July 1, 2020 - More states are Exempt for Quarantine & Testing Requirements
Governor Janet T. Mills announced today, that three more states will be exempt from meeting the quarantine & testing requirements to visit Maine. Residents of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut may now visit Maine without having to be tested prior to arrival or quarantine for 14 days. These the additional states join New Hampshire and Vermont in this exemption. Maine public health officials are continually reviewing the data and will exempt states that are maintaining low positivity rates.
Governor Janet T. Mills announced today, that three more states will be exempt from meeting the quarantine & testing requirements to visit Maine. Residents of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut may now visit Maine without having to be tested prior to arrival or quarantine for 14 days. These the additional states join New Hampshire and Vermont in this exemption. Maine public health officials are continually reviewing the data and will exempt states that are maintaining low positivity rates.
June 25, 2020 - It's Going to be Different This Year
We are excited to host guests at Ferry Beach this summer. As we are sure you expect, things this year will not be able to be like they have been in the year’s past. In response to the COVID-19 crisis and orders from the State of Maine, we wanted to share with you a list of what you can expect to see different this summer:
Out-Of-State Guests (Excluding NH or VT Residents):
What to Bring
Beyond the standard items you would normally bring with you on vacation. We are requesting guests also bring with them:
Your Experience:
Your Lodging
Around Campus
In the Dining Room
We are also asking guests to adhere to this personal responsibility list to keep everyone safe and H-E-A-L-T-H-Y. Please review before arrival and plan accordingly. Don’t forget to bring masks, a thermometer, and personal hand sanitizer (optional) with you this year!
These changes are tough, and not what we have been used to, but keeping ourselves and each other safe is the most important thing we can do this year. We know that despite these changes you will have an amazing visit! This isn’t forever, we’ll all make our way to a new normal, but we must get through this first.
We are excited to host guests at Ferry Beach this summer. As we are sure you expect, things this year will not be able to be like they have been in the year’s past. In response to the COVID-19 crisis and orders from the State of Maine, we wanted to share with you a list of what you can expect to see different this summer:
Out-Of-State Guests (Excluding NH or VT Residents):
- You will be required to certify you have met the criteria to visit the state of Maine prior to check-in. As a reminder, you must have had a COVID-19 test in your home state come back negative within 72 hours of your arrival to Maine. Guests may be tested in Maine but will be required to quarantine until the results are finalized.
What to Bring
Beyond the standard items you would normally bring with you on vacation. We are requesting guests also bring with them:
- Thermometer: to do daily symptom checks
- Masks: enough for every person in your party to last the duration of your visit
- Wipes, hand sanitizer and other cleaning items you may want for personal use. Ferry Beach will provide these items throughout campus in public spaces for the general population.
- Reusable Water Bottle (one for every member of your party). There will not be coolers around campus however staff will provide contactless bottle refills when needed.
- Art Supplies: The Creative Cabin will not be accessible this summer due to the high volume of shared supplies and the tight layout of the room. You may bring your own art supplies.
- Games, puzzles, books: Ferry Beach has removed these items from public spaces. You are welcome to bring your own.
Your Experience:
- You will prepay your balance before arrival. We will be a cashless campus – you will need to have a credit card on file and you may charge expenses to your room.
- Check-in time has moved to 4pm to allow extra cleaning and sanitization time
- You will be given an arrival timeslot. You will need to call the registration office when you get to campus to be given further instructions. Do not enter the Quillen Lobby unless instructed to do so.
- The store will be open with limited hours and window service only.
- We will be selling premium novelty items in place of the scooped ice cream
- Ferry Beach gear may be purchased through the window. Sample Items will be outside to view.
- You may buy items from our store on the Ferry Beach app and select the pick-up option if you are onsite.
Your Lodging
- Dorms: You will be assigned a bathroom on your floor and sign-up for the times to use the shower.
- You will be required to disinfect after yourself when leaving a bathroom
- When possible, please use your assigned bathrooms and minimize the use of public bathrooms around campus.
Around Campus
- We will have minimal staff on campus. Please clean up after yourself and help us keep each other safe by wiping down handles, doors, frequently touched surfaces.
- Several outdoor handwashing stations and hand sanitizer stations will be available to use around campus. Remember to wash your hands often and thoroughly.
- Use caution and be aware of people on the boardwalk. Make sure no one is coming in the opposite direction as you before you step on.
- Observe room capacity limits for each public space on campus and self-monitor population before entering when staff aren’t present
- Pay attention to door signage and floor directional instructions
In the Dining Room
- Depending on the volume of people on-site at a given time, meals may be staggered, and you will be asked to eat your meals in a specified timeslot
- You will be required to wash your hands before entering the dining room.
