Our Community Guidelines

How we look after one another at Adventure Geek

Adventure Geek is about enjoying the outdoors, trying new things, making friends and feeling part of something. We want everyone to feel welcome, comfortable and safe, whether they are joining us for the first time or have been part of the community for years.

These guidelines explain the behaviour we expect from everyone taking part.

Who these guidelines apply to

These Community Guidelines apply to:

  • Members, guests and pay-as-you-go customers
  • Walk leaders, hosts, staff and volunteers
  • Local walks, social events and other community activities
  • Walking holidays, weekends and overseas trips
  • Adventure Geek WhatsApp groups and other online spaces

Community walks and events are operated by Adventure Geek Community. Walking holidays and trips are operated by Adventure Geek Travel Ltd. Your booking information will confirm which business is providing your activity.

Travel bookings are also covered by the separate Adventure Geek Travel Ltd Booking Conditions.

Be kind and welcoming

Please treat everyone with kindness, patience and respect.

We welcome people with different backgrounds, beliefs, abilities, personalities and levels of walking experience. Discrimination, bullying, harassment or deliberately excluding another person will not be accepted.

A friendly hello can make an enormous difference, especially to somebody attending alone for the first time.

Respect personal boundaries

Everyone has different levels of confidence and comfort.

Please respect personal space and do not pressure anyone to share private information, take part in something or accept physical contact. Personal or romantic attention must always be welcome and should stop immediately if the other person appears uncomfortable or asks for it to stop.

Think carefully before offering personal advice. Support and encouragement are welcome; judgement and unwanted opinions are not.

Help us keep activities safe

Please follow the instructions given by the walk leader, host or guide, particularly when they relate to safety, timings, the route or the needs of the group.

Come suitably prepared for the activity and read the information provided before attending. Please let us know privately about any health condition, injury or support need that could affect your safety or ability to take part.

We encourage everyone to look after one another, but each participant must also take reasonable responsibility for their own wellbeing and belongings.

Be considerate on holidays and trips

Group travel involves compromise, patience and a sense of humour. Plans sometimes need to change because of weather, transport, safety or circumstances outside our control.

Please be punctual, respect local people and customs, and consider how your choices affect the rest of the group. This is particularly important when sharing accommodation, transport and meals.

Photographs and privacy

We often take photographs and videos during activities to celebrate our adventures and promote Adventure Geek.

If you do not want to appear in photographs or videos, please tell the walk leader, host or Adventure Geek team. We will do our best to respect your wishes.

Please ask permission before sharing a photograph that could embarrass someone or reveal private or sensitive information.

WhatsApp groups and online spaces

Our WhatsApp groups should feel just as welcoming as our activities. Some of our groups, particularly General Chat, can become very busy, so please help us keep them useful and enjoyable for everyone.

Please:

  • Keep messages friendly and relevant to the purpose of the group.
  • Take one-to-one conversations into a private chat rather than continuing them in the group.
  • Respect people’s privacy and do not share private messages, photographs or personal information without permission.
  • Do not use Adventure Geek groups to sell items, advertise a business or promote walks and events organised by other people or organisations.
  • Do not use the groups to arrange unofficial group walks, such as posting, “I’m walking on Tuesday morning, who wants to join me?” These activities are not organised, risk-assessed or covered by Adventure Geek, and arranging separate walks within the group can unintentionally leave others feeling excluded.
  • Do not use the groups to target, pressure or repeatedly contact another member.

We’re delighted when friendships form through Adventure Geek. Members are welcome to make private plans together, but these conversations and arrangements should take place outside the Adventure Geek groups.

Disagreements happen, but personal attacks, hostile messages or arguments that disrupt the group are not acceptable.

If something doesn’t feel right

If somebody’s behaviour makes you feel uncomfortable, or you are worried about another person, please speak privately to a walk leader, host or member of the Adventure Geek team.

We will listen, take your concerns seriously and handle them as sensitively as possible. We may need to speak to the people involved so we can understand what has happened and decide on a fair response.

Depending on the situation, this may include a conversation, a warning, removal from an online group or activity, cancellation of membership, or refusing future bookings.

Please report any immediate safety concerns straight away.

Our shared responsibility

Adventure Geek works best when everyone plays their part.

Be kind. Include others. Respect boundaries. Follow safety guidance. And help us create the sort of community you would want to join for the very first time.