Originally published in the Mazama Bulletin—view the full April/May 2020 issue.
2020 has been a rough time for everyone. COVID-19 has brought the world as we know it to a standstill, with the schools, stores, and restaurants we frequent on a daily or weekly basis closed or even boarded up. Millions have lost their jobs, and we’ve been forced to limit interactions with friends and family to phone or video chats. Many of us are working from home, and others aren’t supposed to leave home at all.
While city parks and neighborhood sidewalks around Oregon and Washington remain open, state and national parks, ski resorts, boat launches, and trailheads are off-limits. This has been especially tough on Mazama members and the outdoor community at large. Many, if not all, of us rely on nature for our mental and physical well-being, and not being able to go for a hike, ski, trail run, or bike ride in the mountains is taking its toll.
Staying active, doing something for ourselves or our communities, making or building things, or learning something new are all things we can do to help us get through our “stay at home” quarantines. Here are some ideas to keep you and your families busy.
Organize your gear closet (or corner, or room, or garage)
If you’re anything like me, you have every intention of putting your outdoor clothing and equipment neatly away after every outing, but it’s wet and/or dirty, and you’re tired. Then you go to work for the week, and it remains scattered across the floor or hung from door handles until you have to pack for the next trip.
All this time at home is the perfect opportunity to get organized! Wash your outerwear jackets and pants (yes, even the Gore-Tex ones), air out your sleeping bag, wipe down your tent, wax your skis or snowboard, and pick the mud out from between your crampon points (how did that even get there?). This is also a great time to restock your first aid kit, inspect your gear for damage, and make sure everything functions the way it should. Now find some bins, boxes, hooks, and hangers and get to work! Organize things by activity or function, make some labels, and pair up your boots. Your future self will thank you for it, and maybe even keep it neat when you can finally go back out.
*Extra credit: You know those cool overhead photos of “what’s in your bag,” or “what’s in your repair kit” with everything spread out so you can see it all? Lay out your gear and snap some photos—you can use these to help pack in the future, or just to show off your cool stuff to friends.
Make a face mask
We all know we should be covering our noses and mouths when going to crowded places such as the grocery store or a city park on a sunny afternoon. As outdoor people, we probably all have a bandana or buff laying around somewhere we could use. If you want to go the extra mile, there are lots of free patterns available online that use whatever fabric you have laying around and require minimal sewing skills. If you do have the skills and a sewing machine, consider making masks for your family and even at-risk people on your block, at your workplace, or in your community.
Do something nice for someone
One of the wonderful things that emerges from tragedy is the realization of just how good humanity can be. There are stories all over the news and social media of people doing kind things for other people—loved ones and strangers.
This is something we all can do. Do you know anyone who may not be able to leave the house or has lost their job? Help them out! Add a few more items to your next grocery visit, walk a grandparent’s dog, donate time or money to a food bank, and tip well on your take-out orders. And please, don’t hoard food or supplies.
Learn something new, or practice something old
Being at home with nothing to do but look at a screen can be depressing (and Netflix is calling). Turning that screen time into a learning opportunity is something that’s helped me stay sane. There are countless online articles, videos, and podcasts covering everything you can think of.
The Mazamas are hosting a series of free educational webinars through Zoom or Facebook—I did the anchor building class and it was fantastic! Check online for upcoming classes, or sign up to teach one. The Portland Art Museum has created an online space for the Mount St. Helens 40th anniversary exhibit they were showing before the lockdown. The Smithsonian made thousands of images and articles public after their doors closed, and is offering distance learning resources for parents and teachers. The Oregon Zoo (and others around the country) are hosting educational videos of their animals. Many online platforms that offer courses on hundreds of subjects are free or have reduced pricing.
Be creative
Have you ever wanted to learn to paint or draw? Cook or bake? Knit or sew? Build a table or chair? It’s hard to find the time to do something creative, since both learning something new and being creative can be mentally taxing. Luckily, we live in a time when a how-to video is just a click away, and the supplies you need can be delivered to your door even when the store down the street is closed. Maybe use the time you’d normally spend commuting or hiking (yes, insert cry emoji here, many times) to create something instead. I’ve broken out the watercolors I bought years ago but never used, and plan on sitting down with them later today.
Yes, times are rough. But they can also be good. People are spending less time at work and more time with their families, and pets everywhere are loving life. We can speak to and even see our loved ones with the press of a button. Everything we could ever dream of learning is a few minutes of searching away. Natural environments are getting a chance to regrow without all the people trampling everywhere, and pollution is (at least temporarily) clearing. At the end of the day, for the majority of us, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
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