Coronavirus - COVID-19 Updates
February 28, 2022 - New Mask Policy
Our community is made up of individuals and families each with unique situations - some with little to no risk factors and some with any number of risk factors. With deep respect for each of us and our individual contexts and choices, and our ongoing commitment to everyone’s health and safety, VWP will implement the following new mask policy beginning March 1st:
VWP will no longer require participants, staff or Young Mentors to wear masks at our programs.
Anyone who chooses to wear a mask at our programs will be fully supported to do so.
We will continue to practice maintaining 3 feet of distance whenever possible.
VWP will continue to require Health Screenings for participation and follow federal, state, and local guidance; we’ll keep you posted on any updates to our policies as new information becomes available.
September 4, 2021 - Updates for School Year Programs
Keeping the heath and safety of all our staff, program families and wider community in mind, masks will once again be required at all VWP programs and events for staff, students, volunteers and guests -- regardless of vaccination status.
All program families must continue to:
Pass a Health Screening
Abide by our Community Agreements
September 2, 2021 - New Mask Updates
While the WADOH guidelines for Child Care, Youth Development and Summer Camps have not yet been updated, King County Public Health recently mandated that:
masks are required for everyone ages 5+ at outdoor events with 500 or more people, and
masks are strongly recommended in crowded outdoor settings where people cannot remain at least 6 feet apart.
masking indoors remains required, regardless of vaccination status.
August 27, 2021 - Vaccine Mandate for Employees
Governor Inslee has issued a proclamation stating that all workers and operators within an educational setting (including outdoor, nature-based child care) must be vaccinated (or receive medical or religious exemption) by October 18th, 2021.
VWP will ensure that all staff and volunteers are in compliance with this mandate.
July 1, 2021 - Summer Camp Update
Although the Governor has announced that WA is "fully reopened" there are some industries that are excluded and must still maintain masks and physical distancing, including summer day camps, K-12, and daycare where children are present.
Washington State Department of Health and Washington State Department of Labor & Industries require that we continue to wear masks when unable to maintain physical distancing, regardless of vaccination status. Thus, the following is required of all staff and campers:
Masks
Everyone will wear cloth face coverings and instructors will be responsible for letting children know when it is appropriate to have a mask break: when eating, drinking, when maintaining physical distance (i.e., story, Sit Spot, journaling, modified games/activities). We’ll monitor activity/energy levels and weather conditions when assessing best practices to ensure your child’s physical safety comes first. *If your child is not able to wear a mask due to a medical exemption, please contact us.
Physical Distancing
We’ll practice physical distancing when we are unmasked.
Health Screening - new
Please assess your child’s health using these Health Screening Questions; if you can answer “yes” to any of these questions before leaving home on a camp day, please stay home. We will confirm that you have conducted the Health Screening at home, including having taken your child’s temperature, when you arrive.
While many of us are able to enjoy the freedoms of WA’s reopening, children are not yet able to enjoy these same freedoms when in a summer day camp setting. Thank you for helping us to make this summer a joyful and safe one for your kids!
We’ll continue to monitor any new changes in guidance as the summer progresses and keep you all updated.
July 30th, 2020
We are thrilled to announce that Fall programs are a go! We are busy behind the scenes preparing for a long-awaited return to the forests and fields. As this pandemic continues to take a toll on the physical and emotional well-being of so many, meaningful nature immersion for kids is an especially precious and invaluable resource. We’re grateful to all the families who have chosen to give this gift to your children, and that you’ve entrusted us with their care.
As you know, studies show that being outdoors carries a much lower risk of exposure to the coronavirus; at the same time, there is inherent risk in any social interaction. It’s important that we all do our part to minimize that risk at our programs. That’s why we’re using local, state, and federal guidance to create a comprehensive safety plan and we’re committed to adapting and communicating any adjustments in response to changing guidelines. We’ll also be asking each family to make a commitment to honoring our basic health and safety guidelines. Together, we can create a safe, nourishing, and fun experience in nature for the children!
Please read our 2020-2021 VWP Program FAQ’s to learn more about what programming will look like in this Covid landscape.
June 9th, 2020
With a heavy heart, Vashon Wilderness Program will not offer our beloved summer camps this summer. Guidelines from the CDC, American Camp Association, and state and local health departments were all taken into consideration in making this very difficult decision. Safety of our staff, campers, families, and wider community, remains our top priority during this time of uncertainty related to COVID-19.
While it might not be a surprise, we recognize the disappointment this news may bring, especially as families may be needing extra support for summer. Although the risk of transmitting COVID-19 outdoors is believed to be reduced, Washington Department of Health guidelines state that “families who are able to safely keep their children and youth home should continue to do so.” The current delay in King County advancing to Phase 2, coupled with recent mass protesting, makes it impossible to predict when it will be safe enough to operate our camps. This is further compounded by the fact that we have not yet been given the go ahead from King County Parks & Recreation to hold our summer camps on public land reserved for our day camps. Lastly, a lack of information from health authorities makes it impossible to know if we can meet health and safety of our overnight camp, and so we must also cancel our teen expedition.
Staying home, however, doesn't mean staying inside. Our firm belief is that children should be outside this summer as much as possible and is safe to do so. Their health and well-being depend on it. Providing a safe environment in your own backyard or in a local park for your children and or your family to explore together will provide them with an essential dose of Vitamin N(ature) and memories to last a lifetime. We’ll be here to inspire you with ideas and activities; please be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram this summer.
An email has been sent to all our camp families regarding next steps.
Thank you for being a part of our VWP community. We’re grateful for your ongoing support and commitment to nurturing children’s healthy development through Nature. We wish you a beautiful and safe summer, and look forward to seeing some of you this Fall, and all of you in Summer 2021.
May 15th, 2020
As life with the pandemic continues to unfold, none of us knows what Fall will bring. What we do know is that outdoor programs in the fresh air will be more valuable than ever before.
Fall program enrollments open to currently enrolled families starting on June 1st. To make it easier to enroll, we’re offering you our COVID-19 School Year Guarantee:
Before the program start date, VWP will offer a full refund, including the non-refundable deposit if we cancel a program before the program start date, or if your family cancels before the program start date due to being adversely impacted by COVID-19.
After the program start date, if VWP suspends in-person programming and thus cancels any in-person classes due to COVID-19, we’ll offer distance learning opportunities during the period when in-person classes are suspended. Families that opt-out of distance learning opportunities during any period of program suspension may request up to a 50% prorated refund per day missed.
Read our full policy here: COVID-19 School Year Guarantee.
April 22, 2020
We've got a great line-up of summer camps for ages 4-13, and a teen expedition for adventurous 13-16 year olds. Over 1/3 of our camps are full. And after a few months of staying safe at home, we're preparing for our biggest summer yet!
Of course, we still face so much uncertainty which is why we’re offering you our COVID-19 Summer Guarantee:
Families are eligible for a full 100% refund of all payments for a summer program if:
Vashon Wilderness Program cancels any summer program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. *
Families are adversely impacted by COVID-19 (job loss, illness, caring for sick family members, etc.) and have to cancel their registration.**
*This applies in full up to the start of the program and will be prorated after that for days attended.
**Please understand that Vashon Wilderness Program is experiencing significant financial impact from COVID-19. While we want to support all our families, the intention of this policy is to help those who are adversely impacted.
If you need to cancel your summer camp registration for any other reason, normal cancellation fees apply. See below.
March 12, 2020
Vashon Wilderness Program is committed to the health and safety of our community. In light of the announcement by the Vashon Island School District late yesterday to close our schools for six weeks beginning March 13th, Vashon Wilderness Program will suspend all programs and Visit Days during this same period. Please look for an email regarding your child’s specific program.
We are aware that this decision is highly impactful to our families and community. We will be meeting this weekend and will announce our plans and policies moving forward to address them as soon as they are finalized.
The staff and I will also explore some fun and safe ways to help you keep your nature connection practices alive and well during this unusual time. Stay tuned for more on that!
For now, please join us in following the new Public Health Order and updated recommendations per Governor Jay Inslee to slow the spread of the coronavirus in order to keep our community and most vulnerable populations on Vashon safe.
And, we encourage you to find safe ways to connect with your loved ones, go outside for walks if you can, and maybe even finally go find that Sit Spot you’ve been wanting to find for a while. Take a deep breath, feel the sun on your skin, listen to the sounds of the birds, smell the fresh scent of spring nettle, and receive the beauty of all the colors, shapes and textures around you. The Natural world is alive and brilliant and available for you.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
In community,
VWP
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March 11, 2020
The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. It has been confirmed by Sawbones that a temporary off-island employee has a confirmed case and is being quarantined.
In an abundance of precaution, the Vashon Wilderness Program will cancel our Coyote Kids Late Start program scheduled for tomorrow, March 12th. This is in line with the Vashon Island School District decision to cancel or postpone all events that are scheduled outside of school hours until a future date is determined.
Our Board of Directors will meet tonight to determine next steps for our programming and will make an announcement ASAP.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
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March 10, 2020
We continue to monitor the unfolding COVID-19 situation. Please stay informed; here are good resources:
Until further notice, our programs will remain in operation. And, based on new information, we are revising our COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all the children and staff at our programs. Please note that our protocols are subject to change as new information becomes available and related new risk assessments are made:
Per the WA Dept of Health recommendations, if your child is experiencing fever with cough and/or respiratory symptoms, please stay home and follow the advice of your doctor. Please avoid others and do not return to our program until after the fever goes down and until the most conservative estimate of transmission has passed, currently set at 72 hours according to the WADOH. Sources:
If your child appears to have symptoms of COVID-19 while at our programs, we will send them home.
If you or your child are feeling ill for any reason, please keep your child home. We are all better served when each of us gets rest and maintains a strong immune system.
We will be practicing good hygiene and keep our hands as clean as possible. Given that we don't have warm-water hand-washing stations in the field, all children and instructors will use hand sanitizer both at sign-in and before eating at program.
We will be encouraging children to avoid touching their faces. If it is necessary for an instructor to touch a child's face (i.e., in a medical intervention like helping them get a piece of dirt out of their eye), the instructor will wear safety gloves.
Please ensure that your child has their own, full water bottle with them at the program. We do not share or pass water bottles between people. (Our standing no-food sharing protocol remains.)
All games and activities that involve physical contact, or that use bandanas and other shared objects will be suspended until danger of infection passes.
And, here’s a great article on How do We Talk to Children About Coronavirus?
Thank you for your understanding. Feel free to reach out with any questions.