For over a year now, Hearts has made careful and calculated steps to remain open to a limited capacity of individuals. Our goal was and continues to be safety first. To accomplish this, Hearts staff created phases of reopening.
We are now in Phase 4, which allows independent riders and riders only needing the assistance of a volunteer leader to return to the program. We aimed to keep human-to-human contact at a minimum, and we are proud to say that everyone has been able to enjoy their lessons while remaining safe and healthy.
With the most recent transition to the Orange Tier, Hearts realizes that more participants are ready to return to the program. While we wish more than anything to welcome everyone back to lessons immediately, several factors keep us from doing so.
Transitioning to Phase 5:
- The next phase of reopening, Phase 5, includes welcoming participants who need one or two volunteer sidewalkers, in addition to a volunteer leader to return to lessons.
- Hearts will continue to require that masks be worn by all staff and volunteers when they are working directly with a participant.
- To accommodate more participants, we need significantly more volunteers. Training and onboarding new volunteers will take time. While participants may be ready to come back immediately, we do not, and will not, have the volunteer workforce to support the influx of new participants for at least a few months.
- Our goal is to have returning participants rejoin the program as early as the fall. Hearts will spend the summer recruiting and training an enormous new base of volunteers. Rebuilding the volunteer department is a massive undertaking for our current staff (which is smaller than before pandemic shutdowns). We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we try to accommodate as many individuals back into the program as we possibly can.
- Whether you are new or returning to the program, all participants will be required to submit an application and complete an assessment prior to being added to a lesson. For returning participants, please note that your last lesson time may not be available. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility, and we will work hard to find the best lesson time and instructor for you when you return.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Kristen: (805) 364-5206 or Kristen@heartsriding.org. We can't wait to see you all very soon!
