Items

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  2020-06-01

  Tranquility at Camarillo State Hospital

  The property of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) was not always the site of the CSU’s twenty-third campus. From 1936-1997 the Spanish-colonial style buildings housed 7,000 of California’s mentally handicapped population at Camarillo State Hospital. The site sat vacant for 5 years from 1997 until CSUCI took over the old hospital buildings in 2002. The COVID-19 pandemic brought back an unnerving quietness, reminiscent of when the property was unoccupied. My mom and I took advantage of how serene the campus was and made a point to walk our dogs there several times per week. We did it not just to get out of the house, but due to how enjoyable it was to take in the beauty of the campus. Recalling these memories strongly evokes all five senses and immediately brought me back to the lockdown times of the early pandemic. The absence of college students rushing to their next class made the campus strangely quiet, but there was an enjoyable quality to it. You would occasionally hear ocean breezes whizzing around the vacant corridors and then immediately get greeted with the smell of salty beach air. It would be common for the air to be mixed with the smell of cilantro and strawberries being harvested at farms surrounding the campus. However, not all smells are made equal. When the winds would change, the on-site wastewater facility would waft heinous odors into the direction of the campus, momentarily ruining the blissful experience. The open corridors of the former hospital buildings contain steady slopes, occasionally requiring one to hold the handrails that have stood for nearly one hundred years. It always made me dive back in history and think about the thousands of patients at the hospital that probably held onto that same rail. At times we would hear screeching from the sky near the old Receiving and Treatment hospital where the current university library stands. We both would look up and see large turkey vultures or hawks elegantly gliding over the thousand-acre property, creating a picturesque scene above us. Now that we are in a post-pandemic world trying to return to normal, these experiences are not quite the same as they were in the height of the pandemic when the school was completely emptied. Students have returned to the dorms, and university-related events are once again a common occurrence throughout the campus.
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  2020-04-30

  Exercising Outside During COVID-19

  A blog post from Banner Health about the risks and safety of exercising outside during the pandemic.
• 2020-03-13

  Abnormal Rona Year

  In 2020, everything I had planned for school and summer came to a halt. Even though we were forced to stay home, I still went to friends houses and played community league sports. The air smelled cleaner because there were no vehicles in sight for miles. Everything you touched was soaked in disinfectant and cleaning supplies. All you could hear was just pure silence other than the animals that live out in the woods. The birds were chirping and animal density grew due to no one being active and scaring them away. I would tend to head to my friends' house quite often. Me and him would help his father fix up a house then head to my friend's house to go fishing, trail riding, and practice baseball. We even went to the store where there were only workers inside.2020 was a completely different feel to my life than my past years, but will go down in history and my best year for trying and learning new things.
• 
  2021-07-19T21:53

  Program Director's Monday Night Campfire Speech

  Every week during camp at Camp Wolfeboro, the Program Director gives a speech near the end of the Monday night campfire. This is an audio recording of the last portion of the speech given by 2021's Program Director, James Mizutani. He mentions and discusses the pandemic that has taken place over the past two years in his speech. Transcription: So, it, it was a lot when I got up here, uh, to work as program director in 2021, it was kind of a shock. Um, I had to— the med lodge was new, the camp director's cabin was not habitable anymore, uh, Kneeknocker¹ was all shiny. The nature lodge, my home for a year as Eco-Con² staff, is now like [in remittal?], and you can't put people in there anymore. So a lot of things have changed, some good, some less good. The less good things are fixable, we'll get a new nature lodge, it'll be fantastic and it'll be great and it'll be better than anything Eagle's End³ will ever have (audience says "woah"). But one of the things that didn't change was my feelings about camp. I love camp. I love everybody who's up here. I love working with my staff. Now I just call them my staff, instead of me being a part of staff, I still am staff [unintelligible]. And getting to see all of you every week, I get to see Scouts every week, I get to catch up with them, I get to see what they're doing while they're not at camp, and I get to see what they're enjoying about camp, why they come back every year. And I find that it's a lot of the same reasons why I come back every year. You're out here, you're away from a lot of distractions, you're with some of your friends, you're doing stuff that you don't normally do on the day-to-day. I don't mind normal days, the last two years have been wake up, move eight feet over onto the other side of my room, and sit down at my desk. Now I wake up and have to like, jog 800 feet to the PO⁴ in order to make it to the staff meeting on time. So, it's a very different lifestyle. And, I think it's a good thing for all of us to have been reintroduced into that lifestyle, into that camping lifestyle. And so I want you all to take advantage of everything that Wolfeboro has to offer. Make the Wolfeboro lifestyle a full lifestyle, a busy lifestyle filled with program, filled with excitement, filled with singing, filled with swimming at the Waterfront and shooting at the Rifle Range and going on hikes and being out here in this beautiful valley looking at the stars. There's no light, there's no artificial light in the valley after 10:30pm. And that's something that you can rarely get anymore. Um, I want you all to take hold of all the advantages that you have here at camp and make the most of it because after two years, you have a lot of catching up to do. So, have a good week everybody and I'd like to reintroduce the 2021 Camp Wolfeboro staff (applause). Footnotes: 1: A bathroom (with showers starting in 2021) found between the Program Office and the Mess Hall 2: Short for "Ecology and Conservation". A program area on the Tuolumne side of camp that handles nature-related merit badges and activities. 3: A program area that handles civic-related merit badges and activities. Eagle's End staff and Eco-Con staff were engaged in a prank war during the summer of 2021. 4: Program Office, where the camp director and program director offices can be found.
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  2021-06-18T17:20

