Governor Kemp lifted Georgia’s shelter-in-place restrictions on April 30 and has allowed many businesses in the state to reopen with precautions in place. This has been a highlighted topic in the media as it is one of the first states in the country to reopen throughout the COVID19 pandemic. As a company that operates in the state of Georgia, Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness has underscored their commitment to the heightened preventative measures they have taken in order to continue serving adolescents, young adults, and families in crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the company is committed to keeping these safeguards in place to support and protect the small town of Clayton, in Rabun County, GA where Blue Ridge has operated for close to twenty years. Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness’ adolescent program and their young adult program, Emerald Arrow, remain dedicated to maintaining firm safety measures despite these reduced restrictions in the state of Georgia. 

Blue Ridge continues to take every measure to keep current and future students protected.

1. Every new student is tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at their initial physical. 
2. Every new adolescent student enrolls in an orientation and self-monitoring group, called Emergence Camp, where their symptoms will be closely monitored. Emergence Camp has been a highlight for new adolescent students as well as for staff and therapists, as it provides a soft landing pad for our new students as they orient to life in the wilderness. 
3. For Emerald Arrow’s young adults, the student will self-isolate from the group but still stay within the vicinity of the group (12+feet minimum distance). This provides the student the opportunity to acclimate to wilderness life, begin learning skills, while also connecting with fellow young adult group members, from a safe distance. 
4. All employees and students continue to distance in their groups and everyone is required to have protective face coverings. 

Blue Ridge asked all of its employees to continue social distancing practices while at home and on their off-shifts and, additionally, directing staff to continuing the mandatory protective face covering protocols enacted several weeks ago. As guidelines surrounding COVID-19 are continually evolving and recommendations on the federal and state level can vary, Blue Ridge’s priority is and will remain the health and safety of their students and employees.

About Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness

Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness offers clinically driven wilderness therapy programs encompassing advanced therapeutic skill, a highly flexible nomadic wilderness therapy model, licensed wilderness therapy assessment and multiple treatment options for struggling teens ages 13-18 and for young adults 18-30 in their Emerald Arrow program. Their individualized approach, family support and commitment to service translate to an unparalleled experience and better outcomes for adolescents and families.