COVID-19 Policy

We care deeply about the safety of our members and their guests and are committed to taking appropriate precautions designed to promote the health and wellness of our event attendees. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) follows the following health and safety protocols for our staff and in-person events. The responsibility for safe and healthy in-person NAAEE event environments is shared among NAAEE, the event venues and vendors, and our attendees.

NAAEE will implement the specific health and safety protocols appropriate to the public health circumstances existing at the time of the applicable in-person event. NAAEE will continue to monitor COVID-19 guidance from the CDC and other relevant public health authorities, and adjust these measures in the future, as needed, and communicate updated guidelines to attendees on an ongoing basis.

Attendees must agree to follow any COVID-related or other health and safety protocols in place at our events (issued by NAAEE, the event space, or public health authorities) as a condition of admission. Attendees who refuse to abide by NAAEE’s published safety measures and precautions may be asked to leave the event and their registration will be canceled, without refund.

At this time, NAAEE is preparing the following measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and illness of everyone attending the conference and Research Symposium:

  • Attendees must be vaccinated. Alternatively, an attendee may provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours prior to the event.

  • We know that everyone has a different level of risk tolerance, but we strongly recommend that attendees wear masks to reduce the risk of spreading COVID at this event. NAAEE recommends masking in public indoor settings (except while actively eating or drinking) even if fully vaccinated. NAAEE asks that attendees bring their own masks. 

  • Attendees should monitor their daily health prior to entering the event facilities and should stay home or isolate themselves, and seek medical attention if they have tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for COVID-19 test results, have COVID-19 symptoms, or if they have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for or who has symptoms of COVID-19. If you need to go outside for some reason, please wear a mask and do not interact with other attendees.

  • Attendees should immediately notify NAAEE should they test positive for COVID-19 during the conference or develop or exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 by sending an email to: conference@naaee.org. NAAEE will not share any identifying information, but we do need to let attendees know that someone has tested positive.

If you need access to urgent care, here are the nearest facilities:
La Paloma Urgent Care at 4001 E Sunrise Dr, Tucson, AZ 85718; (520) 209-7000
NextCare Urgent Care at 2460 N Swan Rd #140, Tucson, AZ 85712; phone (520) 441-5405

  • If someone at NAAEE2022 tests positive for COVID, we will let attendees know immediately through email and the Attendee Hub app notifications that an anonymous person at the event has tested positive. We will not be able to give away information identifying the person.

  • Attendees should follow good hygiene practices, including washing hands frequently, using hand sanitizer, discouraging greeting others with physical contact (for example, handshakes), and maintaining physical distancing when possible.

  • Attendees are encouraged to follow CDC guidance for traveling during the pandemic and to follow all state and local requirements and recommendations related to travel.

NAAEE cannot guarantee that attendees will not be exposed to or contract COVID-19 while attending the event and that by attending they may be exposing or increasing their risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.

Additional Safety Precautions from Westin La Paloma Resort:

  • Our team will extra clean and spray in the lobby areas and high-touch surfaces, and sanitize throughout the property to ensure the safety of all guests. Sanitizer stations are still set up all over the property and filled constantly.

    For guest rooms:

  • To keep contact to a minimum, rooms are fully clean every 4th day that a guest is here. All other days are a refresh.

  • If we are informed of a covid positive guest, that room is placed out of order for a few days after they check out and fully sanitized. The guest will also be informed that any deliveries will be knock and drop only. No one will be allowed to enter the room.