Ferry Beach COVID-19 / Communicative Virus Policies
UPDATED MARCH 20, 2023
We have built our COVID-19/Communicative Virus policies and guidance around information provided by the US CDC, State of Maine CDC, and other research based sources throughout the pandemic.
Overview
Vaccines: Strongly Recommended
Masking: Recommended Indoors (Required in Food Service Lines)
Testing: Recommend Negative Rapid Test Result Before Visiting for an Overnight Event
COVID Positive While Visiting: Required to Leave Facility
Flexibility: Required for ever-evolving policies and external conditions that may affect your stay
Vaccinations Strongly Recommended
As people come together in community for extended periods of time at Ferry Beach, we strongly recommend that all visitors be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (per US CDC guidance at time of registration). If you are not vaccinated, we ask you to wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask to protect others around you. All staff will be fully vaccinated.
Before Visiting Ferry Beach
Please ask yourself and those in your party the following questions before visiting Ferry Beach. These questions are intended to help keep visitors, staff and others at Ferry Beach safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other Communicative Viruses. If you can answer yes to any of these questions, we ask that you consider rescheduling your visit to Ferry Beach.
Items to Bring:
Becoming Ill While at Ferry Beach
If a guest is feeling ill at Ferry Beach, we request that the individual immediately mask, isolate from others and take a COVID test. Upon receiving a positive test result, you will be asked to depart the campus. All person(s) you shared a room / cottage will be considered exposed and will also be asked to leave the campus. Individuals who attended workshops with you will be asked to monitor their symptoms, wear a mask and test every other day.
If you are required to leave Ferry Beach earlier than scheduled for a COVID related reason, Ferry Beach will prorate your visit and refund your money (less processing fees) or apply a credit to your next visit. If you have completed 50% or more of your visit, no refunds will be given. We are not able to address any need for extended isolation on campus. Isolation will only be used until the person has the ability to leave campus.
Check-In:
Check-in procedures will be based around current COVID/Communicative Virus guidance and best practice. Check-in information will be sent to groups and guests prior to their arrival to Ferry Beach.
Dining Hall:
Movement through the dining hall will remain one-way and meals will be served cafeteria style. Enter the dining room from the Boardwalk Drive side of the building and exit through the doors on the Gardiner side. The meal line may extend to the outdoors during serving time. Please form lines down the walkway instead of around the interior of the dining hall or the porch. Masks are required while in food lines.
A La Carte Meals:
A la carte meals will not be sold In the dining hall. You must pre-purchase a meal plan with your registration.
Community Living:
Please help by cleaning up after yourself by wiping down handles, doors, and/or frequently touched surfaces. We will have plenty of disinfectant and cleaning supplies in the dining hall and within the restrooms.
Reduced Paper:
We have moved our in-room booklet, song books, Tidings newsletters and Sunday chapel programs to the Ferry Beach app. We will have posters with QR codes around campus to access these documents, or you can access them directly through the app. Download the app at app.ferrybeach.org or by searching your app store.
Let's be SMART about COVID-19/Communicative Viruses
We are asking our guests to be COVID/Communicative Virus S.M.A.R.T. and have established some basic guidelines we hope all guests will adhere to while at Ferry Beach.
Vaccines: Strongly Recommended
Masking: Recommended Indoors (Required in Food Service Lines)
Testing: Recommend Negative Rapid Test Result Before Visiting for an Overnight Event
COVID Positive While Visiting: Required to Leave Facility
Flexibility: Required for ever-evolving policies and external conditions that may affect your stay
Vaccinations Strongly Recommended
As people come together in community for extended periods of time at Ferry Beach, we strongly recommend that all visitors be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (per US CDC guidance at time of registration). If you are not vaccinated, we ask you to wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask to protect others around you. All staff will be fully vaccinated.
Before Visiting Ferry Beach
Please ask yourself and those in your party the following questions before visiting Ferry Beach. These questions are intended to help keep visitors, staff and others at Ferry Beach safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other Communicative Viruses. If you can answer yes to any of these questions, we ask that you consider rescheduling your visit to Ferry Beach.
