COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Calvert Nature Society is taking all necessary measures to protect public health and welfare. It is important to follow public health recommendations, advisories and protective actions to slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and limit the number of people infected. The risk of getting coronavirus is still low. Please continue to follow basic preventive actions that protect your health and decrease the chances that you will spread infection of any kind to our more vulnerable friends, neighbors and loved ones. |
Please consider the safety, health, and well-being of all participants in our programs and stay home if the participant is ill. Full refunds will be given for cancellations due to health concerns.
Basic Precautions
Staff have evaluated activities and programs to determine if they can be run safely while providing the quality environmental and nature program you have come to expect. Some programs have been canceled, some programs have been rescheduled to later in the year (hoping that we can run more typical programs) and other have been modified with activities that can be done following distancing and grouping guidelines and allowing for proper sanitation.
To ensure the safety of program participants and staff, we will:
- Work with small groups. Either individuals or family units will be working with as little mixing as possible with other participants. Groups may be rotating through stations to aid in distancing.
- Have staggered start times when feasible; the naturalist running the program will send an email to participants if you will be assigned a specific start time.
- Provide more informal programs and activities. This will avoid situations where the all registrants are gathered together. Each family group can do activities after a minimum amount of instruction from the naturalist.
- Shorten programs or modify activities that are not possible to do while complying with distancing and grouping guidelines.
- Be wearing masks as much as possible. Masks will be required for indoor activities by all staff and participants over the age of 5. Participants over the age of 2 years old are recommended to wear masks for programs where social distancing will be more of a challenge. Bring fabric masks for everyone older than 2 years old so you are prepared. Participants must provide their own masks.
- Rely on parents to monitor their children and ensure they follow social distancing measures.
- Ask families to either bring supplies from home or pay a materials fee. This will reduce the need for sharing equipment. The program confirmation email will provide information on what materials are required or what the minimal materials fee will be.
PARTICIPANT WAIVER
Prior to participation in any Society sponsored program, we will ask each individual, or if under 18 a parent or Guardian, to complete a participant waiver.
Please download and complete the waiver prior to the program.
You may complete it online and email to CypressSwamp@CalvertCountyMD.gov, or print it and bring to the program. The waiver needs to be completed for each in-person program.
The waiver requires that all participants agree to follow the following procedures established by the Society.
- I understand that program may need to close on short notice due to government order, child or staff illness, or other emergency.
- I can return to the program within one hour of being notified by phone if the child must be picked up.
If any of the following apply, individuals and families will be asked not to attend in-person programs, and will receive a full refund:
- If the participant(s) temperature the morning of the program is 100.4° or higher they
- If participant has taken any fever reducing medications such acetaminophen or ibuprofen in the past 24 hours.
- If the participant or anyone in participant’s household has potential symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, shortness of breath or persistent dry cough, in the 72 hours prior to the start of program.
- If you or anyone in your immediate household awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.
- If you or anyone in your immediate household is diagnosed with COVID-19.
Program Consent
I am aware that while participating in a program or activity arranged by the Calvert Nature Society (hereinafter known as “Society”), certain risks and dangers may be present, including but not limited to those generally associated with certain activities, accidents, illness, and forces of nature. I agree to indemnify and defend the Calvert Nature Society and hold it harmless from and against any and all claims, suits, damages, liabilities and expenses, including attorney’s fees and the Society’s costs of defense in connection with the loss of life, personal or bodily injury and/or damage to or loss of property that arises from the participation in a Society sponsored program except to the extent that such loss or damage is occasioned by the negligent act or omission of the Society, its officers, agents or employees and no negligence on the part of the Participant. The Society has my consent to secure treatment at the closest hospital in the event of a medical emergency.
CALENDAR OF EVENTSJoin our naturalists on explorations of our nature parks to learn about plants, animals, ecology and more! We have events for families, teens, adults, and summer camps. | Become a memberYour membership helps keep Nature in Calvert County. Tax-deductible gifts help Calvert Nature Society educate and raise awareness of our natural world, as helps support the county as it preserves and maintains these landscapes. Be a part of a growing community of individuals, businesses, and organizations that support Calvert County's nature parks. | VOLUNTEERCalvert Stewards are the volunteer corps of the Calvert Nature Society and the Calvert County Natural Resources Division. Learn about Opportunities on our Calvert Stewards web site. |