- The meals and beverages will be served cafeteria style. No self-service.
- You are asked to clean up after yourself and disinfect the area around where you ate
- The HVAC system will be turned off during mealtimes and windows will be opened to promote air exchange. The room will be cooled down between meals on hot days.
- Doors will be locked between meals for cleaning & disinfection (Lobby area will remain open for bathroom use)
- Meal plans are encouraged. No walk-in meals will be sold this summer. A-la-carte meals may be purchased ahead of time as part of a guest’s package but will not be sold during meals.
We are also asking guests to adhere to this personal responsibility list to keep everyone safe and H-E-A-L-T-H-Y. Please review before arrival and plan accordingly. Don’t forget to bring masks, a thermometer, and personal hand sanitizer (optional) with you this year!
These changes are tough, and not what we have been used to, but keeping ourselves and each other safe is the most important thing we can do this year. We know that despite these changes you will have an amazing visit! This isn’t forever, we’ll all make our way to a new normal, but we must get through this first.
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June 12, 2020 - Be H-E-A-L-T-H-Y. Stay Germ Free.
Ferry Beach has been planning for the eventual return of visitors to our campus for many weeks. We have worked out our operational plans and have put many systems in place to protect our guests and staff during this pandemic. But all of our planning and precautions alone are not enough to prevent the spread of this virus. We ALL need to participate in this effort to ensure everyone's safety. Today, we are launching our "Be H-E-A-L-T-H-Y. Stay Germ Free" personal responsibilities campaign. Those of you who join us on campus this year will see reminders reminding you of your responsibilities while at Ferry Beach to help keep us all safe. These are the same steps we have been taking all along to ensure human safety including: HANDS CLEAN - Washing your hands thoroughly and frequently EVERYONE APART - Social distancing whenever possible A MASK IS KEY - Wearing a mask in all public spaces (Is currently required in Maine by Executive Order) LET'S ALL PITCH IN - Cleaning up and Sanitizing after yourself TRACKING TEMPERATURE - Self-monitoring temperature and for COVID-19 Symptoms HEAR & FOLLOW - Follow all public health orders from the state of Maine and rules and guidelines from Ferry Beach YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE - Be aware of your surroundings and who you are near in the event of someone becoming symptomatic We will be sending this information to all of our registered guests before they arrive to Ferry Beach this summer and requesting that they agree to our shared responsibilities. This will look different this year, but if we all do our part to keep each other safe, and stop the spread of this virus, the sooner we will be able to return to something more normal. |
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June 9, 2020 - Maine Travel Restrictions Revised
Maine Governor Janet Mills has released a plan to relax the 14-day quarantine restrictions that would be complicating travel for our guests this summer.
The quarantine will be lifted immediately to residents of NH and VT. Restrictions will be modified on JULY 1 for those from other states.
This new layered approach will require some combination of testing, symptom checks, and public outreach to help ensure the health and safety of residents and visitors alike. Of course, we will also have guidelines in place to assure your safety while you visit.
You will be asked to "Know Before You Go" and prove via certificate that you have had a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your arrival into the State of Maine. Those from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are exempt from this requirement.
The certificate will need to be completed during check-in and kept on file at Ferry Beach. Lodging facilities will not be collecting personal medical information. Should any issues arise the state may request further proof of your completed test paperwork, so please keep it in your records.
Guests from states other than ME, NH, or VT may alternatively choose to quarantine for the 14 days and will be required to certify you have done so before checking in to any commercial lodging.
More Information: https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy
Maine Governor Janet Mills has released a plan to relax the 14-day quarantine restrictions that would be complicating travel for our guests this summer.
The quarantine will be lifted immediately to residents of NH and VT. Restrictions will be modified on JULY 1 for those from other states.
This new layered approach will require some combination of testing, symptom checks, and public outreach to help ensure the health and safety of residents and visitors alike. Of course, we will also have guidelines in place to assure your safety while you visit.
You will be asked to "Know Before You Go" and prove via certificate that you have had a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your arrival into the State of Maine. Those from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are exempt from this requirement.
The certificate will need to be completed during check-in and kept on file at Ferry Beach. Lodging facilities will not be collecting personal medical information. Should any issues arise the state may request further proof of your completed test paperwork, so please keep it in your records.
Guests from states other than ME, NH, or VT may alternatively choose to quarantine for the 14 days and will be required to certify you have done so before checking in to any commercial lodging.
More Information: https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy
May 8, 2020 - Ferry Beach Summer Operations
Ferry Beach will open in a limited capacity for the Summer of 2020 in accordance with Maine State executive orders and will follow all guidelines set forth by the state of Maine CDC and Department of Economic Development.
