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Headwaters Outdoor School

Earth Caretaker School

Headwaters Outdoor School Illness Plan

At Headwaters Outdoor School, the health and safety of our students and staff are of great importance. To minimize the risk of exposure to and the spreading infectious diseases, we take numerous steps mandated by local and state health codes to ensure a healthy and clean environment.

If you are sending your child or student to Headwaters, we ask that you respect our illness policy and help us keep our school safe. Please follow the guidelines below, and if you have any questions concerning whether or not your child should attend due to illness, please call the Headwaters Outdoor School Office at (530) 938-1304.

Should your child exhibit symptoms of communicable diseases after returning home, please inform HWOS Staff as soon as possible so we may initiate appropriate disinfecting procedures of camp facilities.

As difficult as it might be for your child to miss the trip to Headwaters, their wellness and the safety of our school and community is of greater importance. Below are listed our health guidelines for Covid-19 symptoms as well as common communicable disease symptoms,

COVID-19 Symptom and Isolation Policy:

  • Students and staff experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, upset stomach, respiratory difficulties) must remain at home for 14 days after illness symptoms are gone before coming to Headwaters.
  • Students and Staff exposed to COVID-19 patients at home, work, or in their community must remain at home for 14 days after being exposed to COVID-19.

Additional Communicable disease precautions and Policy.

You should not send your child to Headwaters if they have tested negative for COVID-19 but have symptoms for other illnesses:

  • Vomiting in the past 48 hours-Your child should be symptom free for 48 hours without the use of medication prior to coming to Headwaters.
  • Diarrhea in the past 48 hours, (3 watery or loose stools in one day with or without fever)-Your child should be symptom free for 48 hours without the use of medication prior to coming to Headwaters.
  • Any rash with or without fever
  • Stiff neck or headache with fever
  • Unusual behavior change, such as irritability, lethargy or somnolence
  • Jaundice (yellow color of the skin or eyes)
  • Skin lesions that are “weepy”(fluid or pus filled)
  • Colored drainage from eyes
  • Brown/green drainage from nose with fever >100.5.
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; serious, sustained cough
  • Strep Throat (must have been taking an antibiotic for at least 72 hours before coming to Headwaters)
  • Head lice –If your child has live lice, they should be treated with an appropriate “lice killing” shampoo/product prior to coming to Headwaters. Your child may come to Headwaters when all live lice are eliminated.
  • Symptoms or complaints that prevent the student from participating in activities such as a persistent cough, with or without presence of fever or the student requires more care than the school can safely provide.

HWOS Communicable Disease Plan

If the Headwaters Outdoor School Staff believes, or if we are informed that student/s that are present are exhibiting symptoms of communicable diseases, we will undertake the following steps to ensure the well-being of the student and minimize the exposure to other students/staff.

Isolation of symptoms

Any student/chaperone exhibiting symptoms of a communicable disease will be given sleeping accommodations separate from the main camp.  Private school group chaperones may be asked to sleep in an adjacent shelter/tent to provide assistance and supervision. Private School Group Leaders will consult with HWOS Staff to determine the best arrangement. Students in isolation will not be permitted to participate in activities or eat with other students. A separate bathroom facility may be arranged for isolated students.

Arrangement for Retrieval of Student

Depending on the timing of the week at HWOS, staff may recommend that the sick student be sent home. In the case of private school groups, class teachers will help make pickup arrangements with the child’s parent/guardian. If a parent/guardian or an approved chaperone is unavailable to retrieve the student, they will need to remain in isolation until a ride home is available, or the school group leaves.

Seeking Medical Attention

HWOS does not employ a camp nurse. While our staff are trained in emergency medical care and first aid, we are not trained medical professionals. In some cases, HWOS staff may suggest that a student be seen at the local Urgent Care or Emergency Room located in the town of Mt. Shasta approximately 10 miles away. Staff will consult with private class teacher and/or parent/guardian to determine the best way to get the student to medical care without unnecessarily disturbing the class. This may include the private class teacher, chaperone, or HWOS Staff driving the student into town, depending on availability and urgency of the situation. Possible symptoms that may prompt staff to seek medical attention for students include, but are not limited to: persistent vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, abdominal pain, rashes or injuries that need advanced medical attention.

