a note about COVID-19

Covid had a big impact on GeoFORCE Alaska again this year, after delaying the start of the program until 2021.

After only two wonderful days in Utah and Arizona, a small group of staff and students tested positive for COVID, Director Fowell included. Following our COVID mitigation plan, this group entered a fiveday quarantine, while the remaining 27 students continued with the scheduled program. Fortunately, the students with positive tests exhibited no symptoms, but this made the quarantine somewhat frustrating for them. I appreciate their patience with COVID restrictions and their comradery with fellow members of “team positive”. We were able to arrange some local outdoor activities for COVIDpositive students at the end of their quarantine.

I am also deeply grateful to the parents to whom we spoke when we called with updates. Your patience, understanding, and trust in the GeoFORCE staff is greatly appreciated.

The two groups met in Phoenix at the end and flew home together as originally planned. Once in Alaska, two students tested positive and quarantined in Anchorage before returning to their home communities.

We did not require a COVID vaccination for participation in 2022. Given the impact of COVID on scheduled activities, the costs incurred by changes to travel plans, and concern for the health of our students and staff, we are considering whether to change this policy to emphasize prevention.

— Director Sarah Fowell & Logistics Coordinator Sarana Schell