Terms & Conditions

Overview

The Heroes' Journey (“the Retreat”) is organized and operated by Cronk Companies LLC (“Organizer,” “we,” “us”). By submitting an application, making a payment, or attending the Retreat, you (“Participant”) agree to the following terms and conditions. Please read them carefully.

1. Voluntary Participation & Assumption of Risk

Participation in The Heroes' Journey is entirely voluntary. The Retreat includes emotional workshops, group discussions, physical activities (such as hiking, wood chopping, and use of a sauna), periods of enforced silence, and other experiential elements.

By attending, you acknowledge that these activities may involve emotional intensity and moderate physical exertion. You voluntarily assume all risks associated with your participation, including but not limited to physical injury, emotional distress, or aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

You are free to withdraw from any activity at any time. No participant will ever be forced, coerced, or pressured to engage in any activity they are not comfortable with.

2. Limitation of Liability & Waiver

To the fullest extent permitted by Minnesota law, you agree to release, waive, discharge, and hold harmless Cronk Companies LLC, its owners, officers, employees, contractors, volunteers, agents, speakers, facilitators, and venue partners from any and all liability, claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of or related to your participation in the Retreat.

This includes, without limitation, claims for personal injury, emotional distress, property damage, or death, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

In no event shall the Organizer’s total liability exceed the amount you paid for the Retreat.

3. Medical Disclaimer

The Heroes' Journey is not a substitute for professional medical treatment, psychiatric care, or psychotherapy. While a licensed therapist is present to facilitate workshops and provide support, the Retreat is an experiential program — not a clinical treatment program.

You are responsible for disclosing any medical conditions, medications, or mental health considerations that may affect your participation. All medical disclosures are kept confidential and used solely to ensure your safety.

If you are currently in crisis or experiencing suicidal ideation, we encourage you to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) before applying. The Retreat is designed for men ready to engage in deep emotional work in a supported group setting — it is not an emergency intervention.

4. Payment, Cancellation & Refund Policy

Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 10 business days. All payments are processed securely through Stripe. You will receive an email receipt for every transaction.

5. Heroes' Journey Scholarship Fund

Donations to the Heroes' Journey Scholarship Fund are used exclusively to subsidize the cost of attendance for men who otherwise could not afford it. Scholarship recipients are selected at the sole discretion of the Organizer based on application merit and financial need.

Scholarship recipients remain completely anonymous. No participant, elder, speaker, or staff member at the Retreat will be informed of any individual’s financial arrangement. Every man arrives on the same bus, wears the same shirt, and sits at the same table.

Donations are non-refundable. Cronk Companies LLC is not a 501(c)(3) organization; donations to the Scholarship Fund are not tax-deductible.

6. Confidentiality

All participants, elders, speakers, and staff agree that what is shared at the Retreat stays at the Retreat. You may share your own experience, but you may not identify, quote, or describe another participant’s disclosures outside of the Retreat without their explicit written consent.

Violation of confidentiality is grounds for removal from the Retreat and exclusion from all future events. No refund will be issued in such cases.

7. Safety Attestation & Background Checks

All applicants are required to affirm that they have no convictions, pending charges, or history involving sexual violence, sex offenses, or crimes against minors. Misrepresentation of this attestation is grounds for immediate removal from the Retreat with no refund.

By applying, you consent to the Organizer conducting a background check at its discretion. Background check results are kept confidential and used solely for the safety of all participants.

8. Personal Belongings & Substance-Free Policy

Phones and all personal belongings are collected at check-in. Participants are permitted one 5-minute phone call per day during designated free time. An emergency contact number is provided to families so they can reach participants through the Organizer at any time.

Exceptions: Medically necessary items (prescription medications, CPAP machines, etc.) and nicotine products (vape, dip, patches) are permitted.

The Retreat is completely alcohol-free and drug-free. Violation of this policy is grounds for immediate removal with no refund.

9. Photography & Media

A photographer may be present to document the inaugural Retreat. All photography is conducted at a distance and will not disrupt the experience. Faces may be obscured or blurred in any published materials.

You may opt out of all photography at check-in. If you opt out, you will not appear in any image. Your opt-out will be fully respected.

10. Eligibility

Participants must be at least 18 years of age. The Heroes' Journey is open to all men regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or background. The program itself is completely agnostic — no religion or spirituality is incorporated into the program.

11. Right to Remove

The Organizer reserves the right to remove any participant from the Retreat at any time for any behavior that threatens the safety, well-being, or experience of others — including but not limited to violence, harassment, substance use, or violation of confidentiality. No refund will be issued in such cases. Transportation from the venue will be arranged at the removed participant’s expense.

12. Force Majeure

The Organizer is not liable for cancellation, delay, or modification of the Retreat due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, natural disaster, pandemic, government order, venue unavailability, or other acts of force majeure. In the event of cancellation due to force majeure, the Organizer will make reasonable efforts to reschedule or issue refunds at its discretion.

13. Privacy & Data

Application data is stored securely and used solely for the purpose of evaluating applications and coordinating the Retreat. Your information will never be sold, shared with third parties for marketing purposes, or used for any purpose unrelated to The Heroes' Journey.

Payment processing is handled by Stripe, Inc. The Organizer does not store credit card numbers or payment credentials. For Stripe’s privacy practices, visit stripe.com/privacy.

14. Governing Law

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota. Any dispute arising from or related to these terms or the Retreat shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Minnesota.

15. Contact

For questions about these terms, your application, or the Retreat: