We are delighted to be able to welcome students and learners back to our activities and programmes. We wish to assure you that we are doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of our staff and visitors / learners. As we operate in an outdoor environment, we already manage variables like weather, terrain, group safety and management through risk assessments and management controls. We have now revised and added to our risk assessments and operating procedures and added COVID 19 protocols to include robust procedures for helping to keep us all safe. Outdoor activities and locations have been assessed and procedures updated to accommodate these new protocols to manage hygiene, physical distancing etc. BEFORE HAND

Burren OETC staff members have completed training on symptoms of COVID-19 and how it is spread, hygiene measures, use of PPE, how to respond to a suspected case.

The OETCs operate in an educational setting and currently provide activities on a day basis only. Numbers have been curtailed to manage with new protocols so numbers are limited to ONE class at a time.

Booking: Bookings can be made via email or phone. Payment by electronic transfer or cheque should be made prior to the start date or arrival at the centre. Please avoid paying by cash.

Booking will now involve the completion and return of a group COVID 19 declaration form at least three days before the visit. This will declare ALL group members including leaders/ teachers/ SNAs are COVID free. This will also have to be confirmed on arrival.

If anyone in your class/ group is displaying any COVID-19 symptoms (cough, high temperature, breathlessness), have had contact with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case in the 14 day lead up to your session OR returned from abroad recently, we ask that the group DO NOT come to the centre .

We will require a detailed list of all participants attending the OE programme including all leaders, date, arrival and departure time
We will also be keeping an OE activity register for each activity session listing each sub groups (i.e. kayaking groups, hillwalking group), activity location and OETC staff working on that activity. A contact log will also be used to record any incident of necessary close contact (rescue, equipment check etc). These records are available should they be needed for contact tracing with public health officials if required.

We may ask you to meet us at a specific activity site (GAISCE walks, Field Study site). We will confirm if this is the case before hand so you can arrange a toilet stop somewhere along the way.

IF coming to the centre, please pay attention to our HSE signage regarding COVID-19 prevention measures. We request that all participants use hand sanitiser upon arrival and departure and whenever appropriate during activities.

There will be separate entry and exit points signposted. Please keep to the flow. Doors will be left open where possible.

We have hand sanitising dispensers containing up to 85% alcohol hand gel located around the centre and at our activity sites. Our instructors will also carry a small bottle of hand gel. Staff will use sanitised hands to lay out any equipment.

Capacity and occupancy have been reduced to manage physical distancing, activities, cleaning of equipment and facilities. The current capacity is ONE class group per day / programme. This class will be divided into smaller sub groups for activities. These groups will have separate activities and do alternate activities during the day. They can have separate bases and have lunch separately if required. Equipment will be sanitised between use by different sub groups and all equipment will be cleaned and sanitised again at the end of each day. Sanitising at point of contact (hands) before and after using any equipment (harnesses, ropes) will be reinforced. Hand hygiene and cough etiquette will be reinforced.

Activities available: kayaking, hillwalking, rock climbing, orienteering, shore walks , Gaisce walks, raft building.

Bus capacity: 50%

Our staff will lead, coach and assist as always however they must now maintain the recommended physical distance guidelines. They will give instruction on methods for participants to develop skills etc. We do still have to help each other when needed so all hand sanitisation protocols will apply when helping carry any equipment. Our staff may not always be able to maintain physical distance from students and they may need to get closer to manage safety and risk. Staff have masks to manage close contact and will minimise close contact at face to face level as well as limit the duration, type and intensity of any close contact. A contact log is maintained for each activity session.

Our changing rooms and showers are currently not in use. Tents will be made available for changing and one set of toilets will be available for use. Do please observe signs regarding entry, exit and queuing. Toilet areas are cleaned, disinfected and sanitised regularly.

Equipment washing and sanitisation:

Equipment is washed, sanitised OR quarantined for 72 hours after every session. Kayaks, canoes and other hard equipment are wiped or sprayed using a Milton solution. Buses and all interior touch points are sanitised frequently through the day.

All frequently touched centre surfaces are cleaned and disinfected regularly.

• Each participant must bring their own supply of hand sanitiser, masks & tissues for personal use. 
• Masks must be worn on centre buses. NO MASK – NO TRAVEL. Our bus transfers will have socially distanced seating.
• Masks must be work when indoors for any reason.
• Full Day programmes – please bring a packed lunch, snacks & a reusable water bottle. 
• Upon arrival at the centre, we will ask groups to keep their distance from each other while waiting to enter. For any offsite courses please meet our staff beside the Centre minibus or where previously arranged.
• Participants must respect social distance with staff/ persons who are not from their household. 
• If a participant begins to feel unwell, they must tell their leader/ teacher or our staff immediately. 
• Parents / guardians must be available at all times during any of our programmes and activities in the event we need to contact you. 

The Burren Outdoor Education and Training Centre will operate all activities in line with government guidelines and best practice. The safety of our participants, community and staff is our highest priority. In order to ensure a safe course for everyone we are taking these additional measures. 

• All participants must submit a pre programme COVID 19 declaration ( 3 days in advance)  
• All our courses will commence with a COVID 19 briefing and orientation. 
• Hand hygiene routines reminders throughout the day 
• Sanitisation points in place throughout the centre and sanitiser available outdoors 
• COVID 19 advice posters are in place throughout the centre.  
• We clean and disinfect gear & equipment between class sessions. 
• Centre buses will operate with reduced capacity and the wearing of face masks as per government guidelines.  
• Social distancing measures will be in place for activities, break times, meals etc. We ask for all participant’s cooperation in this.  
• Toilets: Single person using toilet area at any one time (the toilets will be cleaned twice daily) 
• Changing rooms will not be available until further notice. For water activity sessions we will provide tents or participants will change outdoors as you would at the beach.  
• If the event of first aid being required, our instructors will provide first aid in line with best practice & Personal protective equipment appropriate to the location.   

Each participant must bring their own supply of hand sanitiser, masks & tissues for personal use. 
Masks must be worn on centre buses. NO MASK – NO TRAVEL. Our bus transfers will have socially distanced seating. 
Masks must be work when indoors for any reason.
Full Day programmes – please bring a packed lunch, snacks & a reusable water bottle.  
Upon arrival at the centre, we will ask groups to keep their distance from each other while waiting to enter. For any offsite courses please meet our staff beside the Centre minibus or where previously arranged.
Participants must respect social distance with staff/ persons who are not from their household.
If a participant begins to feel unwell, they must tell their leader/ teacher or our staff immediately. 
Parents / guardians must be available at all times during any of our programmes and activities in the event we need to contact you.