Wonderwell In-Person Retreats
Natural Dharma Fellowship is committed to keeping our visitors and staff as safe as possible.
NDF COVID-19 Health and Safety Requirements
In order to provide a safe and comfortable retreat environment, and to protect NDF Sangha and staff from potential exposure to COVID-19, the following risk mitigation measures will apply during in-person retreats:
COVID-19 guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities has continued to evolve in recent weeks.
In light of these developments, effective April 15, NDF is adopting a mask-optional policy for people attending onsite programs and retreats at Wonderwell.
Masks are strongly encouraged if you have respiratory symptoms or belong to a group that is at higher risk for COVID-19.
Multi-day Events
A negative COVID-19 test result is required before admittance to the retreat for anyone attending a multi-day retreat. Please test 24 hours prior to your expected arrival at Wonderwell, using either a PCR test or a rapid (at-home) test kit.
Please bring a rapid test kit with you to Wonderwell. We will have a limited number of test kits available for during-retreat testing.
One-Day Events
For events such as Dharma Sunday, Thursday Meditation, or other one-day events where folks will not be sleeping over, we will not ask for a test to be done 24 hours prior to arrival.
Considering the latest COVID-19 guidelines from the CDC and state of New Hampshire, as of April 1, 2023, COVID vaccinations are no longer required to attend programs and retreats at Wonderwell.
The 60-person maximum capacity for residential retreats at Wonderwell allows for adequate spacing in the meditation hall and dining areas.
Retreatants may serve themselves from the buffet line, which
is behind a plexiglass sneeze guard. Masks must be worn during self-service of meals.
Incorporate best practices for COVID-19 mitigation in your lifestyle and travel, at least during the 10 days before you visit Wonderwell. Use prevention strategies when traveling.
If you have close contact with someone who is positive for Covid-19 or you test positive please follow the CDC guidelines here. This page also includes a handy COVID-19 quarantine and isolation calculator that can help you make your travel decision.
Please continue to monitor for symptoms for 10 days after the exposure and communicate with us if you have any questions.
During the week before traveling to Wonderwell
We encourage you to consider taking extra precautions to reduce your risk of becoming infected with COVID or transmitting it to others. These precautions include wearing masks in indoor spaces outside your home, maintaining social distancing among persons you don’t live with, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
Please reschedule your visit if, within the 14 days prior to your visit:
- You are ill, experiencing symptoms typical of COVID-19, and/or test positive for COVID-19
- You have had a known exposure to COVID-19
- You have traveled to a COVID-19 hotspot or traveled internationally.
Please, if you don’t feel well in the days before retreat, DO NOT come to Wonderwell. We will help make arrangements for you to attend online, whenever possible.
In case of known exposure or travel
Please continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the exposure and communicate with us if you have any questions.
We will not require that you reschedule after exposure or travel if you have tested negative on a PCR test taken 3 full days after exposure or return from travel, so long as you are not symptomatic.
We currently are booking Single (private) and Double (shared) rooms only. Dorm rooms are out of service at this time. This is to reduce extended close exposure to unrelated individuals.
Double rooms (shared) are randomly assigned, so please be aware that if you sign up for a double room without designating a roommate, you will be sharing with someone you do not know. If you are not willing to make that agreement, please do not register for a shared room. Note: Men and women who don’t know each other will never be assigned to the same room.
Retreatants may always register for a shared double room with someone whom they know, as long as space is available. You may also want to consider registering for the commuter option instead.
High-quality air purifiers are being in use in the meditation hall and dining areas.
Please bring your own pillow if possible.
Your Cooperation is Greatly Appreciated
Effective April 15, 2023:
As we welcome the warmth of spring this week, we are hopeful these latest measures are a reflection of brighter and healthier days ahead.
MASK POLICY — Optional at Wonderwell
COVID-19 guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities has continued to evolve in recent weeks. In light of these developments, effective April 15, NDF is adopting a mask-optional policy for people attending onsite programs and retreats at Wonderwell. Masks are strongly encouraged if you have respiratory symptoms or belong to a group that is at higher risk for COVID-19.
TESTING POLICY — Tests STILL needed
Please note that a negative COVID-19 test result is still required before admittance to Wonderwell for anyone attending a multi-day retreat.
VACCINE POLICY — Vaccines no longer needed
Considering the latest COVID-19 guidelines from the CDC and the state of New Hampshire, COVID vaccinations are no longer required to attend programs and retreats and Wonderwell.
- public health conditions, (including case counts, hospitalizations, and other conditions)
- federal, state, and local directives
- CDC and local public health guidelines closely and will adjust this policy as circumstances warrant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
If you have questions about our Covid-related information, please email info@naturaldharma.org.
