Rental Agreement Terms & Conditions: Summary of Children & Pet Rules

Children and Pet Safety

There is nothing more special than enjoying nature and outdoor activities together alongside your beloved child or children and pet(s). That is why we at Northern Explorer Supply (NES) in care of Experience Formations LLC (the Lessor), have policies in place that, when followed, can drastically reduce or prevent a safety, damage, or loss related incident.

As it pertains to children and pets, please review and abide by the following safety rules.

Age Requirements per Equipment Category

KAYAKS, CANOES, AND PADDLE BOARDS

  • Children 3 Years Old and Younger: may not interact or occupy any waterborne Equipment for any reason.
  • Children 4 Years Old to 9 Years Old: A Child is allowed to occupy a Kayak, Canoe, or Paddle Board only when accompanied by a Parent or Guardian within the same vessel. The vessel must be manufacturer designed and rated to safely accommodate the total number and weight of all persons safely. All Children and Adults must wear a properly sized and fitted U.S. Coast Guard Approved Personal  Floatation Device (PFD) at all times.
  • Children 10 Years Old to 17 Years Old: A Child may occupy and paddle their own Kayak, Canoe, or Paddle Board if the vessel is designed for solo use. The Child must paddle within immediate reach of their Parent or Guardian who must be on the water alongside the Child at all times in case of an safety incident. All Children and Adults must wear a properly sized and fitted U.S. Coast Guard Approved Personal  Floatation Device (PFD) at all times.
  • Child Specific Equipment: At this time, NES does not rent solo kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards appropriate for most Children. It is the Parent/Guardian's complete responsibility to ensure that the Equipment is operated by their Child safely, regardless of circumstance. For example, this precaution includes (and is not limited to) the possibility of a Parent/Guardian allowing their Child to operate an adult paddleboard on a windy day causing the paddleboard to lift up and blow adrift because the child is not heavy or strong enough to control it.

CAMPING EQUIPMENT

  • Children 6 Years Old and Younger: Due to the nature of Tree Tents and Hammocks being elevated off the ground to a restricted height, we do not allow this age group to interact or occupy this type of Equipment, even if accompanied by an adult.
  • Children 7 Years Old and Older: Must always be accompanied by their Parent or Guardian within arm’s reach while inside or navigating next to the Tree Tent or Hammock. No bodily movement (such as jumping) other than movements used to access, lounge or sleep within the Tree Tent or Hammock may be performed.

BIKES & ELECTRIC BIKES [Coming Soon]

  • Children 16 Years Old and Younger: Not allowed. When riding on streets and roads, the rider is considered a motorized vehicle driver from the purview of the law, therefore, a child 16 years of age or younger is not considered qualified to ride an electric bike (e-bike) safely or responsibly. 
  • Children 17 Years Old: may use the bicycling Equipment, however, must be accompanied in close proximity by their Parent or Guardian.

OTHER OUTDOOR SPORTS EQUIPMENT

  • NES requires all activities involving a child's interaction with or use of the rented Equipment be supervised by a Parent or Guardian. Your family's safety and enjoyment is extremely important to us. 

Pets

  • Despite our great affection for animals, especially our Pets, for safety and damages reasons we, the Lessor, cannot allow any Pet (e.g., dogs, cats, etc.) to interact with or occupy the Equipment unless:
    • the Equipment is specifically designed and manufactured for Pet use (such as a Non-stop Dogwear pulling harness);
    • and the Lessee takes great effort to learn about the Pet-Specific-Equipment (PSE) before using it;
    • and practices using the PSE in a controlled setting prior to use in the field.
  • Even then, the Lessee accepts all risks associated with the use of the PSE, including the behaviors (including bites), accidents (like entanglements or worse), loss (including a runaway Pet), and damages inherent with the use of any Equipment.
  • Pets are at an even higher risk than humans of endangerment and harms, including death, because the Equipment, except for PSE, is not specifically designed for them in mind.
  • Furthermore, Pets can unintentionally or intentionally tear holes in floors of tents or puncture the membranes of inflatable watercraft, for example, causing imminent danger to those using the Equipment.
  • Pets can pose other harms. As another example, a Pet, such as a jumping dog, can result in the capsizing of a Party's canoe, kayak, or paddleboard which could lead to drowning or hypothermia. A Pet can pull a bike and its rider off the trail, leading to a tree or rock impact that can be deadly, among many other possible harms. Inadequate training, misuse, inexperience, and external factors (like chased wildlife) can pose huge threats to the well being of all involved.
  • All Lessees, as a condition of their Agreement, accept that Experience Formations LLC is in no way responsible for the safety of Pets (and any human, for that matter) nor the safety of others associated with the actions of the Lessee's Pet.
  • Any damages or other harms caused by a Pet is considered the complete fault of the Lessee, even if the Lessee is not the Pet's Owner, and will be treated as such regarding any restitution and the like.

Failure to Adhere. Any Lessee or their Party who chooses not to abide by any advisement, request, requirement, or suggestion presented or published by the Lessor may be subject to termination of services and financial penalties associated with losses the Lessor may incur as a result.

This summary document has been adapted as of May 20, 2025 from the Agreement which can be found here (click).