COVID-19 Guidelines

September 30, 2021 update

Partial vaccination is required to participate in club activities. After October 24, full vaccination is required. Masks are highly recommended when carpooling and required in any indoor settings.

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These guidelines are based on our best judgment and combine the general advice of the provincial health officer and the guidelines from other outdoor groups including the BCMC, the FMCBC, and other leaders in BC’s outdoors industry.

General 

• Partial vaccination required for club activities after September 13
• Full vaccination required for club activities after October 24
• VOC Huts – see guidelines here
• Regular clubroom hours and gear rental are open
• No trips in or through closed parks, areas or communities
• No trips to Indigenous communities, territories and lands that are not open to visitors – do not enter unless invited to do so by Indigenous peoples
• Follow the guidelines set out by BC health organizations and the BC government

Permitted Activities 

Normal club activities are now permitted as long as they follow the requirements set out in this policy document and are conducted in a safe manner that minimizes risks to participants and others. Help protect SAR members and reduce the risk of burdening hospitals with conservative choices, decisions and actions.

Carpooling and social distancing

• Number of people on a trip – no limit (trip leaders can choose to set their own limit)
• Carpooling is now allowed with mask wearing recommended – self-propelled or transit-accessible trips are still good for the environment and thus remain encouraged!
• Overnight trip guidelines
  • Tent and food sharing within household recommended

Where do you stop and how often?

• Bring coffee from home, meet at the trailhead
• Avoid bathroom breaks in towns
• Have a mask and gloves in case you do need to stop for some reason

Trip leader specific guidelines

• Please consider helping protect search and rescue and take less risk than you normally would
• Allow for extra time throughout your trip / event, especially during snack and lunch breaks, for thorough safe hygiene practices (remind your trip participants to pack hand sanitizer, toilet paper, soap, gloves and potentially a mask)
• Do not plan a trip in any closed recreation sites or parks:
  • BC Parks closures: http://bcparks.ca/covid-19/parks-affected/
  • Recreation sites and trails BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/recreation/camping-hiking/sites-trails/alerts

Trip leader pretrip guidelines

• Recommend pre-trip meetings online
• The trip leader has the right to decline any sign up requests
• Check your participants’ vaccinations. Full vaccination required after October 24.
• At the pretrip meeting, ask your trip participants to try this survey: https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
  • Warn them if they have any symptoms they should not come on the trip

Gear sharing

• As much as possible avoid sharing gear or supplies with non-household members or people outside your “social circle” (i.e. tents, food, etc.)

Participant guidelines

• Each person should have a “clean trip kit” containing hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and gloves – BC Parks
  • For trips without outhouses, bring container to pack out waste instead of gloves
• No touching! No handshakes, hugs, fist or elbow bumping (instead share smiles and waves)
• Practice safe hygiene when touching common surfaces or any shared gear
• Be mindful that public restrooms and other facilities may not be available at trailheads; bring blue / wag bags as a backup
• Practise ‘Leave No Trace’ and pack out what you bring in
• Your trip leaders should give you a list of required gear for your trip. Make sure you bring everything required because sharing gear might not be possible. Ask your trip leader if you are unsure about any gear requirements.
  •  Gear lists on Wiki: https://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Gear_Lists
• You should not attend a trip if you answer yes to any of the questions found here: https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
• If you become ill during or up to 14 days after a trip / event you must notify the VOC exec via email at ‘information at ubc-voc.com’ and follow the BC CDC’s instructions.
• Be respectful of others’ concerns and levels of risk tolerance (i.e. if someone wants to continue to wear a mask when in close proximity to others)