Alter Experiences LLC
COVID-19 Mitigation & Operation Plan
Per your permit, you must comply with federal, state, and local laws. Based upon the San Diego County ordinance, can you please outline if and how your operations would comply with local laws? Is your business considered essential?
We operate a limited and boutique outdoor hospitality experience at Burnt Rancheria campground, under permit of US Forest Service - Descanso Ranger District Office.
Camping is by nature a relatively isolated outdoor recreation activity, spent primarily with immediate family and close friends. Our camp sites are very well spaced out with about 80-100 feet separation between them. Each site can hold no more than 8 people at one time, which is within the recommended county gathering limits.
Besides an initial orientation briefing upon visitor arrival, staff otherwise has been instructed to have little interaction with visitors throughout their stay. All transactions and most service communications take place on-line before arrival.
Each of our sites is equipped with a range of cleaning and sanitizing supplies including; antibacterial soap, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and paper towels. This has been standard practice for us even before the COVID-19 recommendations. Bathroom and other communal facilities are cleansed and sanitized regularly by the primary concessionaire.
We clean and disinfect our accommodations and gear after every guest departure. We maintain very high standards of cleanliness and guest safety, as well as providing First Aid kits for every site.
As US Forest Service Outfitters, we strongly believe that we are providing an essential service, which supports and encourages overall health and well being. Our outdoor recreation experience promotes both social isolation, as well as recommended activities like hiking at nearby trails. It provides an important alternative space to socially isolate, for cooped up families stuck at home in the city.
We will continue to abide by all county health recommendations and have so far done so, including canceling bookings and shutting down our operation per Governor Newsom’s order on March 19.
Consider decisions to reopen recreation opportunities based on capability to manage use consistent with current public health guidance (i.e. address sanitization, public gathering, crowding, and physical separation requirements). How will you enforce local public health guidelines in your operations?
As stated before, camping is by nature a relatively isolated outdoor recreation activity, spent primarily with immediate family. Our camp sites are very well spaced out and each site can hold no more than 8 people.
Each of our sites is equipped with a range of cleaning and sanitizing supplies including; antibacterial soap, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and paper towels. This has been standard practice for us even before the COVID-19 outbreak. Bathroom and other communal facilities are cleansed and sanitized regularly by the primary concessionaire.
We clean and disinfect our accommodations and gear after every guest departure. We maintain very high standards of cleanliness and guest safety, as well as providing First Aid kits for every site.
Our staff is regularly on site and monitoring to ensure compliance with public health guidelines. We work closely with the primary concessionaire, Recreation Resource Management, which is also on site at all times to ensure visitors are in compliance.
We will also make sure to place an emphasis on these guidelines during our orientation briefings, as well as on our web-site and social media platforms.
Are you comfortable opening your outfitting & guiding operation this season? If so, when?
We have been patiently waiting for the opportunity to return to outfitting and we’ve had daily booking enquiries over the past 2 weeks. We are confident that we can resume operation starting Monday, May 18.
Are you willing to accept the risk that due to changing circumstances or changes to federal, state, or local guidance, operations may be suspended at any time?
We’re willing to accept the risk and are aware that operations may be suspended at any time.
How will staffing compare to last operating season? Are you experiencing any staffing challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak?
Staffing will remain the same in comparison to last year and we haven’t had any staffing challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
What is your current inventory of cleaning supplies? How will you secure additional cleaning supplies through the remainder of the operating season?
We currently have a surplus of cleaning supplies that we purchased in early March, in preparation for a busy high season. This includes antibacterial soap, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and paper towels. We have approximately 7 gallons worth of antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer. We have over 7 lbs of disinfectant wipes and over 30 rolls of paper towels. We’ll be doubling that order by the end of May through our various wholesale suppliers.
What is your current inventory of PPE in terms of gloves, goggles/safety glasses, etc.? Are there additional PPE items that are needed specific to your operation? How will you secure additional PPE through the remainder of the operating season?
Aside from gloves and face masks, there are no PPE items needed specific to our operation. We have over 300 disposable gloves on hand and 200 disposable face masks for staff.
Have you had discussions with the district or forest in terms of assessing risk? What operational changes do you propose to minimize risk? Are you able to document these changes into a mitigation plan? (Please attach draft updated COVID19 Operations & Mitigation Plan) Are you willing to amend your operating plan to include these mitigations and abatement measures?
We have been in communication with our permits officer since the start of the incident and have followed all her instructions and guidelines.
Aside from increased cleaning and sanitation procedures, our business model is very much in-line with the current county health recommendations as they relate to COVID-19.
We will be putting a lot of emphasis on COVID-19 safety and precautions during our briefings, as well as ensuring that all groups are aware of the requirements and recommendations. We are willing to amend our operating plan to include any and all requested mitigation and abatement measures.
Once open, is there a protocol for deep cleaning if one or more site-specific covid19 occurrences (staff or guests) are reported? If the state issues another return of the Stay and Home order?
We are working with our colleagues at All Clean San Diego, if the need arises for deep cleaning of our sites as a result of COVID-19 occurrences.
Alter Experiences will abide by all group sizes, as appropriate, to maintain social distancing rules under existing state and count health mandates.
This guidance and applicable COVID-19 Health Mandates (collectively the “Plan”), has been developed to address the practices and protocols to protect staff and the public, and will be clearly posted on our web-site, briefing sheet and camping sites.
The plan will state that any person with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 may not enter the premises.
- Alter Experiences will provide training/instruction for staff regarding all COVID-19 requirements and provide each staff member with a copy of the Plan.
- No staff displaying symptoms of COVID-19 may provide services to the public. Symptomatic or ill staff will not report to work.
- No staff may report to the work site within 72 hours of exhibiting a fever.
- Face coverings must be worn by all staff while working with each other, or while interacting with the public.
- Social distancing of at least six feet will be maintained between non-household members in common areas of the campground.
- All sites must be spaced apart, and attempts to keep sites separated will be made.
- Antibacterial soap, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and paper towels will be provided to all visitors.
- Water sources are available.
- Hand washing by staff will occur as often as reasonably practicable. Disinfectant wipes and/or hand sanitizer will be available to all staff.
- Cleaning and disinfecting must be conducted in compliance with CDC protocols.
- Staff will disinfect all common surfaces when possible.
- Campsite picnic table will be sanitized between reservations, but should also be sanitized by the guests before and after use.
- Tents will be cleaned after each departure and as often as resources and staff are reasonably available.
- When any staff is identified as being COVID-19 positive by testing, CDC cleaning and disinfecting must be performed on the affected areas as soon after the confirmation of a positive test as practicable.
In lieu of performing CDC cleaning and disinfecting, the affected park area may shut down for a period of at least 72 consecutive hours to allow for natural deactivation of the virus, followed by site personnel performing a comprehensive disinfection of all common surfaces.
CDC protocols can be found online at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html