PRIOR TO COURSE START

COVID-19 Testing and Symptoms

Participants must receive a viral COVID-19 test within 72-hours prior to course start. Schedule your appointment in advance to avoid delays.   

• Test results must be submitted to North Carolina Outward Bound (NCOBS) prior to course start. 
• To find testing resources in your area, please visit your state Health Department website or use this COVID-19 Testing Sites Locator.
• If you test positive, we cannot accept you onto course.   

Participants are to be COVID-19 symptom-free 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, headache, sore throat or lose their sense of smell or taste.  

Statement of Understanding 

Participants (and parents of minor students) will sign a COVID-19 Statement of Understanding. This form will be located in your Applicant Portal three weeks prior to course start.    

Protect Yourself and Others from COVID-19   

Participants should follow strict physical distancing from everyone not in their household for 14 days prior to course. Please refer to CDC Guidelines on physical distancing best practices.

Assessment of COVID-19 Metrics by County 

• NCOBS will monitor your county’s COVID-19 status as reported by the Harvard Global Health Institute. Please monitor your county's status on a regular basis.
• If your county is designated as RED risk level 14 days prior to course start, you will not be accepted onto course UNLESS you quarantine for 14-days prior to course in a location with orange, yellow, or green designation.  
• NCOBS will continue to monitor your county’s status for any changes 7 days and 1 day prior to course start. If your county changes to RED risk level, you will not be accepted onto course.  

Calling Course a GO  

We will make every effort to confirm the course at 30-days before course start. As noted, we will confirm your county’s COVID-19 metric status at 14-days before course start, 7 days and 1 day before course start. Participant status and/or course status may change at any time due to COVID-19.

Travel - Open Enrollment Courses 

Participants on Open Enrollment courses may travel to/from course by personal vehicle or commercial transportation; however, personal vehicle travel is strongly encouraged.

If you intend to depart by commercial transportation, you must submit a back-up departure plan should you need to depart under quarantine or isolation protocols. Plan must NOT include commercial travel.

Back-Up Departure Plan Criteria:

• If you need to depart course early, your plan must allow for departure within 48-hours. 
• Adults (18+) must either:
• Preferred - Depart from the Outward Bound program location by private vehicle, providing name and contact information of pick-up.
• Request that Outward Bound provide transportation to a hotel near the airport, provided the participant meets the hotel's age requirements for check-in.   
• Youth (12-17 years old) must depart from the Outward Bound program location by private vehicle, providing name and contact information of pick-up person.

Please reference the CDC recommendations for Protecting Yourself When Using Transportation and Considerations for Travelers.

Travel - Group Education Programs 

Participants on Group courses (attending as an intact group) may travel to/from course by school vehicle, charter bus or commercial transportation.

Groups planning to depart by commercial transportation must submit a back-up departure plan for group or individual travel home in the event that a participant or the group must leave course under quarantine or isolation.

• If the group or an individual needs to depart course early, back-up plan must allow for departure within 48-hours.
• Back-up plan must NOT include commercial travel.

Please reference the CDC recommendations for Protecting Yourself When Using Transportation and Considerations for Travelers. 

COURSE START

• Participants will be screened upon arrival for COVID-19 symptoms and contact history, including taking temperature. If any signs or symptoms of illness exist, participants will not be allowed to start the course. 

DURING COURSE

• Participants will wear approved personal protective equipment when requested to do so.
• Enhanced personal hygiene will be practiced on every course.
• Increased cleaning and sanitization.
• Crew sizes have been reduced to support social distancing.
• All participants will have individual sleeping arrangements while on course. 

OUR STAFF

• Staff will have followed strict physical distancing from everyone not in their household for 14 days prior to the course.
• All NCOBS employees will be tested for COVID-19 and cleared to work.
• Symptom checks, including taking temperatures will be conducted on a regular basis.