Terms of Services
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Last modified May 29, 2023
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY
These Terms of Use (the “Terms”) govern your use of and access to www.seedandvineco.com and its sub-domains and affiliated sites, as well as Novo Expeditions (“Novo Expeditions” “my”, “me” or “I”, “us”, “we”, or “our”) pages and accounts on Facebook®, Instagram®, Twitter®, LinkedIn®, Google Plus®, and YouTube® (the “Sites). Please read both these Terms and my Privacy Policy carefully, which is incorporated into these Terms. By using any or all of the Sites, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not want to agree to be bound by these Terms, do not use the Sites. We may modify these Terms from time to time, and any modifications will be effective immediately when I post them. All changes we make will be reflected in the date at the top of the document. You are responsible for reviewing any modified terms. Your continued use of a Site following any changes means you accept and agree to any changes. For your convenience and future reference, the date of the most recent revision of these Terms is listed above so that you may compare different versions to determine what, if any, changes have been made.
SITE CONTENT.
Novo Expeditions exclusively owns and controls the Sites, which provides information about my products and services and may, from time to time, provide access to educational materials pertaining to a variety of backpacking, hiking, primitive survival, adventure, wilderness, and outdoor recreation topics. You agree that use or access to any or all of the Sites does not, standing alone, create any sort of representation or future promise. The unauthorized reproduction, use of, or theft of any content, written, photographic, or otherwise, is expressly prohibited. By using the Sites, you expressly agree to pay a fine of $50 per incident for any unauthorized use of our content, at the sole discretion of Novo Expeditions.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, as between you and Novo Expeditions, Novo Expeditions owns all right, title, and interest in and to the Sites, including, without limitation, graphics, site content, design, organization, compilation and other matters related to or included on the Sites. My name, Novo Expeditions and all related names, product and service names, logos, slogans, and designs are my trademarks and you may not use these marks without my prior written permission. All other names, logos, product and service names, designs and slogans on the Sites are the trademarks of their respective owners and should not be used without those respective owners’ permission. You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Sites and the resources available for download from the Website strictly in accordance with these Terms.
THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
Content and materials posted to the Site may be the copyrighted content of others (“Third Party Content”) that is used by Novo Expeditions either by permission or under Section 107 of the Copyright Act as “fair use” for purposes such as education and research. I respect the intellectual property of others and ask that you do the same. Users must obtain permission from the owners of any Third-Party Content before copying, distributing or otherwise using those materials. Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law, no copying, redistribution, retransmission, publication, or commercial exploitation of downloaded material will be permitted without the express permission of the copyright owner.
If you believe that your work has been copied on one or more of the Sites in a way that constitutes copyright infringement or otherwise violates your intellectual property rights, please contact me via email at the contact information listed below and provide the following: (i) identification of what is claimed to have been infringed; (ii) identification of what is claimed to be infringing; (iii) your contact information (or the contact information of the person we need to contact about the infringement); (iv) a statement that the person submitting the complaint is doing so with a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the owner, its agent, or the law; (v) a statement that the information provided is accurate, and under penalty of perjury; (vi) a physical or electronic signature of the person submitting the complaint; and (vii) if that person is not the owner of the content at issue, a statement that the person submitting the complaint is authorized to act on the owner’s behalf.
LINKING TO OUR SITES.
Anyone linking to the Sites must comply with all applicable laws and must not: (i) misrepresent its relationship with Novo Expeditions (ii) present false or misleading information about Novo Expeditions or (iii) contain content that is reasonably considered profanity, offensive, defamatory, vulgar, or unlawful.
ADVERTISEMENTS AND LINKS.
I may at times include advertisements on the Sites. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers found on or through the Sites are solely between you and such advertiser. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available by advertisers, including information providers, or any other end users are those of the respective author(s) and not my own. You agree that I shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as a result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such advertisers. Any affiliate links that I link on the Sites will be clearly marked; however, I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions you may have regarding affiliate links.
You may find links to other websites on a Site. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by Novo Expeditions of the contents on such third-party sites, and I expressly disclaim any representations regarding the content or accuracy of materials on such third-party websites. You acknowledge and agree that Novo Expeditionsshall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or products available on or through any such linked site. You agree that it is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice, etc., or other content available through such third-party sites.
DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
THE SITES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. NOVO EXPEDITIONS, TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”), SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT AND WARRANTIES THAT MAY ARISE OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICE. THE RELEASED PARTIES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE RELIABILITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, SAFETY, TIMELINESS, LEGALITY, USEFULNESS, ADEQUACY OR SUITABILITY OF ANY OF THE INFORMATION OR CONTENT ON THE SITES. ACCORDINGLY, YOU AGREE TO EXERCISE CAUTION, DISCRETION AND COMMON SENSE WHEN USING THE SITES. THE ENTIRE RISK FOR USE OF THE SITE AND/OR SERVICES IS BORNE BY YOU. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO ACCESS THE SITES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK DISRUPTIONS, COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, OR ANY AND ALL OTHER PERSONAL OR COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF, AND REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY (CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR OTHERWISE) UPON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED. THE RELEASED PARTIES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE POSTINGS OR ANY MATERIAL LINKED THROUGH THE SITES. YOUR SOLE REMEDY WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF THE SITES IS TO CEASE USING THE SITES.
CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to any conflict of laws. For any dispute regarding these Terms or the Sites, you agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in Nevada County, California.
YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS.
This website is operated by Novo Expeditions. All other feedback, comments, requests for technical support and other communications relating to the Sites should be directed to: inspired@novoexpeditions.com Thank you for visiting the Sites!
ACCESSIBILITY
To help you identify the skills you will need to successfully participate in a Novo Expeditions trip or workshop, we have developed the following general requirements as well as our Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) self-assessment. These requirements are always applied uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability. These requirements exist for your own safety and that of all trip participants.
If you are unable to meet certain requirements, please contact us, we may be able to assist you with a reasonable accommodation unless it would change the fundamental nature of the course, would compromise your safety and the safety of other participants or instructors, or would place an undue financial or administrative burden on Novo Expeditions.
If you plan to use an assistive device, please notify Novo at the time of registration or as soon as practicable.
General Requirements
Beginner Multi-day Backpacking Requirements
Must be able to carry a 30-45 lb backpack up to 8 miles in a day.
Must have a desire to learn new skills, explore new places, and have fun!
Must be in reasonably good physical health.
Intermediate Multi-day Backpacking Requirements
Must be able to carry a 35-45 lb backpack over uneven terrain up to 12 miles in a day.
Must have some form of prior hiking/backpacking experience.
Must have a desire to learn new skills, explore new places, and have fun!
Must be in reasonably good physical health.
Basecamp Hikes
Must be able to carry a 5-7 lb daypack up to 8 miles in a day.
Must have a desire to learn new skills, explore new places, and have fun!
Must be in reasonably good physical health.
Custom Expeditions
Must have a desire to learn new skills, explore new places, and have fun!
Must meet general EEC (see Essential Eligibility Requirements).
Requirement details will vary depending on the specifics/type of the custom expeditions.
Primitive Survival Day Workshops
Must have a desire to learn new skills, explore new places, and have fun!
Must be comfortable spending up to 6 hours outdoors.
Must be able to engage in minor physical activities and tasks such as; lifting small weights, moving up and down from a seated or kneeling position, and walking short distances.
Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
Be in a state of reasonable health and fitness.
Be able to breathe on one's own without the aid of medical equipment or qualified personnel.
Be able to recognize, comprehend, and remember the activity's inherent dangers and risks, including but not limited to those that the leaders have already mentioned.
Be able to maintain concentration and alertness during the course of the trip, as well as during lessons and activities.
Be able to effectively communicate with the trip leader(s) and other participants.
Be able to independently recognize, interpret, and follow verbal and non-verbal directions given by the trip leader(s) in all scenarios. Participants must be able to independently perceive, comprehend, and follow verbal and nonverbal instructions from the trip leader(s) in stressful, hazardous, or emergency situations.
Be able to effectively communicate with trip leaders and participants, even in difficult or stressful situations (like medical or environmental emergencies) or in difficult environmental circumstances, such as those involving poor visibility, bad weather, or circumstances requiring one to drown out loud background noise, like rushing rivers or high winds.
Be able to take care of oneself and engage in all activities of daily life, including eating, drinking, maintaining personal hygiene, using the restroom (including bladder and bowel control), and dressing, either on one's own or with the help of a companion.
Ability to administer any prescribed personal medications, either independently or with the appropriate aid of a companion who travels with the participant.