Our priority is human safety. This is an effort that we will need everybody to participate in. We are developing guidelines and request that all guests review and adhere to them while at Ferry Beach. These will be your Personal Responsibilities to our community!
Some of the key changes you will experience this summer are:
We will need help from everyone this year to help manage the new changes. If you are able to volunteer, please reach out to your conference coordinator who will have a list of jobs available prior to the start of your conference. Some jobs may include:
As things are ever changing please understand that rules and guidelines in place today may be different tomorrow. We are staying alert to our state policies and continuously evaluating our operational plans in accordance with official guidance.
We are requesting that everyone maintain a flexible attitude and understand that every decision made is in the interest of human safety. As of now, we will still be making conference determinations one month prior to your conferences check-in day.
Ferry Beach will open in a limited capacity for the Summer of 2020 in accordance with Maine State executive orders and will follow all guidelines set forth by the state of Maine CDC and Department of Economic Development.
Our priority is human safety. This is an effort that we will need everybody to participate in. We are developing guidelines and request that all guests review and adhere to them while at Ferry Beach. These will be your Personal Responsibilities to our community!
Some of the key changes you will experience this summer are:
- Every guest and staff person will wear a mask at all times, except when eating. Masks will help assure everyone’s safety.
- All persons will be asked to wash hands frequently and required to wash hands before entering gathering spaces like the dining hall. We will be installing outdoor hand washing stations around campus.
- Gatherings of certain sizes (currently set to 50 people) will not be allowed to occur on the Ferry Beach Campus. Meals will be split up into shifts to protect physical distance. Groups such as our chapel service, in-gatherings and TNT will be limited and/or they will be scheduled in shifts.
- Social distancing: no contact activities will be permitted, and we will be asking all guests to stay 6 ft. apart as they are able.
- If you are coming up as a family, we will identify you some way so you may congregate with less physical distance.
- Guests will be asked to pre-pay their balances to limit lines in the Quillen Lobby. Cash will be prohibited on campus and we will ask all guests to charge any incidentals to their lodging and maintain a credit card on file.
- To maintain group and capacity counts in the dining hall, we will not be able to offer a-la-carte meals.
- Meals & Beverages will be served cafeteria style by Ferry Beach Staff
- High-touch surfaces will be disinfected frequently.
- Children in families of all ages will be more closely supervised by family members to assure safety of all guests. Congregating of youth without supervision will not be permitted.
- We will be looking at safe distances and room capacity in conference/workshop spaces and will make recommendations to accommodate participants (Chair spacing, etc.)
We will need help from everyone this year to help manage the new changes. If you are able to volunteer, please reach out to your conference coordinator who will have a list of jobs available prior to the start of your conference. Some jobs may include:
- Managing an outdoor check-in line for guests who have prepaid
- Helping control line flows into the dining hall
- Help dining hall staff serve food and housekeeping staff disinfect around campus
As things are ever changing please understand that rules and guidelines in place today may be different tomorrow. We are staying alert to our state policies and continuously evaluating our operational plans in accordance with official guidance.
We are requesting that everyone maintain a flexible attitude and understand that every decision made is in the interest of human safety. As of now, we will still be making conference determinations one month prior to your conferences check-in day.
April 30, 2020 - State of Maine Reopening
On April 28th, Maine Governor Janet Mills released the state of Maine's reopening plan after the state closure due to the COVID-19 crisis. Her statement can be viewed at: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-presents-safe-gradual-plan-restart-maines-economy-2020-04-28
The Ferry Beach Staff and the Sustainability Taskforce are reviewing the reopening guidelines and determining the next steps we will take. We will be releasing our plan in the coming days.
As things are ever changing please understand that rules and guidelines in place today may be different tomorrow. We are requesting that everyone maintain a flexible attitude and understand that every decision made is in the interest of human safety. As of now, we will still be making conference determinations one month prior to your conferences check-in day.
On April 28th, Maine Governor Janet Mills released the state of Maine's reopening plan after the state closure due to the COVID-19 crisis. Her statement can be viewed at: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-presents-safe-gradual-plan-restart-maines-economy-2020-04-28
The Ferry Beach Staff and the Sustainability Taskforce are reviewing the reopening guidelines and determining the next steps we will take. We will be releasing our plan in the coming days.
As things are ever changing please understand that rules and guidelines in place today may be different tomorrow. We are requesting that everyone maintain a flexible attitude and understand that every decision made is in the interest of human safety. As of now, we will still be making conference determinations one month prior to your conferences check-in day.
