WHAT IS VOYAGEUR OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL'S STANCE ON COVID-19?
The Voyageur Outward Bound School is committed to responsibly running programming in the age of COVID-19. We have implemented many safety protocols to ensure that our students, staff, and communities stay safe and healthy. With these protocols in place, we allow students to experience an Outward Bound course with the same outcomes as they would have had before the pandemic.
We continue to work closely with Outward Bound USA and the other regional OB schools to coordinate our response and messages to our communities. Please visit this page to read their COVID-19 statement. Please visit our COVID-19 Practices page for the most up to date information on our current course practices as it relates to COVID-19.
SHOULD I STILL SIGN MYSELF OR MY CHILD UP NOW OR WAIT AND SEE HOW THINGS PROGRESS?
At this time, the Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS) is committed to running scheduled programming. VOBS will decide when and under what conditions any courses will operate using medical advice and our best judgment. If course dates need to change, or VOBS decides to cancel a course, your Course Advisor will reach out to students and families with more information.
We are happy to thoroughly discuss our Cancellation Policy to address COVID-19-related issues. If you are comfortable with the timing of your payments as they relate to our Cancellation Policy and our current course delivery status, we'd love to assist you with your application for a course.
Courses are enrolling fast, so enrolling early will give you the best chance to get a spot on the course of your choice.
COVID-19 - Pre-Course Policies
WHAT IS OUTWARD BOUND DOING TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOMEONE BRINGING COVID-19 TO COURSE?
VOBS is encouraging pre-course testing, all students will be tested for COVID-19 on day one of their course, field staff are tested upon first arrival to the workplace for the season, all persons showing signs and/or symptoms of COVID-19 will be tested, and we are following all CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantine.
WILL THERE BE NEW PAPERWORK TO FILL OUT?
Vaccinated participants will be asked to submit a copy of their vaccination card.
ARE STUDENTS REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED FOR COVID-19 TO ATTEND AN OUTWARD BOUND COURSE?
No, but all students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
IS A COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN OUTWARD BOUND COURSE?
No, but it is strongly encouraged that all students be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
WHY DO I NEED TO GET TESTED AND WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?
Testing is one layer of the safety system to ensure that students who are coming from all over the country are coming into the course healthy.
We encourage students to test prior to the course to prevent unnecessary travel if they are positive.
Our staff will test each student when they arrive and on Day 4 or 5 of the course. These antigen tests are a part of our risk mitigation strategy to reduce the changes of COVID-19 spread.
Students will continue to be socially distanced and wear masks when they are in indoor spaces or buildings. Masking will not be required in outside spaces, except for when the group is not in a family unit and in close proximity or with sustained contact.
WILL MY CHILD BE DENIED ACCEPTANCE TO OUTWARD BOUND IF THEY HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS?
Having an underlying health condition would not automatically exclude anyone from participating in Outward Bound. All students undergo a medical screening process to make sure that they are safe and fit candidates for their specific course. Students with underlying conditions are advised to check with their physicians about any additional risks of contracting a communicable disease.
COVID-19 - Other Items to Consider
Other Items to Consider Before Arriving to Course:
1. Consider getting a flu vaccine prior to your course. By getting vaccinated for the flu, you support your community's health and could decrease the incidence of symptoms very similar to COVID-19 appearing on course.
2. If you have previously tested positive for COVID-19, findings have shown that you may still test positive within the few months following your original diagnosis. If you believe you have had or you have a previous confirmed positive test for COVID-19, you may consider getting tested 14 days prior to course start. In the event that the test results return positive, after 10 days from the test collection date and if you are not showing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, you would be considered to be negative for COVID-19 according to current medical guidelines. In this event, we would be able to have you on course (proof of a positive test result at least 14 days prior to course start would be required). Any positive test result with a collection date inside of this timeline without proof of a previous positive test would result in needing to cancel your enrollment for your upcoming course.
COVID-19 - On Course Policies
What preventative measures will be taken during the course to prevent the spread of communicable disease?
All persons showing signs/symptoms of COVID-19 are tested. We follow the CDC guidelines for isolation/quarantine. All VOBS crews will carry equipment to facilitate isolation/quarantine while in the field.
Will I be required to wear a face mask while at Outward Bound?
Facemasks may be required in the event of a COVID+ case within your group.
Will staff be required to wear masks?
Staff will be required to wear masks when they need to interact with people outside of the immediate group and social distancing is not possible.
What will the sleeping situation look like?
All crews will be required to carry a minimum of one solo shelter to facilitate isolation/quarantine. Crews will likely have a variety of group and solo shelters for students.
WHAT WILL YOU DO IF A STUDENT OR INSTRUCTOR EXHIBITS SIGNS OF COVID-19?
If a student on course exhibits signs or symptoms of COVID-19 while on their course, testing protocols and CDC guidelines for isolation/quarantine will be followed.
What happens if someone in the group tests positive for COVID-19?
Depending on the severity, the person who tested positive for COVID-19 may be evacuated from the course. Efforts will be made to safely return the individual to their course.
What is your quarantine plan?
Each basecamp will essentially be isolated. Only essential visitors (health inspectors, camp doctors, food delivery, etc.) will be allowed on property for the duration of the season. Visitors will wear masks and practice social distancing while on site.
We have also set aside specific cabins and tents at our basecamps to be used as places for a student or staff person to isolate if necessary.
Will VOBS support staff also be tested for COVID-19?
All staff are tested for COVID-19 upon arrival to basecamp, as well as in the event they display any signs/symptoms of COVID-19.
WHEN WOULD YOU CANCEL A COURSE AS IT RELATES TO COVID-19?
If travel or other challenges result in enrollment dropping so low that the group size is below what we believe is necessary for the valuable interpersonal dynamics of an Outward Bound course, we will seek to transfer students and combine groups. If this is not possible, we may be forced to cancel a course.
If the states in which we operate (MN and TX) impose travel restrictions or other restrictions that limit our ability to operate we may be forced to cancel a course.
ARE THERE OTHER COVID-19-RELATED EVENTS THAT MIGHT RESULT IN COURSE CANCELLATION?
If local health authorities make a recommendation against, or a restriction that applies to our programs, courses that haven’t yet started will be cancelled and courses underway may be ended early.
WHAT IF OUTWARD BOUND HAS TO CANCEL A COURSE MY CHILD IS ENROLLED ON? WILL WE GET A REFUND?
If Outward Bound needs to cancel a course due to COVID-19 your Course Advisor will assist you in transferring to a future Outward Bound course OR issue a course credit for a future Outward Bound course OR issue a refund in full.
WILL YOU ISSUE A REFUND IF WE ELECT NOT TO RISK SENDING OUR CHILD ON COURSE DUE TO COVID-19?
If you elect not to send the student on course and they have not been directly exposed to nor contracted COVID-19, you can receive a refund of everything except the $150 non-refundable enrollment fee if it's more than 90 days out. Otherwise, we will not process a refund for cancellations less than 90 days out. See our cancellation policy here.
DOES COURSE CREDIT APPLY TO OTHER COURSE TYPES/AREA? CAN I USE IT WITH OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS?
This course credit MAY be valid for other course types or areas within Voyageur Outward Bound School's programming and possibly even transferable to other family members. Please speak directly with our student services team: student.services@vobs.org; 1 (828) 239 2376
COURSE CREDIT MUST BE USED BY THE DATE IN THE CREDIT. DOES THAT MEAN I NEED TO APPLY TO THE NEW COURSE BY THEN OR DOES THE NEW COURSE HAVE TO START BY THEN?
Course start must be on or before the date in your credit email.
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