Coronavirus update #1
Wilderness Volunteers is following the changes in the expanding,
unprecedented COVID-19 global health issue. As of now, with input from our land
agencies, we are operating our service trips as planned. We understand that you must make your own
decisions in light of the evolving health situation. Because of these very
rapidly-changing and unpredictable circumstances, we will stay alert, flexible,
and make changes as needed to comply with government and agency policies while
respecting your individual decisions. We have included other information
resources that can help you make your decisions.
In order to help ease participants concerns, the Wilderness Volunteers
Board of Directors has decided to temporarily modify the existing cancellation
policy for upcoming trips, in the hopes that it will alleviate potential
financial burdens caused by this ever-changing health situation.
Temporary
Cancellation Policy Modifications:
Effective March 13,
2020, for projects scheduled through May 2020. This date may be extended
as the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold.
1 - If you
decide to cancel from a project, there are two options:
A - you can transfer to another project of your choice through one full
calendar year from
your projects start date with no change in fees. You may let
us know your project choice at a
later time.
B – you can donate your trip fee (or a portion of it) as
a donation to WV for the year 2020 to
help support us through this challenge.
2 - The WV office must be informed of cancellations directly via phone (928-255-1128), or email
(reservations@wildernessvolunteers.org). The sooner you inform us of your need
to cancel, the more opportunity we will have to fill the trip.
Per Our Current Cancellation
Policy:
If Wilderness Volunteers
or the Land Agency cancels your project, we will contact you as soon as
possible to see if you would like A) a refund of your full trip fee, B) a
voucher good for another project of your choice, or C) if you would like to make
it a 2020 donation to help support us through this challenge.
Wilderness Volunteers is not responsible for airline tickets, other
tickets or payments, or any similar fees or penalties that you may incur as a
result of any project cancellations or changes.
As a small nonprofit on a tight budget, Wilderness Volunteers cannot make
exceptions to this (modified) refund policy for any reason, including personal
emergencies or weather. We make every effort to run each project as advertised
but sometimes project details (leaders, campsites, work project, etc.) must be
changed in order to run the project.
Resources on
Coronavirus:
If anyone has any
questions please feel free to contact us at the office by phone at (928)
255-1128 or via email at hello@wildernessvolunteers.org.
We wish you safe days and strength to meet these new
challenges. We hope to see you in the wilderness, too.
Ashely Northcutt, Cheryl
Walzcak,
Executive Director
President of the Board
Procedures:
Past volunteers know that Wilderness Volunteers leaders follow
longstanding and specific hygiene, sanitation, dishwashing, and food
preparation procedures on each service project to keep our volunteers healthy
and they will continue to do so. Project leaders will be looking out for the
safety of the group on multiple fronts and will be emphasizing relavant CDC
recommendations such as handwashing even more than usual.
Screening Policy:
Per current WV policy
leaders will turn away anyone who shows up to a service project with any cold
or flu-like symptoms. (This includes leaders and agency personnel.) If anyone
on a service project begins to feel any cold or flu-like symptoms they will be
distanced from the group and will be removed from the project as soon as
possible.
Travel:
While being exposed to germs while traveling to and from a project is
always a concern you can use some common sense tips to mitigate that hazard:
- drive to a project when possible instead of flying
- wash your hands often and especially before you eat or drink
- maintain distance between yourself and other folks when possible (at least 6 feet)
- wash your hands
often and especially before you eat or drink
- bring your own
pillow
- avoid touching
your face, especially with unwashed hands
- avoid touching restroom surfaces where possible
- clean high use areas/items (like airplane tray tables, hotel remote controls, or rental car steering wheels) before using them
Hand sanitizer and wipes are in short supply in some locations but remember that handwashing with ordinary soap and water is more effective than using hand sanitizer and you can also use a bleach solution (1/2c of bleach per gallon of water) to effectively disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces around the house.
We do want to reminded
everyone that they should stay home if:
·
They have had any
cold or flu-like symptoms within the last 2 weeks before a project.
·
They have been in
close contact with a person who has had any cold or flu-like symptoms within
the last 2 weeks before a project.
·
They have
travelled internationally within the 2 week period before a project begins.
While everyone is
looking forward to a week in the woods/desert, a service project isn't the
place to be if you have a cold/the flu/coronavirus/etc.
If you do show up not
feeling well it will likely a) put you at more risk as we don't have immediate
access to medical facilities, b) delay your recuperation, and c) put fellow
volunteers at risk of getting sick too.
Keeping everyone
healthy is a group endeavor and we ask that volunteers do their part by keeping
leaders apprised of their health status. We appreciate your honesty and
cooperation.
