An IFR field school is designed to provide positive, transformative experiences for communities, students, and researchers. The following protocols have been developed based on the assumption that any participant in an IFR field school may be an asymptomatic carrier of SARS COVID-19. Our goal, with these protocols, is to reduce the possibility for COVID-19 transmission among participants, staff, and local community members. IFR depends on the complete and sustained commitment of all our cohorts to stay healthy and help others stay healthy, and this is reflected in the following commitments:

IFR COMMITMENT

Communications and Case Management

A1. IFR will staff a COVID-19 hotline +1-424-226-6983 for PIs to immediately call if anyone at a field school exhibits symptoms, is violating the COVID-19 conduct protocols, or tests positive for COVID-19.

A2. IFR will coordinate with field school directors and assess US State Department guidelines in order to greenlight programs six weeks before the start date of the field school so students can make final travel arrangements. 

A3. IFR will require all enrolled participants to submit a negative RT-PCR test for COVID-19 72 hours prior to arrival at their field school through their application portal. 

Financial and Material Resources

A4. IFR will set aside a COVID-19 contingency allocation from IFR resources of 5% of field school costs to each field school to mitigate their COVID-19 prevention or mitigation expenditures. 

A5. Students will pay for their own additional PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as well as any pre-program quarantine costs and other expenses that may arise as a result of changing local policies.

A6. IFR will provide each field school a COVID-19 testing kit of thermometer and pulse oximeter.

A7. IFR will create an escrow fund of student fees for refunds in the event schools are cancelled (due to COVID-19).

A8. Insurance provided by IFR does not offer evacuation coverage for pandemics/epidemics.The DRUM coverage is for political, security, and natural disaster evacuation coverage. The GeoBlue policy would cover any medically necessary medical evacuation related to an illness (including COVID-19) or injury if the person cannot be appropriately treated locally. The GeoBlue medical plan would also cover medical costs associated with someone becoming ill or injured and being quarantined in a hospital/medical setting for a diagnosed illness/injury. It would not cover preventative self-quarantine in a hotel, cruise ship, or other location or the related expenses such as meals, etc.

Note: Local circumstances, such as remote locations with no community interactions where it is possible to sustain working and living in “pods/bubbles”  may permit adjustment to the below on-site policies. PIs should submit such details to IFR for review.

FIELD SCHOOL/PROGRAM DIRECTORS’ COMMITMENT

Prior to start of field school

B1. Program Directors to add their field school-specific COVID-19 protocols to the IFR minimum standards (via a  2021 syllabus addendum). The following organizational minimum protocols will be listed:

1. All participants in a field school, students and staff, will wear masks while indoors (i.e., during lectures, labs, etc.).
2. Regular hand washing must be a part of the project’s daily schedule.
3. Interaction with the local community must be limited to situations where everyone can maintain the required 6-foot/2-meter physical distance, wear masks, and ideally be outside.
4. Participants must be tested for COVID-19 and quarantine on site as required by local jurisdiction.

B2. Prior to and throughout the field school, Program Directors will monitor and communicate to program participants and the IFR (individually, via email and the hotline) any changes in local conditions that impact student travel and safe participation, and will update the syllabus addendum accordingly

B3. Eight weeks before the start of the field school the IFR and enrolled students must receive final site-specific COVID-19 Testing, Quarantine & Healthcare processes and requirements. 

B4. In the event your location (country) requires quarantine on arrival, Program Directors must provide students with information and meaningful resources on locations for quarantine prior to the start of the field school so students can make necessary arrangements. Students will be responsible for any additional costs associated with the quarantine. 

B5. Eight weeks before the start of the field school, enrolled students must receive a list of the specific PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and other items including individual equipment that must be brought to the field in order to support COVID-19 safety measures.

Note: Field School PIs are urged to review the practical recommendations provided by the National Outdoor Leadership Schools COVID-19 Practices at https://www.nols.edu/en/covid19-practices/ or recommendations from their local similar resources.

During the field school program

B6. PI must share details (to be communicated in the syllabus addendum) on planned testing, on-site quarantine, and health care arrangements specifically related to an outbreak on site — once the field school has started.

B7. In the event that local conditions and/or government regulations addressing COVID-19 change, Program Directors should provide students with support — time, resources, and logistical help — in order to ensure that the students can make appropriate return travel arrangements. However, any additional costs for early returns are the responsibility of the student.

