[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

One of our goals at SOLE is to mitigate any risk our participants could experience.  As such, we are continuing to closely monitoring the continued community impacts of COVID-19, and will refresh updates here. If you have any additional questions after reading our response below please contact info@solewp1.wpenginepowered.com.

From the Desk of SOLE’s Executive Director | Last Updated June 1st, 2020

I hope this message finds you and yours doing well, and staying safe in these unusual times.

As we learned more from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Panhandle Health District (PHD) over the course of the past year we continued to take thoughtful and proactive measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 at SOLE, and beyond.  Some of this occurred well before the mandatory “Stay at Home” guidelines were issued by Governor Little in Idaho. 

As we move towards summer our Board of Directors are continuing to monitor the situation closely to inform our stakeholders, including but not limited too, event attendees, program participants, schools, parents, volunteers and employees to keep you all as up to date as possible on SOLE-related policies and procedures as it relates to COVID-19.

All of our staff have received the COVID-19 vaccination and/or antibodies from a previous infection. 

We are still asking participants to NOT come to your program, if:

• You/your child has a fever of 100.4 or greater
• You/your child has symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing)
• You/your child has traveled to an area undergoing a current COVID-19 epidemic within the prior 14 days OR had close contact with a Lab-confirmed COVID-19 patient within the prior 14 days.

This criteria may be updated as we learn more about COVID-19 and its spread. 

If you are in north Idaho, Panhandle Health District (PHD) has activated a call center to help answer questions related to the virus.  The number is 1-877-415-5225.

The call center is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Once we do restart operations, if you are showing any cold-related or flu-like symptoms, please stay home and do not attend your SOLE program or event. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

At all SOLE Experiences & events we  will continue to recommend that volunteers, staff, participants & attendees:

• Continue to consider guidelines set by the the State of Idaho when conducting SOLE-related business
• Wash their hands often with soap and water (at least 20 seconds) 
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer – in between times
• Clean and disinfect surfaces before and after programs and events
• Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Adhere to SOLE’s urban and backcountry hygiene-related policies and procedures.

Regarding possible COVID-19 exposure at SOLE

The reality is that like any other communicable disease organizations like SOLE cannot be expected to completely reduce the risk of transmission.  SOLE, and our counterparts are, and should be expected to adhere to evidence-based practices that mitigate any risk associated with events, programs and services.

As such, SOLE’s board and administration will also take into consideration the following policy and procedures.

• Parents, teachers, and other clients are expected to notify SOLE immediately if participants are sick with flu-like symptoms, and not let their child(ren)/student(s)/stakeholder(s) attend their SOLE Experience.
• Employees, volunteers, and/or participants and their families, who are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 are expected to notify SOLE administration and refer to CDC guidance on how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure. 
• If an employee, volunteer, and/or participant and/or their family is confirmed to have COVID-19, SOLE administration will inform the appropriate parties of their possible exposure but maintain confidentiality.
• If an employee, volunteer, and/or participant and/or their family are exposed to someone at a SOLE Experience or event confirmed with COVID-19, they should refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.

It is important to note: This is a fluid situation.  SOLE’s board and administrators will continue to monitor updates from the CDC and Panhandle Health and will continue to make decisions based on best practices recommended by the CDC. 

In addition, while SOLE’s board, volunteers, and staff while continue to utilize best practices and methods when facilitating SOLE programs to mitigate all risks, “Acts of God” and environmental threats are dynamic in nature and therefore it is to be expected that your child(ren), student(s), and stakeholder(s) potentially can be exposed to various inherent environmental hazards and risks associated with experiential education programs which occur in an outdoor setting.

As we continue this journey, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dennison Webb, MA

Founder & Executive Director

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]