Updated March 10, 2022

Outdoor Education Adventures is dedicated to the health and safety of our campers, their families, and our staff. It is with great care and consideration that we have developed this Health and Safety Plan to help us maintain the highest standards for health and safety practices during our programs. This plan meets the requirements in the “Health and Safety Guidelines for Child Care and Early Education Operating During COVID-19”. The creation of this document was guided by recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The American Camp Association (ACA), and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) Health & Safety Guidelines. This document is available on our website, www.outdooredadventures.com.

This document is subject to change as we monitor recommendations and update our protocols as needed.

Update 
OEA has consistently followed the guidance of CDC, OHA, and ODE when making decisions around COVID-19 protocols. Their guidance has been updated, which has guided our decision to begin loosening our mask wearing policies. Some of our programs will begin allowing families to choose whether to wear masks during our programs or to participate unmasked. Other programs, such as those for young children, may continue to require masks. Program participants will be notified of requirements.

We will continue to monitor the health of the community and to follow guidance provided from health authorities and may implement another mask mandate or other health protocols if that is recommended or required.

Requirements for Drop-Off & Pick-up

Prior to Camp/Programs
Staff will be asked to monitor their health and parents/caregivers will be asked to monitor the health of their child/children in the weeks and days leading up to any OEA Programs and to stay home if they are experiencing signs of illness including loss of taste or smell, unusual cough, shortness of breath, or fever. In addition, we ask that parents/caregivers discuss with their child/children appropriate behaviors for preventing the spread of disease, including:

  • Proper hand washing;
  • Maintaining physical distance;
  • Covering coughs and sneezes;
  • Wearing a face covering, when recommended or required, that properly fits over their mouth and nose whenever they are in close proximity to other people.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up
It is still recommended that everyone wear a mask when they are within six feet of others. While mask wearing may be optional, we ask that everyone be respectful of individual choices and be considerate of others’ choice to be masked or unmasked.

Mask Recommendations
OEA staff will support individuals who choose to wear masks or not wear masks.

It is highly recommended that people 2 yrs and older wear a mask in the following situations:

  • On Day 6-10 of isolation due to having contracted COVID-19, if returning to an OEA program;
  • If there is a Medium COVID-19 Community Level*: those unvaccinated and at risk for severe COVID-19 should wear a mask;
  • If there is a High COVID-19 Community Level*: all people, regardless of vaccination status should wear a mask.

OEA staff will monitor the COVID-19 Community Level* in Yamhill County and will notify program participants if the community level requires a change in OEA protocols or procedures.

*Community levels can be found on the following CDC webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

Vaccinations
OEA encourages everyone who is eligible to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect yourself and your community from becoming severely ill, stop the pandemic, and return society to more typical functioning. Everyone age 5 and up is eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine.

School-based programs may require all staff and volunteers aged 16 and older who enter the program to be fully vaccinated. In order to comply with the requirements of our school and/or other partners we will ask that staff and volunteers who will be working with school groups be fully vaccinated or have provided documentation of a medical or religious exception.

A medical exception must include a document signed by a medical provider, who is not the individual seeking the exception, certifying that the individual has a physical or mental impairment that limits the individual’s ability to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The medical documentation must indicate a specified medical diagnosis, and whether the impairment is temporary in nature or permanent.

A religious exception must include a document, on a form prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority, signed by the individual stating that the individual is requesting an exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief and a statement describing the way in which the vaccination requirement conflicts with the religious observance, practice, or belief of the individual.

People are considered up to date with vaccinations:

  • If an individual is 18 years of age or older:
    • Has received two (2) doses of a 2-dose primary series (Moderna or Pfizer) of COVID-19 vaccine within the last 5 months; OR
    • Has received one (1) dose of a 1-dose primary series (Johnson & Johnson) of COVID-19 vaccine within the last 2 months; OR
    • Has completed a primary 1-or-2-dose COVID-19 vaccine series and received a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • If an individual is 5 to 17 years of age and has received 2 doses of a 2-dose primary series of COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Isolation, Quarantine, and Notification
The following protocols will be followed for individuals who test positive or have been exposed to COVID-19:

  • An individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be excluded from participating in OEA programs and should:
    • Isolate at home for 5 days AND until symptoms resolve and fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
    • Upon returning to an OEA program the individual should wear a mask for 5 days.
  • An individual who has been exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine:
    • Participants and staff attending the Maple Grove Nature Preschool Program will be required to quarantine for five days. If they do not develop any symptoms of illness after 5 days they may return to school.
  • OEA will notify program participants of exposure to an individual with COVID-19
    • Individual identities will not be shared.
    • Families & staff will be encouraged to take precautions, watch for symptoms, and get a test if they develop symptoms.