  Greenacre Park

  When I visited New York, one of the places I went to was Greenacre Park in Manhattan. The small, house-sized park is a wonderful example of nature in the middle of a mass of high-rises, with a wall of ivy, a waterfall, and many trees. There were about 15 people there, all doing various things. A man was working on his computer, as can be seen in one of the photos. Quite a few people were on their phones. Meanwhile, a group of tourists took a selfie photo, and a pair of elderly women shared a carton of fruit nectar. Underneath a canopy, others sat and read or worked. It was nice to see people still enjoying nature as the pandemic finally winds to a close. I also thought it was interesting how many people were using technology (including me!) in a natural space apparently meant to provide a break from the rush of normal life.
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  2021-05-04

  Hugs, Laughter and Love

  Hugs, Laughter and Love I see my cousin running with me in the fields i don’t feel ashamed of what i am doing and neither are they The sounds of our feet crushing the grass with a smile just because we are finally together I taste the great food melting in my mouth Happiness, Joy and fun Joy, Joy, Joy
• 
  2021-04

  Masked Faces Through Foliage

  Ever since the pandemic started, I’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors in parks and public gardens. While outdoors, I often take photographs. Recently I was looking through my photos and noticed that many of the ones taken in March and April 2021 showed masked faces through foliage. Somehow this seemed like a good way to remember Spring 2021.
• 
  2021-04-03

  JOTPYFuture submission from HelloThere

  #JOTPYFuture I hope to finally be outside again meeting new people without being constrained by social distancing and a pandemic-less world.
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  2021-03-06

  Masked Visit Outside with Grandparents in March 2021

  Wanting to see the grandkids, my in-laws stopped by. They live about 45 minutes away. Everyone was outside, keeping about 6 ft apart with masks on while the kids played.
• 
  2021-02-26

  #JOTPYPhoto from Rebecca Wingo

  Late to the game, but I wanted an even number of #JOTPYPhoto posts for my students. (Sorry, #ucincyPH students). In my desperation to leave my house, I took up hiking. Over my birthday week in July, I hiked 45 miles! And I kept up the habit all winter, even on icy days like this one. #TwinValleyTrail
• 2021-01-19

  rules and procedures

  For COVID-19, there are many rules to follow. Some are wearing a mask and being socially distanced. I have had a struggle following these in my everyday life. I think that some don't make sense because of others. For example, having to wear a mask outside, even though the government says that outside is wear you can take your mask off. They totally cancel each other. One of my teachers got COVID-19 and I had to stay home for 1 week to make sure that I am ok. I personally don't understand this because I have no symptoms and feel fine. Over all, it is a lot of work to go anywhere because of all of the rules.
• 2021-01-07T12:23:00

  Christmas with COVID

  Christmas in 2020 was different. Usually we visit relatives in Florida but due to COVID we did not want to risk getting the virus and giving it to our grandparents and great aunts and uncles. We decided we would have a stay at home Christmas and my parents went all out with decorating to make this a great Christmas even though we got to see none of our extended relatives. Christmas Eve came and we went to church, which was outside and very cold. On Christmas morning we began to open presents and it wasn't the same without my grandparents there but we got through it. Once we finished opening our presents we had to go get breakfast and we did not get to have our normal grits casserole that my grandmother makes. We had a French toast casserole instead which was still very good but does not compare to the grits casserole. We played with our gifts all day and that was that, my Christmas in COVID.
• 
  2020-03-19

  Facing Quarantine, Canadians Want to Exercise

  This article shares one running businesses's increase in sales during lockdown as many Canadians returned or started running. People needed a way to still exercise for not only their physical but mental health, and running became the most popular workout for its socially distanced nature.
• 
  2020-11-08

  The pandemic shouldn't be an excuse for not exercising, but a chance to get your kids moving

  This article explains how COVID-19 has impacted Canadians, and particularly, children in the past year. While some kids spent less time outside during lockdown, others have spent more time in nature and exercised more. This article will examine how the coronavirus has played a role in exercise during and after lockdown.
• 
  2020-08-20

  Get Out!

