Department of Environmental Sciences
College of the Environment
Western Washington University

ESCI Field Camp COVID-19 Policies

Spring 2022

The following policies are intended to maximize learning and experiential opportunities, while maintaining low risk of caronavirus exposure. Although some restrictions may seem inconvenient, following them will provide individual and group protection that support depth of experience rarely achieved by most people during the pandemic. Some policies exceed the latest guidelines from WWU and the CDC. Slightly more restrictive practices will maintain the low risk necessary to conduct extended research expeditions in places distant from definitive medical care.

Please make your health and the health of others in your sphere your highest priority.
If you feel sick, stay home, take care of yourself, and do not attend in-person activities. No penalty will be applied for classes missed for health reasons, even if your illness turns out to be a mild cold.
Seek medical attention if your symptoms become severe, particularly high fever or difficulty breathing.
If you have had close contact with someone known to have COVID-19, self-quarantine for at least 10 days and get tested after 5 days. If you had close contact with someone known to have COVID-19 and you manifest symptoms, self-isolate for at least 10 days and get tested.
If you test positive for COVID-19, self-isolate at least 10 days. If you develop symptoms, continue to self-isolate until your symptoms abate and you test negative. If your symptoms become severe, seek medical treatment.
Please contact the instructor to arrange accommodations if you must miss multiple classes due to illness, self-quarantine, or self-isolation.

We will practice COVID-19 safety throughout ESCI Field Camp, particularly during field trips.
(1) All in-person meetings will occur outside, at field sites. There will be no meetings indoors until week 8.
(2) All course participants must be fully vaccinated for COVID, as per WWU policy. Booster vaccination is strongly recommended, due to decline in vaccine efficacy over time.

During the first two weeks, we will adhere to the following policies.
(3) Everyone must wear face masks during in-person course meetings and field trips. Masks must cover nose and mouth.
(4) We will maintain at least 2 meters interpersonal physical spacing at all times.
(5) Please travel to field sites independently of others. Exceptions can be made for people from the same household.
(6) Refrain from hand-shaking, hugging, high-fiveing, elbow-bumping, or other interpersonal contact. Save those activities for expeditions or the post-pandemic world.
(7) Please wash your hands before and after all course meetings.

During research expeditions, we will relax policies (3)-(6) after sealing our COVID-free bubble.

Information about COVID-19 symptoms, treatment, prevention, and safety are at the following.
WWU
WA Department of Health
Quarantine recommendations, CDC