Juneau Youth Sailing wants to provide a safe and fun sailing season with no interruptions! In order to do so, JYS has developed a COVID screening and illness mitigation plan to help students and instructors remain healthy throughout the 2023 sailing season. Thank you for being our partners in health and safety as we enjoy our time on the water and learn new skills!

To echo what school and other sports programs have been doing, this sailing season, masks are recommended but not required. Symptom and temperature checks will be completed upon arrival at class each morning. Students will eat outside if weather allows, or in the large main hall where there is sufficient space to allow for social distancing. Students who have had their shots will email JYS an image of their vaccine cards if they did not sail with us in 2022. Students who have not yet had their shots will take a PCR test within 5 days of the first day of class and send JYS an email confirming the results. All students will take a rapid test at home the morning of their first day of class. This and more are described below:

A. COVID Vaccine Option:

The preferred option for JYS students is that they have completed the full, two-shot immunization course (or the non-Pfizer equivalent) a minimum of two weeks prior to their first day of class. (It is even better if they have had the bi-valent booster.) If your student did not sail with us in 2022 (and thus we do not already have their vaccine card on file), please email a photo of their vaccination card after registering. Don't wait, because then our single volunteer admin has to pester you for it.

B. Testing Alternative Option:

Students whose parents have not yet had them vaccinated will need a negative PCR test administered no earlier than the Wednesday before each class starts (five calendar days ahead or closer to the start of class - closer is preferable, Saturday is ideal) and must confirm the results by forwarding a copy of them to the JYS email. If taking two classes back-to-back, a second PCR test for the second week of class is not required, just take the at-home test mentioned below the second Monday like everyone else. If a gap week (or longer) exists between classes, then a PCR test must be taken as described here for each class week. Rapid PCR tests are available at SEARCH's Mountainside Urgent Care by Twin Lakes. Appointments are no-longer required - just drive up, call them from the parking lot (907) 463-6677 and they should be able to return results in an hour, which can then be forwarded to this email for confirmation and filing. They stop testing by 7:30 PM weekdays, and are open weekends with slightly reduced hours.

Don't take the test too early. Please get one between Wednesday and Saturday (the closer to Saturday the better, as your schedule permits).

First Day At-home Antigen Testing:

All students are required to have taken a COVID rapid test every Monday morning (their first day of each class) prior to coming to class. Results will be confirmed verbally during the drop-off screening. Rapid tests can be purchased at Fred Meyer near their pharmacy, are sometimes available at the Juneau Public Health Center, and have been seen at Costco, but it has been a while.

Screening and Mitigation:

Every morning, when students arrive, they will be met outside for temperature screening. Parents or other ride-providers should wait until screening has been completed and the student enters the building before leaving. Parents and other non-students should remain outside.

Students exhibiting a fever and/or other COVID or illness symptoms will need to return home. JYS will review the circumstances and refund the registration fee, pro-rated for the number of class days to be missed. If an alternative class at the same skill level is available, that may be an option for the student and JYS.

Post-Exposure Policy:

Students who have had COVID within 14 days of their first day of class, or present with COVID symptoms upon screening, can return to class after negative PCR test results have been provided to JYS via email. Rapid PCR tests are available at SEARCH's Mountainside Urgent Care by Twin Lakes. Appointments are no-longer required - just drive up, call them from the parking lot (907) 463-6677 and they should be able to return results in an hour, which can then be forwarded to this email for confirmation and filing.

Exposure Notification Policy:

If a student or instructor develops COVID during a class, attendees will be notified of possible exposure. JYS will work with students and families to determine a course of action should such an event occur.

Additional covid mitigation details are described in the forms and waivers that each student must sign and bring to class. Thank you for your patience!