So, what is Our Elements?

Our mission is simple: Community supporting community, cultivating unity as we deepen our connection with the natural world. We believe the outdoors is a powerful classroom where people of all ages can build confidence, grow, and learn in a meaningful way with both the natural world and each other.

Why The Name Our Elements?

When we work with the natural world, we're experiencing the elements all around us and within us. The name also honors my Vietnamese heritage, 5 elements (Ngũ Hành): Metal (Kim), Wood (Mộc), Water (Thủy), Fire (Hỏa), and Earth (Thổ). It's a reminder that we're all connected to these elemental forces that shape our lives and our growth.

Why the Dragonfly?

The dragonfly represents elemental transformation beautifully. Throughout its life cycle, it interacts with almost all five elements, beginning in water, emerging into air, warmed by fire (the sun), nourished by earth, and embodying the space between worlds. It's a perfect metaphor for personal growth, both inward and outward, and the growth we experience when we open ourselves to nature's lessons. What is the community resource tab?

Our Elements believes that in order to live up to our mission, “Community supporting community, cultivating unity as we deepen our connection with the natural world,” we need to do our part in helping to connect people to community resources in their times of need. All information has been gathered from publicly available sources, but Our Elements hopes to compile it in a clear, comprehensive way to help our community members access the resources they need as quickly and easily as possible. While we recognize this is just a small step, we can be of service to the community.

What is the Stewardship & Volunteering resource tab?

Our Elements believes that in order to live up to our mission, “Community supporting community, cultivating unity as we deepen our connection with the natural world,” we need to do our part in helping to connect people to Stewardship & Volunteering projects. All information has been gathered from publicly available sources, but Our Elements hopes to compile it in a clear, comprehensive way to help our community members find ways to get involved in stewardship projects, waterway cleanups, trail cleanups, and much more.

What gear do I need?

General personal Items for Spring-Fall day programs (Both children & adults)

• Backpack (school-size is fine)

• Refillable water bottle (Water bottle 24 0z+)

• Lunch/snacks (nut-free if required)

• Sunscreen

• Sun protection (Hat and or sunshirt with hood)

• Bug repellent

• Personal hand sanitizer

• Small towel or bandana

• Knife (children's programs: only bring when instructed, and a knife waiver has been signed.)

• Rain Jacket

• Fall Program Blaze Orange item (preferably a hat or shirt)

  Winter Programs

• Winter boots

  Snow pants (Rain pants)

• Warm gloves

• Winter Hat

• Winter jacket

What happens when there is bad weather?

Our Approach to Outdoor Conditions

Experiencing nature's elements, including precipitation, gusty conditions, and wintry weather, forms an integral part of our forest-based programs. Our Elements embraces these moments as chances to bond with the natural world. We value implementing proven techniques to ensure everyone remains protected and comfortable (including gathering around fires, constructing tarp structures, utilizing nature's own protective features, and preparing meals in sheltered spaces). However, success depends entirely on participants arriving with suitable clothing and equipment.

Clothing Requirements: Cold conditions require several clothing layers:

• Foundation garments made from woolen or man-made materials (fleece, technical fabrics) provide protection against dampness from perspiration, chilly rainfall, or thawing snow

• Several outer garments work better than a single heavy jacket, allowing flexibility as body heat fluctuates

• Head coverings and hand protection made from wool or synthetics are essential in frigid temperatures

• Avoid garments made from cotton during chilly and/or damp conditions, as this material fails to provide warmth once saturated.

• Waterproof winter trousers and a protective outer jacket are required when frozen precipitation is predicted.

Proper Footwear Requirements: Cold-weather boots with waterproof protection and insulation, paired with woolen socks, ensure feet stay comfortable. Each participant must pack an additional pair of woolen socks or cold-weather synthetic socks in their bag during chilly (32 degrees or below) conditions.

How do you handle ticks?

Tick Safety & Prevention Guidelines

Understanding Tick Exposure in Our Region

Tick encounters are a natural aspect of spending time in northeastern forests and meadows. At Our Elements, we recognize that outdoor exploration means occasional contact with these small creatures. We value implementing thorough prevention strategies and checking procedures to minimize risk while allowing participants to engage with nature fully. However, protection begins with proper preparation, appropriate clothing choices, and effective repellent application, which are essential before arriving at our programs.

Prevention Measures

Clothing Recommendations:

• Light-colored garments make tick detection easier during visual inspections

• Long pants tucked into socks create a barrier against tick attachment

• Long-sleeved shirts provide additional coverage

• Closed-toe footwear protects feet and ankles

• Hats offer scalp protection in brushy areas

Repellent Guidelines: We strongly encourage families to apply tick-deterrent products before participating in the program. DEET-based formulas have proven highly effective at preventing tick attachment. We acknowledge that some families prefer plant-based or chemical-free alternatives, and we honor those choices while noting that effectiveness may vary. Reapplication throughout the day enhances protection, particularly after physical activity or water exposure.

