Department of Environmental Sciences
College of the Environment
Western Washington University

ESCI Field Camp COVID-19 Policies

Spring 2025

The following policies are intended to maximize learning and experiential opportunities, while maintaining low risk of caronavirus exposure. Although the federal "COVID-19 Public Health Emergency" ended in May 2023, COVID remains highly infectious with seriously serious health impacts. COVID case rates increased throughout summer and are expected to increase further as autumn progresses. We would do well to heed the maxim "We may be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with us." This course will implement COVID policies that are more protective than those recommended by the university, state, and federal authorities. 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. For those of us planning to share a Grand Canyon expedition after the course, protective practices initiated during the course will maintain the low risk necessary for extended travel in a tight group on an expedition 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-isolate for at least 5 days and then take a COVID rapid antigen test. Free at-home tests are available at https://covidtests.gov/. If you had close contact with someone known to have COVID-19 and you manifest symptoms, self-isolate and take a COVID test. If you have any cold, flu, or other COVID symptoms, or if you test positive, self-isolate at least 5 days and until your symptoms cease. Test yourself again after your symptoms abate. Then refrain from in-person course activities for an additional 5 days. If your symptoms ever 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 the course.
(1) Anyone who feels sick or expresses cold, flu, or other COVID symptoms is expected to stay home and follow guidelines described above.
(2) All course participants are encouraged to avoid contexts with high risk of COVID exposure. Factors that increase COVID exposure risk include: indoor settings, low or poor ventilation, large numbers of people, low proportion of people wearing masks, close proximity to other people, longer periods in confined airspace, activities with vigorous vocalization (singing, shouting) or heavy breathing, proximity to people with symptoms. High risk contexts include large concerts, performances, and other indoor events with large numbers of people; large indoor parties; crowded bars; busy airports; and any indoor spaces shared with symptomatic people, especially when you or they are not masked.
(3) People who participate in events or other contexts with medium exposure risk are encouraged to wear well-fitting masks, ideally N95, KN95, or KF94 masks.
(4) Many in-person course meetings will occur outside.
(5) Please wash your hands before and after all course meetings.
(6) All course participants are encouraged to be fully vaccinated for COVID, as per WWU recommendations. Booster vaccination is strongly recommended, due to decline in vaccine efficacy over time.

Additional COVID safety precautions will be implemented for anyone participating in the Grand Canyon expedition following the course, including:
(1) Strict avoidance of environments with high risk of COVID exposure for at least 10 days prior to departure, starting on December 2.
(2) COVID rapid antigen testing of each person immediately prior to departure. Negative test result required for participation.
(3) Additional practices to protect our COVID-free bubble throughout the trip, TBA.

Information about COVID-19 symptoms, treatment, prevention, and safety are at the following.
WWU
WA Department of Health
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention