Wilderness Awareness School and COVID-19

Updated Nov 22, 2022

Our number one priority is the health and safety of our students, staff, and community. We will update this page regularly with new policy updates, guidelines, and FAQs. 

Health Guidelines

We ask participants of Adult and Youth programs to stay home if they have signs or symptoms of Covid-19. Please see the following King County Health Guidelines for an updated list of symptoms. All students are asked to quarantine or isolate if they have symptoms or a Covid exposure per the most up to date state and county guidelines. Please see this DOH Decision Tree on what to do if you have any Covid symptoms or if you are a close contact with someone who tests positive for Covid. Let our staff know as soon as possible and we will help you decide the best path forward.

If you or your child becomes sick, we encourage you to test as soon as possible. At home tests are acceptable, but we recommend a PCR test since they are more sensitive. The UW Medicine Covid Testing facilities are reliable and have relatively fast turnaround (usually within 24 hours).

If you or your child tests negative, please continue to keep them home until their symptoms have significantly improved. If they test positive, please keep them home for at least 5 days. If they are symptom free on Day 6, they may return – but they need to wear a mask for Days 6-10.

Overnight Programs

There is no testing requirement to participate in overnights. Should anyone become sick during one of our programs, we have a series of specific protocols that we will be following – including potentially needing to send participants home. We will do our best to help transport you (or your child) home, but you may need to arrange transportation at your own expense for yourself (or pick up your child) at our field location.

Masks/Face Coverings

Masks are now optional at our programs; we will support anyone who chooses to wear one.

Tuition and Refund Policy

Our standard refund policy applies to all programs. See our full refund policy here.


Wilderness Awareness School