April 16,2020 - Ferry Beach Summer Season
Ferry Beach has established a Sustainability task force to advise the board and staff regarding decisions related to the COVID-19 crisis. At the time of this notice (4/16/2020) we have not made any decisions to cancel any of our summer programs. Ferry Beach will consider each individual program one month before the program start date. Decisions will be based upon a set of criteria based on federal, state and local guidelines.
Ferry Beach has established a Sustainability task force to advise the board and staff regarding decisions related to the COVID-19 crisis. At the time of this notice (4/16/2020) we have not made any decisions to cancel any of our summer programs. Ferry Beach will consider each individual program one month before the program start date. Decisions will be based upon a set of criteria based on federal, state and local guidelines.
April 2, 2020, 12:45 PM - Ferry Beach Campus is Closed
The State of Maine has a "Shelter-in-Place" order in effect until April 30th, 2020. All programs in April have been cancelled, postponed, or will be held online. Our staff will be working from home and would be available to help you as as they normally would. Please call 207-282-4489 or email us at info@ferrybeach.org for any questions or concerns you may have.
The State of Maine has a "Shelter-in-Place" order in effect until April 30th, 2020. All programs in April have been cancelled, postponed, or will be held online. Our staff will be working from home and would be available to help you as as they normally would. Please call 207-282-4489 or email us at info@ferrybeach.org for any questions or concerns you may have.
March 18, 2020, 3:00 PM - Ferry Beach Response to COVID-19
In the last few years we have accomplished a great deal at Ferry Beach for the comfort and safety of our guests. These changes include additional accessible walkways, the board walk, automatic door openers and more. We have also upgraded our buildings with heat pumps and air conditioning units. In all, safety has always been our driving force.
As you know, our world is facing a crisis: COVID-19. As the world-wide health professionals address this issue, we are paying close attention. We are also assessing what are the best ways that we can do our part to keep our communities safe.
At this time, there are a growing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maine and throughout New England (CDC Map). We are following the State of Maine’s CDC and the Federal CDC recommendations on social distancing and our facility is closed and staff are teleworking until further notice.
Like you, we are in a “wait-and-see” space. We want our summer season to go on as planned, but we also want our community, our country and our world to be safe. We hope you are practicing all of the protocols in your life as well. For now, we are anxious for our future, but making plans.
When we reopen we will be encouraging our guests to make good hygiene decisions by reminding them about frequent hand washing, not touching their faces, not holding hands; coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the crook of their arm and staying home if sick or believe you may have been exposed to a sick person. We are changing the way we will serve food in the dining hall. We will caution conference leaders regarding hand holding in gathering circles and to share with all participants, the need to refrain from enthusiastic hugs and kisses. For the safety of all of our guests, anyone displaying symptoms of a virus will be sent home immediately.
At Ferry Beach we follow the ServSafe guidelines and are careful to wash down surfaces with a germicide cleaning solution. We regularly wash down all doorknobs, light switches and other high-touch surfaces with approved disinfectants.
Please keep yourselves and your loved ones safe. Check back with us regularly for more information.
For more information about the COVID-19 see these links: Maine CDC; Federal CDC.
In the last few years we have accomplished a great deal at Ferry Beach for the comfort and safety of our guests. These changes include additional accessible walkways, the board walk, automatic door openers and more. We have also upgraded our buildings with heat pumps and air conditioning units. In all, safety has always been our driving force.
As you know, our world is facing a crisis: COVID-19. As the world-wide health professionals address this issue, we are paying close attention. We are also assessing what are the best ways that we can do our part to keep our communities safe.
At this time, there are a growing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maine and throughout New England (CDC Map). We are following the State of Maine’s CDC and the Federal CDC recommendations on social distancing and our facility is closed and staff are teleworking until further notice.
Like you, we are in a “wait-and-see” space. We want our summer season to go on as planned, but we also want our community, our country and our world to be safe. We hope you are practicing all of the protocols in your life as well. For now, we are anxious for our future, but making plans.
When we reopen we will be encouraging our guests to make good hygiene decisions by reminding them about frequent hand washing, not touching their faces, not holding hands; coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the crook of their arm and staying home if sick or believe you may have been exposed to a sick person. We are changing the way we will serve food in the dining hall. We will caution conference leaders regarding hand holding in gathering circles and to share with all participants, the need to refrain from enthusiastic hugs and kisses. For the safety of all of our guests, anyone displaying symptoms of a virus will be sent home immediately.
At Ferry Beach we follow the ServSafe guidelines and are careful to wash down surfaces with a germicide cleaning solution. We regularly wash down all doorknobs, light switches and other high-touch surfaces with approved disinfectants.
Please keep yourselves and your loved ones safe. Check back with us regularly for more information.
For more information about the COVID-19 see these links: Maine CDC; Federal CDC.