Safety & Standards

Who Leads Your Kids

Every Dogwood Mountain School outing is led by Garrett Price, a NOLS-trained outdoor professional with Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. Garrett led real wilderness expeditions as a climbing academy coach, managing groups in alpine terrain, technical climbing environments, and multi-day backcountry trips.

He is currently pursuing AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) certification to deepen his credentials in outdoor climbing instruction.

Every Dogwood Mountain School guide is selected for outdoor competence, judgment, and the ability to earn a kid's trust.

Ratios & Supervision

Two trained staff on every outing, every time.

• Hiking days: 2 staff, up to 10 kids (1:5 ratio)
• Climbing days: 2 staff, up to 6 kids (1:3 ratio)
• Staff-to-child ratios never exceed 1:5

The two-adult rule is in effect at all times — no child is ever one-on-one with a single staff member. We use a buddy-pair system and conduct a headcount at every transition (arrival, trail departure, snack, trail return, pickup).

Staff Screening

All Dogwood Mountain School staff undergo background checks prior to hire.

We also check references, verify outdoor experience, and require demonstrated competence working with children. Every guide is evaluated in the field before leading a group independently.

Medical & Emergency

At least one WFR-certified staff member is present on every outing, trained to manage medical emergencies in a backcountry setting — from minor blisters to serious trauma — with little to no support nearby.

Every venue has a site-specific Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that covers evacuation routes, communication protocols, and the nearest medical facilities. Guides carry a comprehensive first aid kit, satellite communication device, and offline maps.

Medical history and consent forms are collected from every family at enrollment and carried by the lead guide on every outing.

Land & Legal

Dogwood Mountain School operates under commercial use permits on public and private lands.

Permit applications are in progress with Tennessee State Parks and local land managers around Chattanooga.

Dogwood Mountain School LLC is registered in the State of Tennessee.

Full liability insurance will be in place before our first outing.

Communication

Parents receive a private photo link during the outing so you can see the adventure unfold in real time.

Every child is signed out at pickup to an ID-checked authorized adult. No exceptions.

Pickup is at the same meetup at the scheduled midday time. If you're running late, call the lead guide directly.

Weather Policy

Every outing has a lower-elevation or sheltered backup venue that avoids the worst weather while still delivering a great morning outdoors.

The go / convert decision is made early the morning of. Parents receive a text confirming the plan or announcing the alternate venue.

If conditions are unsafe at both venues, the outing is cancelled and you receive a full refund or credit toward a future outing.