Our Inspection Protocols

Schedule Check: Our Instructors/Mentors conduct 2-3 comprehensive tick inspections daily across all programs. When activities take us into areas with dense vegetation, tall grasses, leaf litter, or other environments where ticks commonly shelter, we increase inspection frequency accordingly.

Inspection Process: Staff/ Mentors guide participants through careful examination of common attachment sites, including:

• Hairline and scalp

• Behind ears

• Underarms

• Behind knees

• Between toes

• Any areas where clothing fits snugly

• Waistband areas (participant’s self-check)

• Groin (participant's self-check)

Documentation System: When a tick is discovered on a participant, staff/ mentor complete a tick documentation card recording:

• Participant's name

• Date and approximate time of discovery

• Location on the body where the tick was found

• Whether the tick was attached or crawling

• Tick's approximate size and appearance

This card accompanies the participant home to inform families of the exposure.

Our Commitment

While we cannot eliminate all tick exposure in outdoor environments, our systematic approach to prevention, frequent inspections, thorough documentation, and family communication works together to minimize risk. We remain committed to providing both adventurous outdoor experiences and responsible health safeguards for all participants.

For questions regarding our tick safety protocols or to report post-program tick discoveries, please contact your program coordinator directly.

Cancellation Policy

At Our Elements, we invest significantly in preparing exceptional outdoor education experiences for our participants. From the moment you register, we begin planning your program—recruiting and compensating skilled instructors, designing curriculum tailored to your group, and securing specialized equipment and materials. These preparations require substantial upfront commitment on our part.

We understand that circumstances change, but last-minute cancellations make it difficult for families on our waitlist to participate, as they've typically arranged alternative activities. Additionally, we cannot recoup our instructor compensation and program expenses when cancellations occur.

Deposit Terms

Life happens, and we understand that. That said, withdrawing from any program means forfeiting its deposit, and it cannot be applied toward other program balances.

Timeline-Based Withdrawal Terms

We've structured our policy to offer maximum flexibility when families can give us advance notice:

Notice provided 30+ days before program starts: You'll receive a full reimbursement minus your non-refundable deposit

Notice provided 14-29 days before program starts: You'll receive a 50% program credit (valid for one year, non-transferable. Program credits may be applied to future Our Elements programs within one year of issuance, are non-transferable, and have no cash value). The remaining 50% is forfeited

Notice provided fewer than 14 days before the program starts: No credit or reimbursement available

After the program begins: Once a program has started, the full remaining balance is due regardless of attendance, early withdrawal, or enrollment changes.

Program Modifications & Cancellations

Our Elements reserves the right to modify or cancel programs due to weather conditions, safety concerns, land access restrictions, or circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, families may be offered a prorated refund or program credit at the organization’s discretion.

What are our knife-use policies?

What are our knife-use policies?

Knife safety instruction is open to participants ages 7 and up, but signing a permission slip only grants permission to participate in instruction. It does not guarantee hands-on knife use. Clearance for actually handling a knife is decided by the lead instructor on the day of the activity, based on the participant's focus, ability to follow directions, and demonstrated safety awareness.

What does the activity involve?‍ ‍

All knife work uses tools provided by Our Elements Outdoor Learning. Participants may bring their own knife with advance instructor permission. Whether OE-provided or personally owned, all knives must be carried in a sheath and stored inside a backpack, kit, or bag, never worn on the body or carried loose in a pocket. This applies to all participants; instructors may carry a sheathed knife on their person as needed for instruction. Activities may include: Instruction on safe handling, grip, and carrying techniques. Knife care and tool respect. Supervised whittling, notching, or other primitive skills applications. Safety boundary practice (blood bubble, passing protocols). All knife work is conducted under direct instructor supervision using age-appropriate tools. Participants will not proceed to hands-on use until they have demonstrated understanding of safety protocols.

How does instructor clearance work?

The lead instructor reserves the right to determine whether any individual participant is ready for hands-on knife use on a given day. This decision is based on, but not limited to, the following: Participant's ability to follow directions calmly and consistently. Focus and attentiveness during safety instruction; emotional and physical readiness on the day of the activity. Group dynamics and environmental conditions. A participant who is not cleared for hands-on use may still observe, assist, and participate in all other aspects of the session. This decision is never punitive; it is always made with the participant's safety and growth in mind.

What happens if a participant doesn't follow safety directions?‍ ‍

A participant who does not follow instructor safety directions during knife activities will have their knife privileges suspended for the remainder of that session and may be required to return the knife to instructor care until the end of the program. Repeated or serious safety violations may result in the participant being excluded from future knife-use activities for the remainder of the program term, at the lead instructor's discretion.

Does this affect our liability waiver?‍ ‍

Yes. Knife and tool use, like all outdoor programming, carries inherent risks. Signing the knife use permission form reaffirms your agreement to the Our Elements Outdoor Learning Liability Waiver (previously signed), which applies to all activities, including those covered by this permission form.

Whom do I contact with questions?‍ ‍

Reach out to the program director before the session begins. Support@ourelementsoe.com | (845) 275-3709

What are our health & safety policies?

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