Sharing Space and Honoring our Vulnerable Community Members.

Due to the communal nature of the Hostel in the Forest we have had to make hard choices about how we reopen. The closure of the hostel was difficult for our community. This space held so much of what many folks were missing during their experience of quarantine, things like connection, shared space, HUGS! and more. It was also a difficult time for the hostel itself. Cut off from our source of income, there were suddenly no guarantees we’d be able to make our payments on the land and keep the beautiful buildings and critical systems of the hostel maintained. It is our priority to keep our promise of stewardship of this land and space.  Therefore, as we reopen we are committed to making sure that we do not have to close again. This means being cautious and finding ways to reopen in phases as the pandemic subsides and becomes less of a worry for our community.

Our current policy mitigates the risks of Covid-19 for our staff and guests in a few ways. We are requiring all guests and staff to show proof of full vaccination at check-in. We have increased cleaning protocols and limited the overall number of guests we have on site at one time. We provide each party with their own hut, no longer bunking folks from different groups in bunkhouses together and we take extra care to let everyone choose their comfort with hugs and closeness as well as other little changes to reduce risks. We know that this doesn’t eliminate the risks of spreading the coronavirus but for now it is a good balance allowing us to open our doors and still provide a space that feels safe.

We understand that not everyone will be able to visit the hostel during this phase of reopening. We miss you all and understand that the current policy may feel exclusive or frustrating. We look forward to being able to welcome back all our guests and ask for your patience as we find the balance between all our many responsibilities. Please stay tuned for news about the next phases of reopening and happenings in the forest. We look forward to seeing you soon!

With Gratitude,

Aurora

(she / they)

Hostel Manager