- Have you or anyone in your household had any of the following symptoms in the last 5 days: Fever over 100 degrees fahrenheit, chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea?
- Have you or anyone in your household been diagnosed with COVID-19/Communicative Virus within the last 10 days?
- To the best of your knowledge, have you been in close proximity to any individual who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 5 days?
Items to Bring:
- Masks: We ask that you have enough masks for your party's entire visit. See our masking policy in our SMART guidelines.
- COVID-19 Rapid Tests: Please bring enough tests for your entire party to use at least two rapid tests during your visit.
- Hand Sanitizer: Using hand sanitizer at times when you aren't able to wash your hands reduces the spread of germs. Ferry Beach has hand sanitizer pumps around campus for your convenience, but it is a good idea to have some on your person too.
- Refillable Water Bottle: Not only is this better for sustainability, but for the time being, our water fountains will remain shut down.
Becoming Ill While at Ferry Beach
If a guest is feeling ill at Ferry Beach, we request that the individual immediately mask, isolate from others and take a COVID test. Upon receiving a positive test result, you will be asked to depart the campus. All person(s) you shared a room / cottage will be considered exposed and will also be asked to leave the campus. Individuals who attended workshops with you will be asked to monitor their symptoms, wear a mask and test every other day.
If you are required to leave Ferry Beach earlier than scheduled for a COVID related reason, Ferry Beach will prorate your visit and refund your money (less processing fees) or apply a credit to your next visit. If you have completed 50% or more of your visit, no refunds will be given. We are not able to address any need for extended isolation on campus. Isolation will only be used until the person has the ability to leave campus.
Check-In:
Check-in procedures will be based around current COVID/Communicative Virus guidance and best practice. Check-in information will be sent to groups and guests prior to their arrival to Ferry Beach.
Dining Hall:
Movement through the dining hall will remain one-way and meals will be served cafeteria style. Enter the dining room from the Boardwalk Drive side of the building and exit through the doors on the Gardiner side. The meal line may extend to the outdoors during serving time. Please form lines down the walkway instead of around the interior of the dining hall or the porch. Masks are required while in food lines.
A La Carte Meals:
A la carte meals will not be sold In the dining hall. You must pre-purchase a meal plan with your registration.
Community Living:
Please help by cleaning up after yourself by wiping down handles, doors, and/or frequently touched surfaces. We will have plenty of disinfectant and cleaning supplies in the dining hall and within the restrooms.
Reduced Paper:
We have moved our in-room booklet, song books, Tidings newsletters and Sunday chapel programs to the Ferry Beach app. We will have posters with QR codes around campus to access these documents, or you can access them directly through the app. Download the app at app.ferrybeach.org or by searching your app store.
Let's be SMART about COVID-19/Communicative Viruses
We are asking our guests to be COVID/Communicative Virus S.M.A.R.T. and have established some basic guidelines we hope all guests will adhere to while at Ferry Beach.
S: Status: Vaccinated
We strongly recommend all guests be fully vaccinated based on US CDC guidance for your personal situation at the time of registering. M: Masked Faces We suggest that all visitors at Ferry Beach wear a proper fitting N-95 or KN-95 mask over their mouth and nose when in large groups - especially indoors. Masks will be required in DeWolfe while in service lines and may be removed when seated. A: Adapt & Be Flexible Rules and guidance change quickly - We ask that you remain flexible and adapt to new policies as they become active at Ferry Beach. R: Respiratory Etiquette Practice good respiratory etiquette, including:
T: Track Symptoms Self-monitor for symptoms: fever or chills; cough; difficulty breathing; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea. See CDC’s full symptom list at fbch.me/symptoms !: Have Fun Enjoy your visit to Ferry Beach! We are so happy you are sharing time with us! Let’s all do our part to keep the Ferry Beach community safe! |