March 1, 2021
Dear Kroka Community,
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020 Kroka has been working vigilantly to keep our staff, students, and community safe. Our response to COVID-19 has been informed by state and local guidance and our Risk Management Committee, and is continuously evolving. True to our mission, we do not believe that these decisions should be made out of fear. We believe that transformative education in nature can continue to thrive through the year 2021 and beyond. The following protocols were adopted by the Leadership Council effective March 1st, 2021:
CAMPUS AND VISITORS:
The Kroka campus remains open to the public, and we invite you to visit our farm and walk the trails. At this time, all campus buildings remain closed to the public. Please be respectful of the Kroka community and maintain 6ft distance from others while on the property. Visitors and guests must comply with our Visitor Policy.
PROGRAMS:
We are working closely with the state of NH, our parent community, peer organizations to develop a protocol for summer 2021 that is safe, effective, and realistic for families, students, and our staff. Because the virus is constantly changing, we have not yet confirmed our 2021 protocol. The following is our working protocol based off of a successful summer season in 2021 and 12 months of COVID-free programs:
- When possible, groups and class sizes will be reduced to limit the possibility of exposure to COVID-19
- Participants will be asked to follow shelter in place guidelines and document family activity for 7 days prior to arriving at Kroka, including a daily temperature check
- All participants must be tested for Covid-19 within 7 days of your program start. You must have test results back, and test negative, before you arrive at Kroka
- Families arriving to Kroka are expected to follow strict travel protocols during their trip here that eliminates contact with the public and emphasizes direct home-to-Kroka transportation
- All gatherings at program start and end will take place outdoors and be staged to maintain distance between families and staff
- All students arriving to Kroka will undergo health screening including a COVID-19 test and a temperature check. Student staying on campus for more than two weeks will be re-tested at regular intervals
- All students will be trained in Kroka’s on-campus hygiene protocols upon arrival, which includes daily health checks and rigorous and frequent hand washing, as well as creating a culture of health and hygiene on the program
- Students or staff who show symptoms of COVID-19 on Kroka programs will be evacuated from the field for testing. A designated campus space will be reserved for quarantine of symptomatic students and/or staff
- Protocols will be reviewed weekly and modified as necessary following CDC and/or NH state or federal recommendations and regulations
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a financial hardship for many families, and that registering for a program months in advance (and paying tuition!) is risky in the year 2021. We are grateful for your willingness to take this risk with us! In recognizing that there is still some remaining uncertainty about the summer, we have amended our cancellation policies for summer 2021 as follows:
- In the event that your program is cancelled, restricted, or rescheduled to a date you cannot attend, we will refund full tuition and/or offer a tuition credit toward a future program
- If you are unable to attend your program due to state or federal travel restrictions, family illness, positive COVID-19 test, or contact with a COVID-19 positive person, we will offer a refund and/or credit less a $100 administrative fee
- In all other circumstances, our existing cancellation and refund policies will apply
We believe that the best way to confront a crisis is in the presence of supportive and nurturing community! We believe that if we are resilient and diligent, we will come out of the current moment stronger. We will continue to take all necessary precautions and stay up to date on recommendations from our public health officials and our community as we move through the fall and beyond.
With warm thoughts and visions for the positive future,
Kroka Leadership Council
Be like a bird, who
Halting in her flight
On a limb too slight
Feels it giving way beneath her
Yet sings, sings knowing she has wings
Yet sings, sings knowing she has wings– Victor Hugo
