COVID-19 Policy Guiding Principles
While the U.S. federal government no longer considers the COVID-19 virus a public health emergency, we understand that traveling and gathering still contribute to its spread and that some retreaters prefer to be cautious. For our 2024 Composed retreats, InkWell remains guided by the following principles:
Science Matters
All our decisions are guided by the data on the appearance and impact of the virus and ongoing research regarding vaccination and other mitigation strategies. In addition, we follow the guidance offered by the CDC, NIAID, WHO to Institutions of Higher Education, Event Planners, and Travelers to assess the risk involved in small scale retreating.
Continual Monitoring
Retreats require all of us—participants, facilitators, and travel workers—to make long term plans and commitments. However, the hallmarks of the COVID-19 pandemic were constant change, conflicting advice, and uncertainty about the impact of our choices. Therefore, we actively monitor the community risk level in the location of our retreat, using research findings, news reports, and health organization guidance. As a result, we reserve the right to change our policies as the situation demands.
Shared Responsibility
Safety isn’t something we can create on our own. It’s something we must co-create together. Therefore, the single biggest determinant of any InkWell decision or policy will be the health of the people connected to our retreats--including you, your families, your communities, and the travel industry workers who make retreating possible. We expect all participants to adhere to our health and policies while on retreat.
Science Matters
All our decisions are guided by the data on the appearance and impact of the virus and ongoing research regarding vaccination and other mitigation strategies. In addition, we follow the guidance offered by the CDC, NIAID, WHO to Institutions of Higher Education, Event Planners, and Travelers to assess the risk involved in small scale retreating.
Continual Monitoring
Retreats require all of us—participants, facilitators, and travel workers—to make long term plans and commitments. However, the hallmarks of the COVID-19 pandemic were constant change, conflicting advice, and uncertainty about the impact of our choices. Therefore, we actively monitor the community risk level in the location of our retreat, using research findings, news reports, and health organization guidance. As a result, we reserve the right to change our policies as the situation demands.
Shared Responsibility
Safety isn’t something we can create on our own. It’s something we must co-create together. Therefore, the single biggest determinant of any InkWell decision or policy will be the health of the people connected to our retreats--including you, your families, your communities, and the travel industry workers who make retreating possible. We expect all participants to adhere to our health and policies while on retreat.
Health & Safety Policies
Vaccination: All in-person retreat participants must provide proof of full vaccination (vaccination + booster) within one week of registration. No exceptions.
Masking: All participants should be prepared to wear masks during writing workshops and coaching sessions, in accordance with local and state guidelines.
Social Distancing: We have several measures in place for participants who want to practice social distancing:
Self Monitoring: While we will not require these activities, if there is a spike in COVID cases nationwide, we will ask participants to:
Suspected & Confirmed Cases
Policy Revisions
Because the situation with the COVID-19 virus remains unpredictable, what makes sense today may not make sense tomorrow. We therefore reserve the right to change these policies without prior notice, to ensure the health and safety of our participants, our partners, and our communities.
Masking: All participants should be prepared to wear masks during writing workshops and coaching sessions, in accordance with local and state guidelines.
Social Distancing: We have several measures in place for participants who want to practice social distancing:
- No housekeeping service is supplied during your stay at the retreat center, so only those you invite in will visit your room.
- Our retreat centers typically includes indoor and outdoor seating for dining, multiple indoor and outdoor spaces for writing, as well as desks in their rooms. Please check your particular retreat location to confirm these details.
Self Monitoring: While we will not require these activities, if there is a spike in COVID cases nationwide, we will ask participants to:
- limit their participation in large events for the week prior to the retreat.
- take an antigen test prior to traveling to the retreat.
- stay masked and not to eat or drink while traveling on public transportation to the retreat.
Suspected & Confirmed Cases
- We will have multiple antigen tests available for all participants, as well the location of testing sites, ER rooms, and hotels nearby in case of need for isolation.
- We will ask retreat participants to test if they're exhibiting symptions of COVID-19.
Policy Revisions
Because the situation with the COVID-19 virus remains unpredictable, what makes sense today may not make sense tomorrow. We therefore reserve the right to change these policies without prior notice, to ensure the health and safety of our participants, our partners, and our communities.
Cancellation Policies
Our retreat cancellation policy is designed to let you change your mind about attending without requiring Michelle to lose the opportunity to work with another scholar. Specifically:
If InkWell cancels or postpones a retreat:
If you cancel your registration:
If you do not supply proof of COVID-19 vaccination by the due date:
Travel Insurance: We don’t require travel insurance. But since your retreat is non-refundable after a certain date, we strongly encourage you to 1) purchase it, 2) in an amount that covers all your travel expenses, 3) immediately after registering for the retreat, so that you receive the best coverage options.
If InkWell cancels or postpones a retreat:
- you may transfer your retreat payment to a future online or in-person retreat, or
- you may receive a full refund to the original form of payment.
If you cancel your registration:
- 90 days or more prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: 100% credit for the cost of the retreat toward another writing retreat within 12 months.
- 89-45 days prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: 50% credit of the cost of the retreat toward another writing retreat within 12 months, and will forfeit the remainder.
- Fewer than 45 days prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: no refunds or credits. This is the case even if your cancellation is the result of personal tragedy and we strongly urge you to purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.
If you do not supply proof of COVID-19 vaccination by the due date:
- we regard that as a cancellation on your part.
- you will be subject to the standard cancellation policy above.
Travel Insurance: We don’t require travel insurance. But since your retreat is non-refundable after a certain date, we strongly encourage you to 1) purchase it, 2) in an amount that covers all your travel expenses, 3) immediately after registering for the retreat, so that you receive the best coverage options.
Health & Safety FAQs
What if my retreat gets cancelled for low attendance due to guest cancellations?
Our standard cancellation policy (above) applies.
What if I cancel my retreat because of travel restrictions?
Our standard cancellation policy (above) applies.
What if I’m booked on a retreat but don’t want to travel?
Our standard cancellation policy (above) applies.
What if I get sick and must quarantine?
We will have rapid tests, test locations, and local hotel information available to help you as much as possible if this happens. We strongly recommend checking your travel insurance policy before you the trip, to determine what level of insurance coverage you may receive if you are quarantined or get sick while traveling. Please direct all coverage questions directly to your provider.
To which retreat do these policies apply?
The health and safety policies apply to the in-person sessions of Composed.
Our standard cancellation policy (above) applies.
What if I cancel my retreat because of travel restrictions?
Our standard cancellation policy (above) applies.
What if I’m booked on a retreat but don’t want to travel?
Our standard cancellation policy (above) applies.
What if I get sick and must quarantine?
We will have rapid tests, test locations, and local hotel information available to help you as much as possible if this happens. We strongly recommend checking your travel insurance policy before you the trip, to determine what level of insurance coverage you may receive if you are quarantined or get sick while traveling. Please direct all coverage questions directly to your provider.
To which retreat do these policies apply?
The health and safety policies apply to the in-person sessions of Composed.
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