Health & Safety

Covid-19 Information

COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

All employees, fellows, and students who work at Groundwork facilities and who have regular indoor contact with other employees, fellows, and/or students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by their first day of work or a program they are participating in, unless they meet a medical, disability or religion exemption and a reasonable accommodation is approved. Any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) is an acceptable vaccine for the purpose of this policy. Full vaccination or an approved exemption is a condition of employment for all new employees. Employees that work remotely or do not have indoor contact with other employees and/or students are not required to be vaccinated or have an approved exemption.

Before Your Stay

Safe practices must start before your arrival! In order to protect all participants in your program, we ask that all students adhere to the following rules beginning at least 14 days prior to your arrival at our farm: 

• Minimized contact and social distance
  • Minimize contact with people outside your ‘Covid bubble’. Your Covid bubble should consist of people you live with and possibly a few others, and everyone should be committed to minimizing contact outside the bubble. Ideally your bubble is no more than 5 people. Refrain from eating out or attending gatherings. Simply put, stay home as much as possible. When in contact with anyone outside your Covid bubble, maintain social distance of at least 6 feet.
• Face coverings
  • Wear a clean face covering over both your mouth and nose any time you leave your house. 

Symptom/exposure monitoring

• At the end of this document, you’ll find our Covid Screening Tool. Review the Tool every day for 14 days prior to traveling to our farm. If at any point you screen potentially positive, follow these steps: 
  • Self-quarantine for 6 days. This means no interactions with people outside people you live with, and minimal interactions with people you do live with. 
  • On day 6 of quarantine, get a Covid-19 test. Continue self-quarantine until you receive results. 
    • • If results are negative: Send confirmation of negative test results to info@layinggroundwork.org. Continue quarantining until all symptoms have resolved. If the duration of your quarantine runs into your program time, we will make all efforts to include you in program activities virtually. After all symptoms have ceased, you can travel to the farm and we’ll catch you up on what you missed!
      • If results are positive: Get in touch with us as soon as possible to let us know. Continue to quarantine and get tested every 4-7 days. After receipt of 2 negative test results, you may travel to the farm. If your quarantine runs into your program time, we’ll do everything we can to keep you involved digitally. 

Risk Management at Groundwork 

At Groundwork, we are committed to the physical and mental health of our participants, staff, and community partners. Living and working on a farm involves inherent risk – and Groundwork works diligently to proactively identify and address such risks. No program can guarantee absolute safety, and at Groundwork we believe leaning into appropriate risk that allows us to fully engage with place, without compromising our whole health and safety. We take our risk management systems seriously, and with caution – while also recognizing that accidents and illness may still happen. With years of experience as teachers, world travelers, and outdoor guides Groundwork has thoughtfully developed practices, policies, and procedures that carefully manage risk while continuing to provide transformative educational experiences. We do not compromise the safety of any individual for any reason, but it is critical that participants understand the risks involved while participating in the fellowship. Please contact us to learn more about risk management at Groundwork.

Safety and Health Information

Medical Emergencies: On the farm we have first aid kits and staff members come with Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder training. In the event of an emergency, the nearest hospital is Delta County Community Hospital, located 35 minutes from the farm by car. There is also a health clinic in town, just a couple of minutes from the farm if needed for non-emergency medical needs.

Health Insurance: Participants must come with full medical insurance and will be financially responsible for any and all health costs incurred while participating in the fellowship.

Staff Competency and Training: Instructors and staff at Groundwork

• • • Have an average of 10 years experience in experiential education and outdoor guiding.
    • Have worked at small sustainability-oriented communities, community farms, and similar environmental projects.
    • Obtain medical training and are certified Wilderness First Responders or certified in Wilderness First Aid.