It is imperative that the HWOS Staff has been provided with all medical history and consent forms for every student and attending chaperone no later than the arrival at Headwaters.

PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“With the Headwaters Outdoor School I’ve seen more and done more in the wilderness than I’d ever do on my own! From these many wonderful experiences I find my life richer, deeper and stronger for it.”

- Judy Grant, Grant and Associates
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:27:50+00:00
- Judy Grant, Grant and Associates
https://hwos.com/testimonials/with-the-headwaters-outdoor-school-ive-seen-more-and-done-more-in-the-wilderness-than-id-ever-do-on-my-own-from-these-many-wonderful-experiences-i-find-my-life-richer-deeper-and-stronger-for-i/

“My first winter class back in ’93 was a monumental event in my life, as my journal reveals. My connection to the Earth was so powerful (right then). I owe much of that to Tim and his presence with Nature.”

- Steve Bollock, River Guide
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:30:02+00:00
- Steve Bollock, River Guide
https://hwos.com/testimonials/my-first-winter-class-back-in-93-was-a-monumental-event-in-my-life-as-my-journal-reveals-my-connection-to-the-earth-was-so-powerful-right-then-i-owe-much-of-that-to-tim-and-his-presence-with/

“Between the strokes of the bow drill and reading tracks in the snow, I received gifts unexpected: family, community, inspiration, laughter and the relationship with nature beyond belief.”

- Kelly Callahan, Teacher
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:30:28+00:00
- Kelly Callahan, Teacher
https://hwos.com/testimonials/between-the-strokes-of-the-bow-drill-and-reading-tracks-in-the-snow-i-received-gifts-unexpected-family-community-inspiration-laughter-and-the-relationship-with-nature-beyond-belief/

“As a teacher and a counselor—and simply as a human being—my life is still enhanced daily by things I learned over 20 years ago with Tim and the Headwaters family. I happily carry nature awareness and earth philosophy in my bones, even decades later. Whether it’s a long hike, or a quick walk around the block, my experience is so much deeper because of this good medicine. I am forever grateful and wholeheartedly wish the same for you.”

-Rich Mertes
Headwaters Outdoor School
2022-02-18T20:27:38+00:00
-Rich Mertes
https://hwos.com/testimonials/as-a-teacher-and-a-counselor-and-simply-as-a-human-being-my-life-is-still-enhanced-daily-by-things-i-learned-over-20-years-ago-with-tim-and-the-headwaters-family-i-happily-carry-na/

“I’ve been making a pilgrimage to Headwaters at least once a year for 15 years, and bringing people to this land for nearly as long. The space that Tim, Julie & the staff create is powerful & sacred, and no person is not better for having spent time here. Both of my children have been coming to this land their whole lives. There is nowhere I would rather they be, and there is no one I trust more with the lives & spirits of my children than Tim & Julie. If there is any way to get yourself and/or your children here, you should definitely do it – you won’t regret it!”

-Kendra Cunov
Headwaters Outdoor School
2022-02-18T20:28:22+00:00
-Kendra Cunov
https://hwos.com/testimonials/ive-been-making-a-pilgrimage-to-headwaters-at-least-once-a-year-for-15-years-and-bringing-people-to-this-land-for-nearly-as-long-the-space-that-tim-julie-the-staff-create-is-powerful-sacre/
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Headwaters Outdoor School

Contact Us

Headwaters Outdoor School
PO Box 1210
Mount Shasta, CA 96067
 
(530) 938-1304

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Support the School

The Walker/Hupp Fund is a non-profit organization that helps young men and women whose families do not have the financial resources to attend Headwaters Outdoor School, either through the Boys Rites of Passage or the Apprenticeship Program.
 
Learn more about the Walker/Hupp Fund
 
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Walker/Hupp Fund today.
 

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