BYEP COVID-19 RESPONSE UPDATE
UPDATE: January 2022
To read BYEP’s most recent COVID-19 updates and guidelines, click here.
UPDATE: September 2021
To read BYEP’s most recent COVID-19 updates and guidelines, click here.
UPDATE: November 2nd, 2020
To read BYEP’s November COVID-19 update, click here.
UPDATE: August 25th, 2020
We remain in Phase 2 of our state’s re-opening effort, based on the State of Montana Directives set forth on 5/19/2020. The Montana directives were developed by the Governor’s office by relying on scientific evidence and data, and in consultation with public health experts, healthcare providers, business leaders, and emergency management professionals. Our own COVID-19 Protocols are similar to what we had in place for the Summer 2020 Season.
What is the same?
BYEP will:
Continue to require mask-wearing at all times at BYEP HQ and in our vehicles. If a program participant or visitor to the building does not have a mask, one will be provided.
Continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines to 6 feet distance between individuals.
Continue to sanitize highly-touched surfaces, workshop rooms, shared community spaces, and vehicles on a daily basis.
Continue to request that staff, mentors, and participants stay home if they are sick.
Continue to document attendance in our vehicle logs, in the event we need to provide contact tracing data to the Gallatin County Health Department.
Continue to restrict the use of shared community spaces.
Continue to provide individual pre-packaged snacks for program participants.
Continue to limit visitors in order to keep our building safe for participants.
Continue to fill vehicles only to 50% capacity.
When to stay home from BYEP:
1. If you have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
2. If you are awaiting your own COVID-19 test results.
3. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms (including fever of 100.4 °F or greater, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, vomiting, etc. within the past 7 days).
4. If you or someone you live with have tested positive for COVID-19.
If a youth, volunteer, or staff member is suspected to have COVID-19, we will immediately isolate (away from other youth, volunteers, and staff) and send home as soon as safely possible and recommend a test for COVID-19 prior to returning to BYEP. If needed, provide the health department a list of individuals that were in contact with the symptomatic person at BYEP.
What is different?
We are adopting a hybrid format for Fall 2020. The intention behind this is to limit in-person exposure to once every 10-14 days. Our schedule will return to workshops taking place Monday-Thursday and adventures on Sundays. We will run Approach and Crux groups opposite each other to limit the number of participants in the building week by week.
In-person Workshops: Will occur every other week, after school from 4:00-7:00, rides will be provided from school.
In-person Adventures: Will occur every other Sunday at varying times depending on our adventure. (Times will be updated on our program calendar at www.byep.org)
Online Zoom Workshop: Zoom workshops will occur every other week for 90 minutes, 5:00pm to 6:30pm.
Online Zoom Adventures: Zoom adventures will occur every other Sunday for 90 minutes, at varying times depending on our adventure. (Times will be updated on our program calendar at www.byep.org) These will be an “adventure-to-go” format given to participants ahead of time.
Next Steps:
We are committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our program participants and their families. We will conduct weekly evaluations of the COVID-19 situation and keep you informed. Our decisions will continue to be influenced by CDC and Gallatin County Health Department recommendations. BYEP will continue to make decisions in the best interest of our kids, staff, and volunteers.
Brittany DeKoch
Program Director
UPDATE: July 17th, 2020
Dear BYEP Community:
After thoughtful discussion and paying close attention to our local and state leaders, we have arrived at the difficult decision to end our programs for the summer 2020 season, effective Thursday, July 23rd.
Despite our comprehensive cleaning protocols, mandatory mask-wearing, and social distancing measures, as we watch the COVID-19 case count in the Gallatin Valley, we can't help but feel as though cutting the season short is in the best interest of our participants, their families, our mentors, and our staff.
Please know how much we appreciate you all walking alongside us as we try to figure out what feels like a constantly-evolving situation. We plan to take this time, as a team, to think creatively about what our Fall season will look like and focus on staff training and professional development.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and take care of one another.
UPDATE: June 11th, 2020
Dear BYEP Community,
Starting next week, in full accordance with Montana State mandated health guidelines, BYEP will resume in-person programs in our new Headquarters at 225 East Mendenhall Street. We are so excited to get back to doing what we do best - building real human connection in our community. That said, it is of paramount importance that we conduct in-person programming with maximum attention to COVID-19 related safety measures. To see an in depth breakdown of our Phase 2 Reopening strategy, click here.
UPDATE: May 8th, 2020
Dear BYEP Community,
I hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy! Our program staff is hard at work preparing for our upcoming summer season, which is set to begin the week of May 18th. While it’s certainly not our ideal scenario, in accordance with the state of Montana and CDC guidelines, BYEP programs will continue to operate via a remote model until further notice. While our goal is to be in-person with our participants and volunteers as soon as possible, the safety of your child and our community is our top priority. Still, we can assure you that the second it’s safe to resume in-person programming, BYEP will be heading straight to the woods to make up on all the adventures we’ve missed so far!
