We here at Eugene Rec care about the health and safety of our community. In the past week the City of Eugene has mobilized to address the COVID-19 outbreak, and as we all try and get used to our new situation of sheltering at home, we have already been thinking of ways we can address other aspects of community health.
In the coming weeks you’ll start seeing more efforts by Eugene Rec to bring programming to you where you are at. We’ll also be writing and sharing things we just think people will like. We’re all in this together.
So with that, we’d like to share with you the first of a weekly series sharing the best things we’ve seen. They’ll be videos, cool websites, tips for helping get you and your family through extended time at home – anything we think might be useful or just to put a smile on your face. Like this photo of a baby goose from last spring we saw outside the River House Outdoor Center.
Roundup
- There have been a lot of stories recently about how businesses are being affected by COVID-19. This one about Euphoria Chocolates donating its trufflesto local hospitals so they wouldn’t spoil is a nice reminder we can all make positives out of any situation.
- Oregon State Parks didn’t want anyone to miss whale watching season, so it created a live stream from the coast.
- The Earth Observatory from NASA will keep you and your family preoccupied for hours with stunning visuals and interesting articles about the wonder that is our planet. There’s a kids blog section where the stories are written for an audience of 9-14-year-olds. While you’re there, check out this interesting story about how coronavirus is affecting the planet.
- As we are faced with the increasing possibility of staying home, there has been a trend of wanting to de-stress in nature. But we will have to change our thinking about what that means. Locally, parks and natural areas are still open, and government officials are asking for increased vigilance around social distancing. Around the country, people are flocking to national parks, but there’s a growing call for people to stay much closer to home. Instead, check out these 12 historic sites you can virtually tour from the couch and find other national parks you can tour online.
- Instead of going to Crater Lake, help your child learn about Oregon’s only national park with this interactive study guide.
- Speaking of touring places from your own home, these 360-degree panoramas of beautiful places are stunning.
- Here’s a whole list of books, movies and podcasts to bring the outdoors into your home. It might not be quite the same, but it’ll give you some serious wanderlust.
- If you’re still jonesing for some outdoors inspiration, this short-film is about making the outdoors more diverse.
- Staying active is important, and Willamalane has started filming instructors and posting the workouts online. Look for Eugene Rec to do the same in the coming weeks. In the meantime, enjoy these videos or peruse these 12 workouts you can do from home.
- REI has a great post about how you can keep your kids moving during social distancing.
- Being stuck at home doesn’t mean you have to eat poorly. Creative cooking tips and tutorials are popping up everywhere. This week we’d like to start with an easy one for instantly improving your popcorn game, by the Food Network star himself, Alton Brown.
- Sporting events have been canceled everywhere this spring. You can still get your March Madness fix by watching the 16 best games in NCAA Tournament history on YouTube.
- Like soccer? Professional soccer players across the country are participating in the #stayathomechallenge, and the two professional soccer teams in Oregon have some really solid entries.
Let’s head into the weekend with a smile
And one more thing...
Here it is, your moment of zen.