  Even in a global pandemic when everything is shut down, there are still a million things to do and see. This was our family’s trip up Kennebec Pass, which is only an hour from our hose. Covid is the perfect opportunity to explore your own back yard, provided you do so safely!
• 
  2020-10-15

  Golf Industry Goes Full-Swing

  Working in a golf shop at a golf course obviously has its peak times, the busy times being in the summer and the downtime being in the winter, especially in Utah. Winters in Utah can get especially brutal, so as golfers, when February and March come around, we all get pretty excited as the new golf season approaches. However, none of us knew what was to come in February as we started preparing for the upcoming 2020 golf season. As the virus began to spread through the nation, and various states started reporting cases of COVID-19, we knew it was only a matter of time until it reached Utah, and specifically Cache Valley. As the virus reached Utah, many schools and businesses were shutting down, thereby forcing people indoors. Due to the fact that golf is played outdoors, our mayor suggested we stay open, but with heavy precautions and changes to the overall operation in order to ensure the safety of players. These precautions included raised golf cups to keep people from touching the same golf hole (picture attached), tee time slots being placed in larger time increments in order to keep everyone spaced out, players riding in carts individually, and online reservations being suggested so as to remove people from going inside to the only point of contact in the golf experience. As a result of these precautions, we were able to remain open for business to allow players a chance to escape from their homes, and because of this, the golf course saw record numbers. Tee times were spaced out, which meant that instead of a group of golfers teeing off every 7 minutes, we made it every 10 minutes. Despite this change, we saw groups of golfers literally tee off every 10 minutes, from 6:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. on most days! As the national shutdown continued, it only gave people more of a reason to select outdoor activities in order to escape the house, and it only increased the desire for most to try golf. The phones in the shop were off the hook nonstop as people called inquiring about potential open slots for them to tee off. Most calls were unsuccessful, as we found ourselves booked out days, and sometimes a week or more, in advance! This year was a strange year in many ways, filled with sadness, anxiety, and lots of stress. As an employee in the golf industry, unlike most businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic, I actually saw a dramatic rise in time spent at work, and I consider myself very fortunate for that, as many struggled regarding employment. The golf industry exploded this summer, and with the special precautions that were taken in order to ensure the safety of the players as much as possible, many people took advantage of the possible outdoor activity, and used golf as an escape from the stresses of their lives. Many...including myself.
• 
  2020-08-08

  Day Trip to Wupatki National Monument / Sunset Crater

  After being cooped up basically all summer, trying to maintain social distance from everyone due to the pandemic, I decided that I needed to get out and get some fresh air. My cousin had never been to Flagstaff so I decided to go on a day trip with her to Flagstaff and Wupatki / Sunset Crater to get outdoors and get some fresh air and do some sightseeing. We spent the day being tourists and seeing some beautiful scenery. Even though the pandemic is still going strong, this was a safe, socially distanced adventure that we both thoroughly enjoyed.
• 
  2020-08-30

  COVID Camping

  Our family loves the outdoors. Since the birth of our first child, we have made it a priority to camp at least once each summer. We all look forward to this tradition as a time of togetherness as we disconnect from our busy lives, if even for just a few days. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, camping looks a bit different. But we decided to roll with it and continue our family tradition. Our first camping "trip" was in our backyard. And it was magical. We played and slept outside for 3 straight days. Our second camping "trip" was in our living room. Due the wildfires ravaging Northern California, we have been unable to even go outside for over a week. The kids were thrilled for this new camping experience. Despite the many challenges that 2020 continues to throw our way, the resiliency and positivity of my children remind me that everything will (eventually) be okay. And, yes, we did enjoy s'mores during our camping "trips."
• 
  2020-08-20

  Masked Graduate

  I chose to use this photo because I feel as though it really reflects what the past few months have led up to for me. My graduation was something I had been looking forward to all of highschool, since I struggled my first two years to get credits and I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point of finally earning my diploma. The cap and gown mixed with the mask shows that even with setbacks, being represented by the mask, you can find success, as represented through the cap, gown, and tassel. I spent the past few months worrying that I would never get this ceremony, and validation that I have succeeded, however I have learned throughout this pandemic that I do not need the fancy ceremony, or validation to know that I have succeeded. I am strong, and I am able to fight whatever comes my way.
• 
  2020-07-21T21

