VWC 2026 Public Health/Covid Policy And Protocols

Purpose: This policy is intended as an expression of care toward all who attend our gathering, and those connected to us. The VWC organizers recognize that covid-19 continues to pose a risk to our community, alongside other public health concerns such as norovirus. For some, especially those who are immunocompromised, covid can be severe or even deadly. We also acknowledge that even cases of covid that are mild initially can contribute to long covid, a chronic and sometimes debilitating illness, and that repeated reinfection with covid may produce cumulative risks. Our intention is to offer a policy that reduces the risk of covid transmission at camp, while still supporting us in accessing the incredible value of making magic in person together. 

Vaccination: Vaccination is strongly recommended, as it can reduce the severity of acute illness, helping to prevent hospitalization and death. Vaccination is not required to attend. 

Harm Reduction Before Arrival: Campers are strongly encouraged to take additional harm reduction measures in the week leading up to camp. This will both help reduce the risk of you getting covid (so you can come to camp!!) and also reduce the risk of you coming to camp with covid, but before you have tested positive or symptoms have appeared (covid can take several days to incubate, and tests are not 100% accurate). As much as possible, in the week before camp, please:

• Avoid gatherings, parties, events, and indoor dining (or attend masked)

• Wear a mask in public, including at work or school and at any events you do attend in the week before camp 

• Practice frequent hand washing 

Even if you are not able to do all of the above, any increase in preventative measures is still harm reduction! Thank you for doing the best you can. 

Testing: All campers over the age of two are required to take a covid test in the morning the day you arrive at camp, and to only attend if your test is negative and you are symptom-free.  All campers will be required to take at least one additional test at camp early in the week.  Pending their availability, for this early-week test we will batch-test, using a Pluslife testing device, which are between 95-100% accurate (if not possible for whatever reason, we will rely on rapid tests). Besides this, we will test as the need arises.  

Please bring additional tests to camp with you (many if possible). 

If you have a Pluslife dock that you are willing to share, please bring it to camp so that we can test more efficiently. 

Symptoms of Illness: Please take note of the following symptoms:

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Loss of sense of taste and/or smell

• Nausea

• Diarrhea 

• Fever

• Chills

• Abdominal discomfort 

• Nasal congestion 

If you develop any of the above symptoms while at camp, please inform an organizer or the Public Health Coordinator immediately, test for covid daily, and take additional precautions (including not attending your breadwork shifts). 

Masking: Please bring with you a supply of N-95 or KN-95 masks and keep one on you throughout each day. Masks are required during breadwork shifts, and in the dining hall when you are not eating. Path leaders, organizers, and RFT members will be empowered to request mask wearing whenever they think it would be especially beneficial during path, ritual, meetings, etc. All campers are encouraged to wear masks during any activity or in any location that presents a higher risk of transmission. 

Higher risk activities/locations include:

• Indoor/enclosed spaces

• Semi-enclosed spaces

• Crowded spaces, indoors or outside 

• Singing / projecting one’s voice or breath around others 

Weather-permitting, campers are encouraged to eat and conduct other activities outside as much as possible. 

Hand Washing: Please wash your hands frequently, especially after using the kybo and before entering the dining hall! This also helps to prevent the spread of Norovirus and other illnesses, which would be NO FUN at camp (or ever). Hand sanitizer does not kill Norovirus!!! 

What happens if I test positive for Covid? If you test positive for covid before coming to camp, you will need to stay home and a full refund will be offered. 

If you test positive for covid at camp, you will need to leave camp as soon as you are able. Please consider this when making travel arrangements. Campers visiting from out of state may wish to arrange to have a closer-to-camp place to go if needed. 

Note: If you test positive for covid in the weeks leading up to VWC, please only come to camp if it has been at least 10 days since your first positive test AND you have tested negative on two rapid tests, taken 24 hours apart. 

Visitors Day: Introducing visitors to our camp container can increase the risk of germ exposure for campers and visitors alike. We also recognize the great joy that it is to welcome visitors to camp and ask that you take steps to help us do so as safely as we reasonably can!

Visitors are asked to please:

• Get vaccinated (strongly recommended, not strictly required) 

• Take harm reduction measures in the week leading up to visitors day (e.g. please wear a mask indoors and in crowds wherever possible)

• Test in the morning before arriving at camp, and only come if the test is negative and you do not have symptoms of illness 

• Mask whenever indoors or in partially enclosed structures (e.g. dining hall, Ken's lodge), except when eating (weather permitting, please eat outside!)

• Wear your mask outdoors as well if you are in a denser gathering of witches (e.g. at a ritual, meeting, performance, etc.)

We depend on you to use this guidance responsibly - we are ALL responsible for our own and our community’s health and safety. 

This policy will be updated as needed, if conditions change or new information emerges. 

Thank you for helping us all have a safe and magickal Camp!!!