Covid Policy Statement

Be sure to include a name on every test! Especially if multiple people will be documenting test results together!

The following information was sent in an email on January 10th to workshop participants. Here’s the complete message:

Greetings! I know many of you are packing up soon, so that means it’s time to send out the last, very important email.  The following information is from Susan Barkan, our Covid chair-person.  Can’t wait to see everyone so very soon!!!

Hello,
We are so grateful to all of you for doing your part to keep the WOW workshop as Covid-safe as possible.
As you may recall, everyone (participants, chaperones, instructors, etc.) have agreed to test on the day of their arrival to the workshop which will be Friday, January 13th. You will need to provide your own rapid Covid antigen test kit. [Note: Insurance providers will reimburse families for up to eight tests per month. Learn more about insurance reimbursement]
We will have a separate area in Program Center C, where you will check in for and complete Covid testing. Once your test is confirmed to be negative, you will move on to the registration area, in Program Center B. Registration materials will be given to you after you have visited the testing and confirmation area in Program Center C.

You have a couple of options for how to complete the Covid testing. You may:
1.)   Bring your own rapid Covid antigen test kit and do the test at Warm Beach in the location described above, or
2.)  Do your rapid Covid antigen test prior to your arrival at Warm Beach but please keep in mind that it must be done on the same day of your arrival. For this option you will need to bring the time-stamped copy of your negative test with your name written on it (see example below) to the Covid check-in location described above.  ****Very important! Please be sure to write the first and last name on the test before you take the photo if there are multiple people from the same family attending the workshop.

Instructions for Time-Stamping Photos:
iPhone:
I have an iPhone and used the Timestamp Camera Basic App (see link below) which I downloaded to my phone. I opened the timestamp app and then used it to take a photo of my covid test after waiting 15 minutes for the test result and writing my name on the test. https://apps.apple.com/app/id840110184

Android Phone:
Some Android phones allow you to add a timestamp to your captured images. You can add a timestamp to Motorola G series phones (and possibly other models as well), and some users claim that some Samsung phones allow you to do the same. Check the following to discover if your phone has a photo stamp feature:
Steps to add date/time stamps to photos on Android:
1.)     Launch your usual camera application.
2.)     Look for and select “Settings.”
3.)     Look through the timestamp choices.
4.)     It may be found under “Settings > Watermark” on some phones.
5.)     The “Timestamp” option should be tapped or moved to the “On” position.
6.)     To make sure the timestamp displays, go back to your camera and take a picture.
Here is a link to instructions for time-stamping with an Android phone:https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/how-to-add-date-time-stamps-to-photos-on-android-1987723-2022-08-15

Also, as a reminder, here’s a link to our Covid policy
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and care of yourself and others. It is much appreciated!!
Susan Barkan

COVID POLICY (As of September 14, 2022)

Your health is very important to us.  We, along with Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center, will meet or exceed CDC, Washington State, and Snohomish County Health District guidelines.

Please note that our Covid policy may change as we take into account current scientific guidance, along with recommendations from government agencies as we approach the start of the workshop. We will send notice of changes by email.

Safety for all: Although we have to be indoors (because of the season), the workshop location is very spacious and has a good ventilation system. This will allow workshop participants to spread out and participate while still maintaining social distancing from others. Our protocol meets or exceeds current CDC, WA State Department of Health and local County guidelines and is subject to revision based on changes in those guidelines.

We encourage you to consider limiting, to the extent possible, any exposure to covid in the 10 days prior to the workshop to maximize your chance of being able to attend, and minimize the possibility of becoming ill while at the workshop.

Vaccinations: Proof of vaccination status will no longer be required at the time of registration. We recommend (but no longer require) for your own health that all workshop participants and instructors be vaccinated and boosted to the level recommended for their age by the CDC.

This change in policy has been made because our primary goal is to protect against the spread of Covid within the community of people attending the workshop. While Covid vaccines and boosters protect individuals’ health, it is possible for vaccinated people to still become infected with Covid and to spread it to others. Therefore we will be emphasizing testing and masking which have been shown to be mitigation measures of more critical importance in protecting against community spread.

Testing: will be required at arrival to the workshop, and will be supervised – please bring your own test kit to use at arrival. Testing will also be required for any participant or instructor who develops symptoms likely to indicate COVID infection, and the workshop will provide test kits for that.

We encourage all those traveling from a distance to the workshop to self-test before they get in the car or on the plane, so as not to be surprised by a positive test on arrival at camp (and then be required to leave).

If you develop symptoms of COVID (even mild) or if you come in contact with someone who is COVID positive within 10 days from the start of the workshop, please don’t attend without testing immediately before you leave for the workshop AND at arrival. If you notify us that you’re unable to attend, chances are good we may be able to give you a reasonable refund.

Anyone who tests positive will be required to leave the workshop and unfortunately, will receive a partial refund at best. Minors whose guardian(s) are not allowed to stay at the workshop, and will also need to leave unless a new guardian can be found who is staying at the workshop.

Masking: Good quality N95 or KN95 masking will be required when indoors (and not actively eating or performing as a solo/duo). Please provide your own masks.

Housing at the workshop: Warm Beach has rooms that accommodate just one or two people, and also those that can accommodate larger groups. We ask you to begin contemplating your housing preferences as soon as possible and consider whether there are others attending the workshop with whom you can form a “pod” (safe housing unit). We will ask for any information you have on a “pod” on the initial application and again when the balance of fees is due to enable us to assign housing.

During the workshop: We will not be monitoring for fever or symptoms during the workshop, but if you do develop any, we ask you to consider your community and report to the workshop registrar, and we will ask you to undergo an additional Covid test.

Covid cancellation policy: Requests for refunds of all fees paid due to Covid exposure or Covid-related concerns will be honored, if you wish to cancel before the workshop.

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop in its entirety, due to Covid. In the hopefully unlikely event that we may need to cancel the workshop due to a resurgence in Covid, we will make every effort to refund all monies paid to you.

 

Warm Beach Covid Practices:

Warm Beach staff: All staff are vaccinated.

Cleaning: There are enhanced cleaning practices in effect for public spaces and restrooms.

Hand sanitizer: will be available outside meeting and dining facilities.

Lodging: Occupancy set at 6 feet between heads when sleeping. If you’re rooming with your immediate family and no one else, there are no restrictions regarding distance between the heads of beds when sleeping.  ** IF you are staying with friends, it is your responsibility to assure that everyone agrees on distancing and masking status.

Dining: Meals served cafeteria style. Mask required until seated and actively eating.