B8. Ensure students and staff review and sign the site’s COVID-19 protocol document and review the field school’s final COVID-19 Testing, Quarantine, & Healthcare Process including daily symptoms checks, periodic testing, etc.

B9. Failure by students or staff to follow the COVID-19 policy of the field school is cause for removal. Students or staff may be required to leave the field school at their own cost and without refund. PI must report to and get prior approval of IFR if they believe a student must be dismissed for violating COVID-19 protocol. 

B10. Provide COVID-19-appropriate dining and lodging for staff and students to ensure appropriate indoor social distancing. Such accommodations might be single or low-occupancy rooms for the duration of the program, or the isolation of program participants in “pods,” among other possibilities. Details are to be provided in the syllabus addendum.

B11. If a student develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must be isolated from the group. Staff will seek medical advice and follow IFR’s COVID-19 illness guidelines, which may include evacuation from the course. If a student is evacuated, it is possible they will be able to rejoin their course due to remoteness and logistics. 

B12. Program must provide access to water and soap and/or sanitizer gel for all program participants to frequently wash and sanitize hands.

STUDENT COMMITMENT

Prior to start of field school

C1. Students are strongly urged to obtain travel/trip insurance from a reputable source that will provide refunds for travel and program (tuition) costs in the event that participation is denied because of COVID-19. 

C2. Students commit to comply with all aspects of the COVID-19 avoidance policy, and additional policies of their respective IFR field school. Students will be provided with a waiver that will enable sharing of testing outcomes and an agreement that the student acknowledges their personal responsibility for two outcomes: (1) stemming the transmission of COVID-19 as indicated by the local conditions at this field school, and (2) acting in ways that serve to protect from exposure members of both the field school and the community in which we are working. Specifically,

C3. Students must review and sign a written copy of COVID-19 avoidance policy.

C4. Students must sign a document stating that they received and read the protocol and that they agree to follow the protocol that, at a minimum, will include:

1. All participants in a field school, students and staff, will wear masks while indoors (i.e. during lectures, labs, etc.).
2. Regular hand washing must be a part of the project’s daily schedule.
3. Interaction with the local community must be limited to situations where everyone can maintain the required 6-foot/2 meter physical distance, wear masks, and ideally be outside.
4. Participants must be tested for COVID-19 and quarantine on site as required by local jurisdiction.

C5. Students must arrange a test for current infection for COVID-19 through a RT-PCR test for themselves in their home location 72 hours prior to arrival at the destination and upload proof of negative result to their IFR application portal. If the test is positive prior to arriving at your field school, you will not be able to attend the field school and  your IFR deposit will not be refunded nor will any travel change fees be refunded by IFR. This issue will be finalized in the near term by IFR’s BOG.

C6. Students must take all precautions possible to ensure they remain COVID-19 free during their travel to the field school after demonstrating they tested negative. (Additional details will be provided nearer to the time of travel at a minimum, however, this means that they will wear a mask during all travel, wash hands and, in so far as possible, maintain social distances). 

C7.  Students must commit in writing to understanding that their travel during the pandemic is uncertain and the situation might change suddenly. Students are therefore responsible for being familiar with and meeting any travel restrictions (e.g., quarantine at destination, transit airport issues) prior to their arrival at the field location, and coordinating with their field school Program director to access available resources. Students must plan accordingly to protect themselves with adequate travel insurance and funds as required in addition to IFR fees. 

During the field school program

 C9. In the event that local conditions, regulations and/or government policies addressing COVID-19 change, students will check-in with Program Directors for support — logistical help in order to ensure that they can make appropriate return travel arrangements.

C10. Students must commit to adhering to the field program’s dining and lodging arrangements for staff and students (in pods if necessary) to ensure appropriately distanced living indoors. 

C11. Participate in the review of the COVID-19 protocol and practices at the site and sign the waiver again if required.

C12. Strictly adhere to the program’s requirements limiting interaction with outside community members only as permitted by the program.

C13. Students must refrain from touching their nose, mouth, and eyes and must practice frequent and thorough hand washing or sanitizing throughout the duration of the field school. All participants must sanitize shared and frequently touched surfaces (i.e., total station) between uses. 

C14. Students must note and accept that failure to follow the COVID-19 policy of the field school is cause for removal. Students or staff may be required to leave the field school at their own cost, without refund, and could be disqualified from receiving academic credit for the program. PI must report to and get the prior approval of IFR if they believe a student must be dismissed for violating COVID protocols.