Covid-19 Exposure Protocols Diagram

Symptoms of COVID-19

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Protocol for Symptoms of Illness
Should a child experience symptoms of illness while participating in OEA programs, OEA staff may contact the child’s parent/guardian to come pick them up. The following are some of the symptoms which may warrant a child going home early from a program:

  • Fever (over 100.4)
  • Unusual cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Symptoms that make it difficult to participate in program activities

If necessary the child will be moved to a separate space with OEA staff while awaiting pick up by family or emergency contact. If the child warrants the immediate need for medical attention the emergency medical protocol will be followed.

Infection Prevention Strategies
OEA will continue to follow layered prevention strategies to minimize the chance of illness in our staff and program participants. These include:

  • Encouraging staff to be up to date on their vaccinations;
  • Staying home and getting tested when sick;
  • Masks when indicated;
  • Maintaining small group cohorting when indicated;
  • Handwashing, general hygiene, and cleaning.

Family Engagement
Families will be informed of any updates to operating during COVID-19 and any other program policies specific to COVID-19.

  • Families will receive an email prior to the start of all programs which will inform them of program operations and policies.
  • This document will be available at all on time on our website: www.outdooredadventures.com.

Group Size & Stable Groups
Current guidelines do not require that programs maintain small, stable groups. Should health conditions change and small, stable groups once again become required or recommended OEA will implement the following procedures:

  • Children will be assigned and kept in stable groups as per the guidelines recommended and required;
  • Staff will be required to practice physical distance when possible with adults and children;
  • Outdoor programs will be held in areas which allow stable groups to be kept apart with adequate space as per the guidelines recommended and required;
  • Child to staff ratios will be maintained at all programs as per the guidelines recommended and required.

Handwashing, General Hygiene and Cleaning
Handwashing facilities will be available, to the extent possible, at all OEA program sites. Hand sanitizer with alcohol content between 60-95% will be provided when access to hand washing is not accessible, such as when groups are out in the field and away from facilities.

Staff and children will be encouraged to wash hands frequently and required to wash hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer:

  • Before and after eating and/or preparing food;
  • Before and after administering medication;
  • After toileting or assisting with toileting;
  • After wiping a nose, coughing, or sneezing;
  • After sharing learning materials.

Requirements for Responding to Possible and Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
Decisions about closure of OEA programs will be made based on current guidelines and requirements set forth by public health authorities.

In addition to Oregon laws prohibiting discrimination, OEA will not refuse to enroll a child in the program based on vaccination status or a belief that the child is more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 due to the child’s or parent/guardians’s occupation, race, ethnicity, geographic location, disability, or pre-existing health condition.

If any OEA staff or participants are diagnosed with COVID-19, OEA staff will immediately notify program directors. OEA program directors will notify the local public health authority as required and anyone who was exposed to the COVID-19 positive individual, as appropriate.

In coordination with the local public health authority OEA will communicate with all families and other individuals who have been exposed about the confirmed case and will share the appropriate response including to take precautions, watch for symptoms, and get a test if they develop symptoms.

Staff Training
All staff will review this Health & Safety Plan, which outlines:

  • The need to stay home if staff test positive for COVID-19.
  • The importance of vigilantly monitoring their health for symptoms associated with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases and staying home if they are showing any.
  • Managing the program space, program participants, and activities to minimize the spread of disease, as outlined in this document.
  • How to identify and respond to symptoms of illness.

Requirements for COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan
OEA will continue to monitor our “COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan” throughout the year and update as needed. All revisions will be shared with families and staff and made accessible through our website and by request.