About COVID

All Rustic Pathways programs follow our Cleaner, Safer, Healthier Plan. With the advice of health experts, our Health & Safety Team updates COVID protocols on a regular basis.

Contact our team for specific COVID protocols for any of the countries that we visit.

Revised 4/24/2024

Before you travel	Covid Vaccinations
In general, you do not need a COVID-19 test before your program. We will let you know if your destination has special entry requirements.	We do not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students. We do encourage all students to follow all US CDC guidelines. This includes guidelines on COVID-19 and other vaccines.
Masks and face coverings	Screening
Masks are available upon request. We adhere to local government mask guidelines and policies. We will let you know if your destination has specific guidelines or policies in place.	We monitor for infectious symptoms as a normal part of our programming. Upon client request, we can arrange access to COVID testing. We can also arrange access if a destination requires a COVID test. We adhere to local government screening policies.
Community interaction	Enhanced cleaning and increased ventilation
We are extra careful whenever we interact with local community members. We may ask students to keep social distancing or other enhanced measures when interacting with community partners.	Fans and screened windows provide ample access to fresh air. We design program activities to get students outside in fresh air. We have increased disinfection of sleeping areas and shared surfaces with EPA-approved products.
Food and beverage	Program leader standards
Handwashing stations will be available at each meal. Program staff clean and disinfect surfaces used for eating. Staff clean and disinfect food preparation areas.	Staff are screened before each program. Leaders and staff undergo regular training on health, safety, and risk management. We base our training in care, courtesy, and respect. We focus on empowering our team to act and respond when incidents may occur.
Shared responsibility	If you get COVID before you travel
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based sanitizer when soap is not available. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Be sure to cough or sneeze into your elbow if a tissue is unavailable. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid sharing cups, glasses or utensils.	No problem! Focus on getting healthy first. You can switch to a program later in the summer. Contact us for help. You can cancel and submit a claim to your insurance provider. We can help with any invoices or receipts you need. Note: if you submit a claim — get a verified positive test for your claim documents. Insurance companies may not accept an at-home test.