted could result in damage to property, serious injury, disability and, although highly unlikely, even death.

Assumption of Risks

I, adult Participant or Parent of a minor Participant, for myself and on behalf of the minor Participant, acknowledge and voluntarily assume the inherent risks of the activities, whether or not described above. This assumption of risk includes, but is not limited to, my voluntary assumption of full responsibility for any risks or loss, or personal injury, including death and damage to property that may be sustained by the Participant. In addition, except with respect to activities on lands (which may include National Park land) whose rules or regulations allow as a matter of law only the assumption of inherent risks, I, for myself and on behalf of the minor Participant, voluntarily assume all risks of the activities of the Northland College program, inherent and otherwise. This assumption of risk includes, but is not limited to, my voluntary assumption of full responsibility for any risks or loss, or personal injury, including death and damage to property that may be sustained by the Participant. If the Participant is a minor, I have discussed the activities and their risks with him or her, who understands the activities and their risks, including the fact that certain risks cannot be anticipated, and chooses to participate nevertheless.

Release and Indemnity

Except with respect to an injury or loss which occurs on public lands whose rules and regulations prohibit my doing so as a matter of law, I, an adult Participant, or Parent, for myself and on behalf of the minor Participant, agree as follows:

1. To release and forever discharge Northland College, its officers, directors, trustees, employees, agents, representatives and support personnel either employed by or acting under the direct supervision of Northland College (collectively “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, liabilities and losses asserted by or on behalf of me or the minor Participant for any and all injury, loss or damage resulting directly or indirectly from my or the minor Participant’s enrollment or participation in an activity of Northland College or the use of its equipment, animals or facilities.
2. To defend, hold harmless and indemnify Released Parties from any and all claims and from any and all liability, loss, damages or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) resulting from a claim brought by me, the minor Participant or a member of our respective families or by any other person for loss or damage suffered by me or the minor or caused by me or the minor in any way arising out of my or the minor Participant’s enrollment or participation in an activity of Northland College or the use of its equipment, animals or facilities.
3. These agreements of Release and Indemnity include claims of and liabilities for the negligence of a Released Party but not the intentional wrongs or the gross negligence of a Released Party.

Consent for Medical Treatment

Northland College is authorized to obtain or provide emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgical or other medical care for me, or my minor Participant. I authorize Northland College to administer emergency medical care and I understand that non-licensed medical providers may assist in providing such care.

Description of Activities & Risks

This is not a complete list. These are not all of the activities and not all the risks associated with them.

Description of Activities on Land

• Backpacking: Traveling by foot with food, shelter, and equipment for trip carried in a pack on your back.
• Bicycling: Traveling by bicycle on roads, trails, or other place.
• Camping: Staying outdoors overnight.
• First Aid Courses: Learning and practicing first aid skills in and out of doors, sometimes as victim.
• Hiking: Traveling by foot with some supplies on your back, usually not for overnight.
• Map Reading and Navigation Courses: Traveling using map and compass for navigation.
• Natural history courses: Learning about ecological relationships, habitats, biological organisms, marine studies, and/or geology.
• Gardening: Learning about plant species, garden design, planting, garden maintenance, harvesting.
• Rock Climbing: Climbing up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls utilizing specialized equipment and techniques.
• Ropes Course (also called Challenge Course): An individual or group challenge experience with physical initiatives and exercises designed to provide metaphors for reflection.
• Aboriginal Living Skills: Learning outdoor survival/living skills used by indigenous cultures.
• Sweat Lodge: Bathing in steam created from heated rocks in a tent-like structure.
• Caving/Spelunking: Hiking, crawling, squeezing, and sometimes camping in underground passages.
• Environmental Service projects: Service projects in the outdoors, often in remote areas.
• Urban/Rural/Cultural Activities or Service Projects: Trips to urban or rural areas of cultural note, for recreation, education, or to provide volunteer labor.
• Equestrian Activities: working with and riding horses

Description of Activities on Snow

• Avalanche Forecasting: Learning risk factors and route planning to avoid being caught in an avalanche, and survival techniques.
• Cross Country (Nordic) skiing: Skiing over open terrain–some steep, some flat–without commercial lifts.
• Downhill (Alpine) Skiing/Snowboarding, Telemark Skiing: Traveling down slopes at commercial downhill ski/snowboard areas with lifts.
• Backcountry Skiing: Skiing (telemark or alpine, or snowboarding in remote mountainous areas
• Snowshoeing: Hiking in snow with large, flat, paddle-shaped shoes.
• Snow Shelters/Igloo building: Building structures out of snow on mountain slopes in winter.
• Winter Camping: Staying overnight in or on the snow, in temperatures at or below freezing.

