Our priority continues to be the health and well-being of our students and staff. We are basing programmatic decisions and protocols on CDC guidance along with the specifics of operating outdoor activities in wilderness environments. These Program Protocols and course activities are subject to change. Please check this page for updates. Updated 12/22/2022
Participants must be either fully vaccinated OR submit a negative test result from a lab-processed molecular test (PCR or similar) taken within 5 days of course start.*
*Exception: Per the requirement from our WFR/WFA provider, all participants on courses 28 days and longer must be fully vaccinated.
Vaccinated
To be considered fully vaccinated, individuals must have received their final vaccine dose at least two weeks prior to course start date (booster shots are encouraged but not required) and provide NCOBS with documentation of vaccination.
While not required, NCOBS strongly recommends that fully vaccinated participants take a viral COVID test immediately prior to traveling to course to avoid traveling while infectious and to avoid being turned away at course start (all participants will be given an antigen quick test at course start and those who test positive will not be allowed on course**). NCOBS recommends testing within 5 days of course if using a lab-processed molecular test and between 24 and 28 hours before course for an antigen or PCR quick-test.
Unvaccinated – Test Result Required
The COVID-19 test must be a lab-processed molecular test (PCR or similar) taken within 5 days of course start. Antigen tests and over-the-counter tests are not accepted. Schedule your appointment in advance to avoid delays.
Participants who have tested positive for COVID-19:
To reduce the likelihood of participants testing positive upon arrival to Outward Bound, we highly encourage participants to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test 24-hours or less prior to traveling to Outward Bound. Participants who test positive should not travel and will not be accepted onto course.
Participants will take an NCOBS-administered rapid antigen COVID-19 test on course start day upon arrival.
Participants testing positive on course start day will not be accepted on course.
Refer to the "During Course" section below to review masking and physical distancing expectations while on course.
Participants must be free of any symptoms of COVID-19 for 72-hours prior to course start. Symptoms include fever over 100.3°F, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, and fatigue. Some people may have chills, headaches, sore throat or lose their sense of smell or taste.
Please refer to CDC Guidelines on physical distancing best practices.
Participant status and/or course status may change at any time due to COVID-19.
Participants on Group courses (attending as an intact group) may travel to/from course by school vehicle, charter bus, or commercial transportation.
To reduce the likelihood of participants testing positive upon arrival to Outward Bound, we highly encourage participants to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test 24-hours or less prior to traveling to Outward Bound. Participants who test positive should not travel and will not be accepted onto course.
Participants will take an NCOBS-administered rapid antigen COVID-19 test on course start day upon arrival. Participants testing positive, as well as any close contacts, will not be accepted on course.
Out of an abundance of caution, clients should consider identifying an administrator or another adult to stay nearby for the duration of the course to be responsible for any students needing to depart course due to COVID-19.
Clients should confirm a plan of supervision and travel home for any positive student(s) and close contacts who must depart on day 1.
Once course is in progress, if you must depart course early due to COVID-19, your plan must allow for departure within 48-hours.
ADULTS (Age 18+) must choose either:
OR
Hotels include:
YOUTH (Age 14-17) must depart from the airport at course start or from the Outward Bound program location during course by private vehicle, providing name and contact information of pick-up person.
YOUTH (Age 14-17) must depart from the airport at course start or from the Outward Bound program location during course by private vehicle, providing name and contact information of pick-up person. Once course is in progress, if you must depart course early due to COVID-19, your plan must allow for departure within 48-hours.
ADULTS (Age 18+) must choose either:
OR
Hotels include:
Please reference the CDC recommendations for Protecting Yourself When Using Transportation and Considerations for Travelers.
The North Carolina Outward Bound School remains vigilant regarding the emergence of future COVID-19 variants and may adjust masking protocol if conditions warrant.
Effective April 1, 2022, group course participants may follow their partner school/organization masking procedures when interacting with other participants in their crew.
Masks will be required in the following situations:
Close contacts to COVID-19 positive cases at course start/during course:
Masks must be a medical mask (surgical style, KN95, or N95). Close contact protocol may be lifted after 10 days have passed and the close contact tests COVID negative.