While BYEP staff prepares our new building for our eventual reopening (it’s going to be amazing!), we do ask that there are no visitors to BYEP at this time. We’re so excited to share the new BYEP space with the amazing community that helped us build it, but to protect the investment we’ve made together it’s clear that the best course of action is to hold off on opening the BYEP office until we can do so with full confidence that doing so won’t move our community backwards in our response to COVID-19. Most notably, this policy includes our brand new skatepark - we are so beyond excited to share this resource with our community, but for the time being the skate park will be off limits to the public. We’ll be opening it up the moment it’s clear to do so, but we appreciate your patience in the meantime.
Before we can move to Phase 2 of offering in-person programming, we will be conducting weekly evaluations of the COVID-19 situation and keep you informed. As a rule, our decision to reopen will be influenced directly by CDC and Gallatin County Health Department recommendations. We’re all chomping at the bit to get things back to normal, but it’s of paramount importance that BYEP continues to make decisions in the best interest of our kids, staff, volunteers, and community.
If you have any questions about our reopening guidelines, please contact our Executive Director Robin Hill at robin.hill@byep.org.
UPDATE: May 8th, 2020
Dear BYEP Community,
I hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy! Our program staff is hard at work preparing for our upcoming summer season, which is set to begin the week of May 18th. While it’s certainly not our ideal scenario, in accordance with the state of Montana and CDC guidelines, BYEP programs will continue to operate via a remote model until further notice. While our goal is to be in-person with our participants and volunteers as soon as possible, the safety of your child and our community is our top priority. Still, we can assure you that the second it’s safe to resume in-person programming, BYEP will be heading straight to the woods to make up on all the adventures we’ve missed so far!
While BYEP staff prepares our new building for our eventual reopening (it’s going to be amazing!), we do ask that there are no visitors to BYEP at this time. We’re so excited to share the new BYEP space with the amazing community that helped us build it, but to protect the investment we’ve made together it’s clear that the best course of action is to hold off on opening the BYEP office until we can do so with full confidence that doing so won’t move our community backwards in our response to COVID-19. Most notably, this policy includes our brand new skatepark - we are so beyond excited to share this resource with our community, but for the time being the skate park will be off limits to the public. We’ll be opening it up the moment it’s clear to do so, but we appreciate your patience in the meantime.
Before we can move to Phase 2 of offering in-person programming, we will be conducting weekly evaluations of the COVID-19 situation and keep you informed. As a rule, our decision to reopen will be influenced directly by CDC and Gallatin County Health Department recommendations. We’re all chomping at the bit to get things back to normal, but it’s of paramount importance that BYEP continues to make decisions in the best interest of our kids, staff, volunteers, and community.
If you have any questions about our reopening guidelines, please contact our Executive Director Robin Hill at robin.hill@byep.org.
UPDATE: March 30, 2020
We’re starting our first week of online programs! Check out this page to see how we’re adapting to COVID-19.
UPDATE: March 23, 2020
Big Sky Youth Empowerment will continue programming for all participants via virtual workshops and adventures. Now more than ever is it important to stay connected as a community, which means adapting to the recommended safety measures issued by the CDC and the Gallatin Valley Health Department.
Virtual workshops will run on the same day, at the same time, 4-7:00 p.m. starting next week. We are also creatively finding some Sunday “adventures” that we can experience as a group…online yoga classes, touring National Parks, etc. Stay tuned!
We can’t thank our BYEP family & community enough for your resilience and optimism during these challenging times. BYEP is here for our teens, for you, and for the community. We remain committed to serving our community, and are confident we will come out stronger on the other side.
Dear BYEP Community,
I’m sure you are aware of the development of COVID-19 across the world and in the State of Montana. As a result of the increased rate of infection, the CDC recently announced its recommendation to cancel events of more than 50 people for the next 8 weeks. In addition, Governor Steve Bullock announced the closing of Montana schools for the next several weeks as a precaution for students and families.
As a result of the growing threat COVID-19 poses in our community, we are canceling in-person BYEP programming including weekly workshops and outdoor adventures until further notice. It is clear to me, and our Board of Directors that difficult times like these pose an even greater threat to the vulnerable populations we serve. As a result, BYEP will continue providing remote support to all participants and families.
In regard to fundraising and events related to our generous supports, we are officially postponing our Grand Opening scheduled for (4/3) and Spring Runoff scheduled for (6/5). Out of respect for your safety and that of our community, we feel this is the best call at this time.
During these difficult times is when the strength of our community truly shines. BYEP as an organization, now more than ever, depends on your generosity. BYEP kids and families who will be struggling will continue to need your support. Although we will not be able to host you in person, we hope you will still consider BYEP in your giving in the near future.
Thank you so much and please stay tuned for further announcements as this situation continues to develop. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me directly. (406)-209-3204.
Sincerely,
Robin Hill
Executive Director
Big Sky Youth Empowerment
Additional Resources
How to Protect yourself against the CoronaVirus
Gallatin Valley Health Department
Guidance for Admin for US K-12 Schools
Guidance for Business and Employers