We encourage those who can to safely enjoy the outdoors while we shelter from Coronavirus. Staying active can help boost the immune system and there is growing evidence that spending time in nature can reduce stress and improve health (one of many roundups here).Â
For ideas, see Friends of Five Creeks’ handouts on:
- Creekside walks and Local Natural Areas in Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, and Kensington: Discover beautiful places and avoid overcrowding!
- Citizen Science — opportunities to learn, contribute to knowledge, and enjoy the natural world for all ages, indoors and out.
- Garden with nature — gardening, from pot or windowbox up, is a wonderful way to delve into nature while sheltering at home. Find info on how to it in harmony with, and even helping, our environment.
- Be an environmental activist — from home Â
- Visit California wildlife and nature by web cam.
Observing safe physical distance — six feet from anyone you don’t live with — you can take healthy walks and bike rides, savoring fresh, clean air, sparkling water, and spring greenery, flowers, and birds. Children can run, climb trees, and discover bugs. People in the same household can toss or kick a ball or disc, or fly a kite. Silence and solitude have their joys, too. In addition to keeping safe physical distances:
- Check before you go about closures or restrictions, especially in heavily used, well known areas. Expect playing fields, ball courts, playgrounds, and dog parks tp be c;psed. East Bay Regional Parks have closed some parks, restricted parking in others, and required that all dogs be on leash. Expect visitor centers, restrooms, picnic areas, campgrounds, and water fountains to be closed.
- Plan ahead: Bring your own reusable water bottle, any needed snacks, face covering if appropriate (not required and possibly harmful during heavy exercise such as running), and hand sanitizer (plus optional gloves if you will need to touch objects such as handrails).Â
- Pack out your trash and clean up after your pet. Trash collection may be limited.
- Stay at home if you or anyone in your household is sick.
More ideas for savoring nature safely — we welcome yours at f5creeks@gmail.com:
- iNaturalist, helps you identify almost any plant or animal while you contribute to citizen science. To identify birds by sight or song, and to contribute to citizen science at the same time – including in your own back yard, check out eBird and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s other great tips and resources. Â
- Nature journaling and drawing are ways to closely observe and experience nature — fabulous introductions, instructions, and curricula on John Muir Laws’ web site. Going to a beach? Environmental artist Zach Pine has a video and project for making sand globes — seemingly magic balls of sand you can toss around. Outside of parks, there are places where you can forage — and help biodiversity by eating the weeds! A few ideas are here.  Â
- With gloves, bags, and a litter stick (available at hardware stores), as well as common-sense cautions, you can pick up litter. Many kids love this!
- Other adventures range from photography to learning the night sky (many cell phone apps available). If you like challenges, explore orienteering, Geocaching, or letterboxing.
- For children, even a small green area can be a wonderland, and all of us can experience joy and awe from planting or tending even a small garden, watching birds at a feeder, or listening to bird calls from street trees.
- Visit nature virtually with videos, podcasts, and good old-fashioned books.Â