Description of Activities on Water and Along Shorelines

• Sea Kayaking, Lake Kayaking, Lake Canoeing: Traveling on water in small craft powered by your own muscles.
• Whitewater Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting and Inflatable Kayaking: Traveling in small, non-motorized inflatable or hard boats on swift water, rapids and rivers.
• Swiftwater Rescue: Learning techniques of rescuing people or equipment from dangerous moving water situations.
• Hot Springs: Bathing in hot geothermal water seeping up from earth.
• Ocean coastal hikes: Hiking, along the edge of the ocean or coastal cliffs and in forest, and may include:
  • Clamming/Crabbing: Collecting shellfish/crustaceans on the seashore or in bays.
  • Tide Pool Exploration: Walking on shoreline rocks to observe marine organisms.
  • Whale Watching: Observing whales from vantage points.
• Snorkeling: With mask and snorkel, swimming in/under water to observe aquatic life.
• Sailing, motor boating: Traveling in boats powered by wind (using sails) or motors or both.
• Scuba Diving: Underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater.

Description of Activities in Classrooms

• Yoga: Active learning of yoga positions, meditation, relaxation, stretching, yoga traditions/culture.
• Cooking: Learn to read/understand recipes, knife skills, cooking on stoves, cooking over flames, clean-up
• BrainGym®: Physical movement activities, mental and physical challenges, and juggling.
• Arts and Crafts: Art projects that include use of art supplies, glues, scissors, tape, etc.
• Digital Media Lab: Learn to use computer, software, photographic, video, audio, and online equipment.

Risks

This is not a complete list.

All Trips

• Travel: Everyone riding in Northland College vehicles, such as a 15 passenger van, is required to wear their seat belts at all times. Participants risk being involved in an accident due to driver error or other drivers on the road. Possibility of hitting animals (such as deer, cattle), especially at night. Trips often travel along steep, unimproved roads. Travel to remote areas where medical or other assistance can be hours or days away. Unfavorable driving conditions such as snow, fog, ice, rain. Possibility of theft of personal property. Travel may also be by watercraft, aircraft, skis, on foot, and by other means, on uneven terrain or water.
• Weather: Risk of exposure to severe weather such as sun, sudden storms, strong winds, snow, sleet, ice; rocks, trees or limbs falling, thunder and lightning, “white outs” resulting in reduced visibility, and/or extreme hot or cold temperatures resulting in heat induced illness or hypothermia and possibly frostbite.
• Cooking /Fires: Risk of stove malfunction, fire, and explosion with any type of stove or fuel. Open fires. Risk of burns due to hot utensils, hot food, hot water, sparks, exploding heated rocks, steam.
• Group Initiatives: Risk of slipping, falling during games, collisions with other people or objects.

On Land
Risk of twisting, spraining, falling and breaking body parts. Travel sometimes occurring on poorly maintained trails or no trails at all, with downed timber, snow, ice, brush, vines, boulder fields, loose rock, and other uneven, unstable, or unpredictable terrain. Exposure (large drop-offs on edge of trail due to cliffs). Danger from rattlesnakes, spiders, mosquitoes, ticks or other wild or domestic animals. Getting lost, disoriented, or separated from others for unforeseen amounts of time. Risk of head injury on rocks, tree limbs, other obstacles. High mountain passes. Poisonous plants such as poison oak. Sunburn. Wildfires. Quicksand. Cliffs. Loose slopes (such as scree slopes), rock fall, avalanche. Risk of trees or branches falling with or without wind. Risks associated with using hand and power tools, paint, solvents, construction materials and cleaning agents, including their use in service projects. Risk of exposure to airborne, food borne, and/or water borne viruses, bacteria, parasites or other illnesses. Risk of infection of wounds, blisters, burns. At stream and river crossings, risk of falling in or swimming in lakes or rivers (including drowning).