Be able to maintain adequate nutrition, hydration, and attire to prevent environmental injuries like heat exhaustion and sunburn as well as other injuries like hypothermia and dehydration, either on their own or with the reasonable assistance of a companion who is accompanying them.
Be able to maintain their level of activity and manage their personal care for extended periods of movement and exertion, potentially exceeding 10 hours per day, either on their own or with the reasonable help of a partner who goes with them.
Be able to enter and exit a multi-passenger vehicle, such as a bus, van, SUV, or mini-bus, either on their own or with the help of an appropriate partner who travels with them, another participant, or the trip leader.
Be able to maintain their balance and seats for up to eight hours at a time while driving a multi-passenger vehicle carrying up to 14 people, either on their own or with the help of a companion they are traveling with.
Be able to participate in a group setting without having an adverse effect on or risking the health or safety of the other participants or the trip leader(s) or other trip participants. Possess the capacity to maintain one's self-care in a situation where exposure to allergens and cross-contamination may happen.
Be able to successfully alert or communicate with a traveling companion, trip leaders, or other travelers in case of personal distress, illness, accident, or the need for assistance, even in poor or difficult weather or environment. Being able to put on and use all necessary clothing and safety equipment.
Be able to fulfill the trip's requirements within the time constraints established by the itinerary and trip organizers.
Be able and willing to use outdoor toilets, restrooms at campgrounds, public restrooms, or none at all (which necessitates the capacity to dig a 6-inch hole and crouch over it either with or without assistance).
Backpacking and Tent Camping Requirements
In addition to meeting the Universal EEC, each participant on a trip that includes hiking and tent camping must:
Be able to traverse environments that may be tight, uneven, rocky, muddy, slippery, or may also have exposed cliffs or ledges, either on one's own or with the help of a companion.
Be able to carry personal gear and equipment for at least the distances listed in the trip itinerary for which you sign up, including the elevation change listed per day.
Be able to carry personal gear and equipment for a day hike, either on one's own or with the aid of a hiking partner. A daypack, at least two liters of water per person, extra clothing, rain gear, sunscreen, food and snacks, and other supplies are examples of possible gear and equipment.
Be able to go up to one hour without stopping for rest, and longer if necessary.
Be able to withstand exposure to a variety of weather conditions, including those that can range from below freezing to above 100 °F as well as those that can rapidly change, such as from dry, hot, rain, wind, lightning, and thunderstorms,
Be able to independently carry a bag weighing at least 25% of your body weight, or 25 to 50 pounds. The ranges for your particular trip's pack weight are listed in your trip briefing booklet.
Be able to carry a backpack as indicated above for up to 10 hours per day while traveling across wet and dry, sandy, rocky, uneven, and/or unstable terrain over the lengths listed in your itinerary plan, including the elevation differential (gain and/or loss) listed per day.
Be able to move through and around a designated camp area that may contain physical hazards like uneven surfaces, tent stakes and lines, stones, and other both manufactured and natural hazards, including at night, in low light, or with a flashlight or headlamp, either on their own or with the help of a companion who is accompanying them.
Be able to enter and depart a tent that has been set up on the ground, whether alone or with the help of an accompanying companion, whether it be in complete darkness, with a torch or headlamp, or in low light and do so with a mat made for ground sleeping.
Be able to sit, stand, and descend to the ground without aid, or with assistance from a buddy who is accompanying the participant.
Be able to drink water from sources in the backcountry.
Be able to care for one's own health and hygiene at a remote location without access to running water or flushing toilets, either on one's own or with the help of a traveling companion. In the backcountry, people may use pit toilets, or dug holes for bathroom breaks.
DISCLAIMERS
Expedition Disclaimers
Novo Expeditions is not responsible for any damaged or stolen vehicles parked at trip sites.
RESERVATIONS | CANCELLATIONS
Thank you for appreciating the challenges we encounter as a small guided adventure company. Novo Expeditions trips are strictly limited by different wilderness agency regulations, so every reservation is very important. We are here to assist you with any questions you may have around our policies and strive to make your experience with us a positive one.
Payment Process
A 20% deposit is required to secure your spot if booking outside 30 days of your scheduled trip*. You can also make a payment in full.
The final balance is due 30 days prior to your trip start date . If you reserve a trip inside 30 days of a trip departure, full payment is due at the time of booking.
*All required waivers, forms, documents, and payments must be submitted on time and thoroughly reviewed before a participant's enrollment may be officially confirmed.