  Movie Night: Drive In Edition

  Going to the Drive In movies was some of the most fun that I had during the Pandemic. This was something that I had not done in a long time before 2020, but once Coronavirus happened going to a normal theater was not a possibility. It was really nice to be able to do something enjoyable, such as watching a movie in public, and not have Covid dominate the experience. While sitting outdoors, under the stars, it was almost as if things were not so unusual right now. When you go so long not doing the things that you like to do for fun, going to watch older movies out doors can become a highlight of the summer. Drive Ins have seen a resurgence in popularity during the Pandemic, the outdoor and spread out nature of cars and Drive Ins has led to many events being able to take place that might not have been able to otherwise. It would be cool to attend a Drive In concert with a band performing. I believe that I will be going to the Starlite Drive In more often than I had in the years before 2020. Also it was good to support a small business during the pandemic.
• 
  2020-07

  Finding Beauty in a COVID World: Dog Lake Hike, Salt Lake City, UT

  In mid-July we decided to travel to Salt Lake City to visit family. Downtown SLC was pretty shut down due to the pandemic so we chose to find some outdoor activities that we could participate in while still remaining safe. These two images are from a beautiful hike we did called “Dog Lake,” a dog friendly hike with a lake (shown in picture 2) for the dogs to go cool off in before heading back down the mountain.
• 
  2020-06-26

  Honey Bear Hunt Map

  San Francisco street artist, fnnch, launched a "Honey Bear Hunt" at the start of the pandemic. 3500 people ordered honey bear hunt kits across the nation and 2000 opted to have their location included on a map. According the fnnch, "The idea of the hunt is to provide a safe way to get out of your house and enjoy art during COVID times. There’s no 'winning' or 'losing' — this is just for fun. If you feel so inclined, take photos of bears at tag them #HoneyBearHunt so I and others can see!" Happy Honey Bear Hunting!
• 
  2020-04-17

  Life In Isolation: The Coronavirus... Ricardo A. Rodriguez 4

  Escaping quarantine and into the wilds!
• 
  2020-07-10

  Kayaks, dumbbells, hot tubs: Recreational items in short supply during pandemic

  An article discussing incredibly increased demand resulting in back-orders of recreational goods across the National Capital Region/Ottawa Valley. These goods include: canoes and kayaks; above ground pools and hot tubs; golf clubs, inline skates, and tennis rackets; and home fitness equipment. The increase in demand is attributed to people having more free time on their hands with less options to fill it due to the pandemic. All these products are also those which can be used at home or outdoors at a significant distance from others.
• 
  2020-06-19

  Coronaland: “Physical Distancing in Public Parks and Trails”

  As I was coming down Marconi Dr. in City Park, doing my Crescent City Classic bike ride for Covenant House, at Harrison Ave. I saw city workers putting up a sign about “Physical Distancing in Public Parks and Trails”
• 
  2020-04-07

  Ultimate social distancing

  My 13 year old was having a rough day. He was upset about not being able to see friends, play basketball at the park or ride his bike to Wendy’s. My daughter and I took him on a hike and she captured this moment.
• 
  2020-04-20

  City Park COVID-19 Signage, New Orleans, LA

  During the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, New Orleanians have flocked to the city's parks to get fresh air, exercise, and socialize. Enforcing social distancing rules in the parks is a grave concern for many trying to halt the spread of the virus. This large sign entitled "COVID-19: Social Distancing in Public Parks and Trails" is on display at the entrance of City Park and details what steps visitors should take to prevent the spread of the virus while outdoors.
• 
  2020-04-17

  Tree Limb Peace Sign

  This post describes an activity related to the peace sign behind it. The post reads "Peace. Please take a power stick. Place it in your yard to remind you of [peace sign] and allow the birds to pick the yarn for their nests." To my mind, this community project shows the need to take actions to combat a sense of futility. Parks are more important than ever in this time when walking outside is one of the only safe ways to be outdoors. It's nice to see the community making an intentional, active use of this park.
• 
  2020-04-01

  Social Distancing in New Orleans, LA

  People out enjoying the weather and getting essential exercise while maintaining the suggested "social distance" of six feet from one another.
• 
  2020-03-27

  Normal Life Outside, Massachusetts

  People enjoying a sunny day by a cranberry bog in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Even with the stay-at-home advisory and most stores closed, people need fresh air. #HIST5241
• 
  2020-03-26

  Solo bike ride lunch in Kinglake, Victoria, Australia

  Instead of organised rides in groups and having lunch etc at a cafe, most road cyclists are riding alone. This photo shows a lunch of muesli bars etc on a solo ride. Not shown is the hand sanitiser used to disinfect the tap used to fill water bottles.
• 
  2020-03-14

  Just a Beautiful Day in the Park

  Sunny day, people enjoying the park, is anything different? Honestly don't know.