Updated: November 19, 2025

Policy Overview

Rural Arts Collaborative’s programs are open to everyone, not just residents of Craftsbury, Greensboro, or Hardwick, and we welcome all visitors. While the community level of Covid-19 in Vermont was Very Low on 11/14/25, we acknowledge that rates may be higher in other places, and everyone has the freedom to travel and socialize as they would like. For these reasons, we err on the side of caution to protect our most vulnerable participants, and will employ the following safety measures:

1) Kindness: we are all here to connect and enjoy each other and be creative, and we ask that everyone be kind and participate in our safety measures

2) Ventilation: whenever possible, we will keep air flowing around us with fans, open doors or windows, or by holding programs outside. Physical distance of 3-6 feet will be built into programs held indoors.

3) Vaccines: we recommend that our staff have received the maximum number of vaccines recommended, but we acknowledge that not everyone will, and we take a multi-practice approach to keeping our staff safe. We do not track participant vaccination status, but we will offer any participant a one-time free class up to $35 value if they become vaccinated or boosted and tell us.

We recognize that feelings around regulations may be heightened. Our intention is to use these measures to reduce risk and we thank all our participants for joining us in this effort. If you have questions about our practices or a particular program, please contact us at 802-533-9379.

Cancellation due to Covid-19: any person who has registered and paid for a class, camp, or event will receive a full refund or credit to be applied to a future activity if they test positive for Covid-19, exhibit the symptoms of Covid-19, or believe they have had a close exposure to Covid-19. We encourage everyone to err on the side of safety, and stay home if there is any chance you have been exposed or may be carrying Covid-19.

When payment is required for participation, fees must be completed in full by the registration deadline in order to save your spot.

Checks, made payable to Rural Arts Collaborative, must be presented along with the required registration information.

We depend on tuition to pay our instructors and to make our classes and camps run.

Full tuition can be refunded if a cancellation is made with three week's notice before the program start date. If less than two weeks, 50% of the tuition can be refunded. 48 hours ahead of the start date, the full value of tuition can be transferred to future classes and camps, but not refunded. Participants who miss classes in a series will not be entitled to a tuition refund.

Rural Arts Collaborative reserves the right to cancel classes due to low enrollment, inclement weather, natural disasters, or unforeseen closures.

We are dedicated to providing a safe space for all participants and staff. In most cases during one-day and short term programs, we will take a collaborative and restorative approach to behavior management. However, inappropriate or dangerous behavior, as determined by a staff member, may result in calling parents to pick up the child or asking participants to leave.

Families of children who are supported during the school year by a Behavior Interventionist or Specialist should consider providing a similar support system for the child during our Spark programs, and our WonderKids AfterSchool and Summer Enrichment Programs. In most cases, Rural Arts Collaborative may be able to help the family navigate finding such support, and the family should ask for assistance if they need it.

In all cases, we hope that families maintain open communication with staff regarding behavior support.

A detailed Behavior Report Form, a tool used to help communicate with families, is provided above on this page, and will be used by the WonderKids Afterschool & Summer Enrichment Staff to track disruptive or dangerous behaviors that could result in a child forfeiting their spot in our program.

Refunds are not issued if children have to leave a program because of behavior.

To support a healthy experience for everyone, we kindly request that anyone with symptoms of any illness including cough, fever, vomiting, sore throat, or who have tested positive for any illness including, but not limited to, Covid-19 stay home.

We are making every attempt to offer a safe experience during an ongoing pandemic. If a child develops any symptom(s) related to COVID-19, the child will be isolated in the company of an adult staff member, and the parent will be called for an immediate pick up.

Any sick child who is sent home because of illness must wait 48 hours beyond the time of the first symptoms before returning to our program.

As an adult over the age of 18 attending any Rural Arts Collaborative class, camp, or event, I acknowledge that photos may be taken of me in the normal course of documenting activities and I authorize Rural Arts Collaborative to use my image for printed and digital materials, without limitation, now and at any time in the future. Rural Arts Collaborative agrees that this photograph will not be given or sold to any individual or organization and will only be used for Rural Arts Collaborative promotional purposes or for relevant grant reporting.

We request that the parent/guardian of minors participating in our programs sign a photo consent waiver at the time of registration.

Rural Arts Collaborative assumes no responsibility for any injury suffered by a participant as a result of their participation in Rural Arts Collaborative programming either on or off Rural Arts Collaborative premises. Neither a parent nor their child, nor the heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns of either shall ever institute, or aid in the institution of any action at law or otherwise against Rural Arts Collaborative on account of any injury to the child participant or their property resulting from their program participation. Participants HEREBY RELEASE Rural Arts Collaborative, its Board of Directors, Trustees, Officers, employees and agents from and against any and all claims for personal injuries or loss of or damage to property arising out of Rural Arts Collaborative activities.

Supervision is not provided outside of class/camp times. It is the Parent/Guardian's responsibility to pick up the student when the class has ended or when called in case of an emergency or illness.

Participant and/or guardian authorize the staff of Rural Arts Collaborative to carry out standard first aid and CPR, including treatment of severe allergic reactions, and to arrange for emergency care for minor child/ward at a local hospital, as the staff deems necessary.

Participants must agree to this waiver at the time of registration in order to participate in any class, camp, or activity of Rural Arts Collaborative.