Requirements for Group Size and Participant Count
Our groups normally have four to eight people. There is a minimum requirement for each journey before it can leave. We will inform participants and provide a transfer date or refund if the minimum number of participants is not met due to enrollment. We reserve the right to cancel a trip if we sign up enough people to run it but have unforeseen cancellations that reduce the number of people to below the necessary minimum. A full refund will be issued if Novo Expeditions cancels a trip due to low attendance.
Custom Expedition Rate Policy
A predetermined number of participants will establish the special rates for custom itineraries and/or large groups. Novo Expeditions has the right to raise the trip's per-person cost if your group size is less than the predetermined minimum.
Policy on Trip Transfers
If a participant switches from one trip to another, lodging or permit payments made on their behalf may result in transfer costs being charged to the participant.
Canceling and Refund Policy
As the start date approaches, filling a canceled spot becomes increasingly challenging. Therefore, it is necessary that cancellations made within 30 days of the start date, regardless of the reason, are not eligible for a refund. In these cases, a trip credit will be issued, good for 6 months from the date of cancellation. This credit can only be used one time and will not be reissued if a second cancellation is made, regardless of reason. If the trip credit is not used within the six month time frame all payments made to Novo Expeditions for said trip will be forfeited by the customer.
Itinerary Changes and Alternate Trips
All Novo Expeditions trips may have itinerary adjustments due to a variety of factors outside of our control, such as the availability of permits or campsites, the amount of snowpack, the difficulty of crossing rivers, the presence of wildlife, the closure of parks or other areas, and forest fires. Changes to the itinerary will never affect the cost to the participant. For schedule adjustments or park or land closures, participants' prior payments to Novo Expeditions are not refundable.
Force Majeure: In the event that Novo Expeditions is unable to fulfill its obligations as outlined in this Agreement and a trip or reservation needs to be canceled due to circumstances beyond its control, including acts of God, extraordinary or severe environmental conditions, adverse weather events, natural disasters, strikes, equipment failure or damage that is reasonably unforeseeable or unavoidable, pandemic or outbreaks of sickness or disease, public health emergencies, terrorism, war, sabotage, vandalism, accidents, civil disorder or riots within Novo Expeditions' operating areas, public land closures, or other causes reasonably beyond its control, and if no alternative itinerary can be provided, a full trip credit will be issued to the participant. This trip credit will be equivalent to the total amount paid by the participant, minus any nonrefundable expenses incurred by Novo Expeditions. Please note that refunds will not be provided in these situations.
Medical Considerations
It's very important that you let us know if you have any medical or psychiatric concerns in advance of departure so that we may make additional arrangements if necessary. If our guides believe a trip participant is physically or mentally unable to continue, or if they believe the trip participant's continuing involvement jeopardizes the group's or his or her own safety, they have the authority to ask that person to leave the trip at any time. Refunds are not granted in this situation.
As a result, Novo Expeditions disclaims all liability for any medical advice or prescription drugs that you or your doctor may think required for your participation. Novo Expeditions is not a medical facility.
When there are major issues, hospital facilities are frequently unavailable, and evacuation can be expensive, time-consuming, and challenging. No responsibility is taken by Novo Expeditions for the provision of medical care. You acknowledge financial responsibility for paying for emergency medical treatment and evacuation by accepting the Liability Release and Assumption of Risk Agreement.
It is strongly advised to have a current physical exam from a doctor. Visitors should be aware of their present health status and bring any necessary medications with them when hiking in the backcountry. Any type of medication, including over-the-counter painkillers, is not the responsibility of the trip leader.
Physical Readiness
As a guest on a Novo Expeditions trip, you assume certain obligations to Novo Expeditions and the other trip participants. It is your duty to comprehend the level of fitness needed to properly complete your trip. This entails getting acquainted with the terrain, the weather and temperature at that time of year, the distance that will be covered, the elevation gain and loss, and the level of physical fitness required for the particular journey.
Make sure the experience you select fits your interests and physical capabilities. Read through the Novo Expeditions trip preparation materials, including the advice on recommended physical preparation, to get ready for the trip. Bring the clothing and equipment that are recommended by our personnel and documentation.
Our guides reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the group at any time if they believe they are physically or mentally unable to do so, or if their continuing presence endangers the group's or their own safety. There are no refunds available in these situations.