Underground
Risks listed in “On Land” above, plus traveling underground, in lava tubes or limestone caves. Poor visibility due to low lighting, very uneven surface in places, rocks on ground and possible loose rocks (which could fall) along walls and ceiling. Low ceilings, very tight places. Diseases transmitted by bats or other organisms found in caves. Ice, mud, slippery footing, risk of cave collapsing.

On Snow
Risks listed in “On Land” above, plus risk of frostbite, hypothermia, avalanches, dehydration. Risk of sunburn, slipping, falling on ice or snow, twisting knees and ankles, landing on and breaking or spraining limbs. Risk of snow shelter collapsing, asphyxiation in tight spaces. Injury to self or others by means of skis, poles, snow saws, snow shovels, and other tools or equipment.

On Water and Along Shorelines
Risks listed in “On Land” above, plus risk of exposure to wind, waves, whitewater rapids, strong currents, tides, cold water, and hypothermia. Sunburn. Exposure to marine animals such as sharks, jelly fish, water borne parasites, microbes, and other animals. Instability of boats, risk of flipping, pinning against obstacles, and entrapment inside overturned boat. Danger of other boaters (especially motorized boaters, jet skis). Injury while loading or unloading boats from trailer. Risks of unstable coastal cliffs, “sneaker” waves (waves that are unpredictable and much larger than others, which may wash a person into the ocean), logs or other debris in the water or surf which could injure or kill, tsunamis (huge waves caused by earthquakes). Risk of drowning.

In Classrooms
Risk of twisting, spraining, falling and breaking body parts. Risk of exposure to airborne, food borne, and/or water borne viruses, bacteria, parasites or other illnesses. Risks associated with using cooking equipment, art/craft equipment and materials, hand and power tools, paint, solvents, construction materials and cleaning agents, including their use in projects. Risk of wounds, blisters, burns infections.

International Travel
Risks listed in the applicable categories above plus traveling in countries that are not subject to the strict safety standards present in the United States for food, travel, medical services and a host of other situations that are foreseen and not foreseen, including but not limited to violence, kidnapping, and epidemics.

Other Provisions

I, an adult Participant, or Parent, agree that Wisconsin State law (without regard to its conflict of law rules) governs this Agreement, and any dispute I or the minor Participant has with Northland College or any other Released Party, and that any mediation, suit or other proceeding must be filed or entered into only in Ashland County, Wisconsin. I agree to settle any dispute through mediation before a mutually acceptable Wisconsin mediator. To the extent mediation does not result in a resolution, the dispute will be submitted to binding arbitration through the American Arbitration Association, in Wisconsin. I also agree to pay all costs for attorneys’ fees incurred by Northland College or any other Released Party in defending a claim or suit, if that claim or suit is withdrawn, or to the extent a court or arbitration determines that such party is not responsible for the injury or loss. Any portion of this Agreement deemed unlawful or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions and those remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Please complete the form below by the deadline you were assigned when you received your Parsonage Fund award. If you do not submit a Final Reflection, you will be ineligible for Parsonage Fund support in the future. You’ll need to save this form to your computer before entering information.

Your answers will be shared with donors who support the Parsonage Fund—the donors love to hear about the types of projects and experiences students have as a result of their support, so we encourage you to take your time and give thoughtful, meaningful answers.

Please also feel free to share any photos from your experience by email or within the form below, or if you have other materials you’d like to share, get in touch with the Parsonage Fund coordinator.

• Parsonage Fund logo

Submit Your Final Reflections

Honoring Parsonage’s Service

During his tenure as Northland’s tenth president (1987-2002), Robert Parsonage promoted by example and espoused the ideal of the “servant leader.” His model demonstrates that servant leaders use their vision in service to society. It is Bob’s wish to nourish students’ imagination and to prepare them in becoming the citizen-leaders of the future. This fund was established in honor of his service to the college community and is designed to provide financial support for student-initiated leadership projects.