BRING THE OUTDOORS IN!

VIRTUAL TOURS

 

Kenai Flords National Park, Alaska

Rappel into a crevasse, kayak through icebergs, and watch a glacier recede.

Link: https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/kenai-fjords/exit-glacier-tour

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Fly over an active volcano, explore a lava tube, and look out across volcanic cliffs.

Link: https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/hawaii-volcanoes/nahuku-lava-tube-tour

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Explore incredible formations, trek by headlamp through a cave, fly with thousands of bats, and even “see through the eyes of a bat.”

Link: https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/carlsbad-caverns/natural-entrance-tour

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Gaze up at the night sky, ride horse-back through a canyon, and see hoodoos up close.

Link: https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/bryce-canyon/sunset-point-tour

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Dive a shipwreck, swim through the third-largest coral reef in the world, and tour a Civil War-era fort.

Link: https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/dry-tortugas/near-little-africa-tour

Great Wall of China Virtual Tour

Commonly considered a wonder of the world, the Great Wall of China boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet.

Link: https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china

The Great Pyramid of Giza Virtual Tour

The Great Pyramid of Giza is a defining symbol of Egypt and the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. It is located on the Giza plateau near the modern city of Cairo and was built over a twenty-year period during the reign of the king Khufu (2589-2566 BCE, also known as Cheops) of the 4th Dynasty.

Link: https://youtu.be/EaQr917lRgI

Fairbanks, Alaska – Virtual Tour

Explore the Midnight Sun and Northern Lights, Float down the Chena River, Experience the thrill of Dog Mushing, and more!

Link:  https://www.explorefairbanks.com/explore-the-area/360/

Great Barrier Reef – Virtual Tour

Explore one of the greatest wonders of the natural world on an engaging and in-depth interactive journey with David Attenborough.

Link: http://attenboroughsreef.com/

VIRTUAL WALKING/HIKING

Tall Sky Walker’s hikes include: Yellowstone National Park, Moraine Lake, Ponderosa Pine Forest, Smith Rock State Park, Waldo Lake, and many more!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP2WJOpZQu2BFUqZ6UN5Tfw

The Flying Dutchman’s hikes include: Olympic National Park, Hoh Rain Forest, Silver Falls State Park, Redwood National Park, Havasupai Falls, and more!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOk03SPpDvItHCDQAJljqUA/videos

4K Relaxation Channel includes virtual hikes, walking tours, drone/bird eye views, and many other beautiful nature videos.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg72Hd6UZAgPBAUZplnmPMQ/videos

 

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Explore.org – LiveCams

Want to see what African wildlife is up to? Need a dose of cute kittens and puppies? Feel like floating around with some jellyfish, seals, or manatees? Interested in taking a snoop inside a Honey bee hive? Curious what our feathered friends as doing? Want to take a peek at some animal sanctuaries? Just need some Zen? Explore Livecams has got you covered!

Link: https://explore.org/livecams

Smithsonian’s National Zoo – LiveCams

Lions, and cheetahs, and bears, oh my! – The Smithsonian National Zoo has a handful of LiveCams for your viewing pleasure!

Link: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams

Goat Milk Stuff & Beekman Farm – LiveCams

Is there anything cuter than baby goats?! Watch these little cuties sleep, eat, and play on Goat Milk Stuff & Beekman Farms webcams!

Link 1: https://goatmilkstuff.com/pages/goat-cam-livestreams

Link 2: https://beekman1802.com/pages/the-goats

EarthCam – LiveCams

The EarthCam website offers an array of creatures to watch including Giraffes, Meerkats, Wolves, Sea Otters and more! (They also have cams that highlight Iconic Landmarks, Lake Life, Ocean and Sea Life, and more)

Link: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/

 

GO OUTSIDE!

Don’t forget to actually get outside! – Take a hike, go for a bike ride, walk around your neighborhood, or even just hang-out in your back yard! Spending time outdoors, even as little as 15 minutes a day, is an excellent way to take care of your mental and physical health!

 

The American Hiking Society has a few guidelines for safe outdoor use:

-Follow whatever the local government guidelines, such as social distancing, are (every city is under different restrictions right now).

-If possible, stay within close enough distance of your home that you can avoid stopping for gas, snacks, restroom breaks, etc., none of which allow for social distancing.

-Do not carpool with friends or family who are not members of your household.

-Avoid parks or trails that have become crowded, even if the area is officially open.  If the parking lot is crowded, there are already too many people there. Turn around and find another location or go home.

Bass Falls Preserve: https://www.alna.maine.gov/bass-falls-preserve-trail

Curtis Homestead Conservation Area: https://www.tklt.org/curtis

Happy Farm Trail: https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/preserve/sheepscot-valley/happy-farm-trail-whitefield-trails-committee/

Hidden Valley Nature Center: https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/preserve/hidden-valley-nature-center/

The Kennebec Rail Trail: https://www.krrt.org/

Papermill Trail/Miller Park: https://www.traillink.com/trail/papermill-trail/

Salt Bay Heritage Trail: https://www.coastalrivers.org/trail/salt-bay-heritage-trail/

Smithfield Plantation: https://www.historicsmithfield.org/

Stetser Preserve: https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/stetser-preserve-trail

Trout Brook Preserve: https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/trout-brook-preserve-trails

Webber-Rogers Farmstead Conservation Area: https://www.tklt.org/webberrogers

Whitefield Salmon Preserve: https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/preserve/sheepscot-valley/whitefield-salmon-preserve/

Maine Trail Finder

The Maine Trail Finder website is a great resource for finding hiking/biking/walking trails in Maine.  The site enables you to search by activity, difficulty, distance, area, and status.

Visit their site here: https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/

Geocaching

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a GPS or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the state.  Geocaching is fun activity for the entire family, a good excuse to get out outdoors and enjoy some fresh air and exercise!

Join the world’s largest treasure hunt:  https://www.geocaching.com/play

Venture Outdoors: Youth Explorer Button Series

This series is great for families who want to feel more comfortable getting outside! The Button Series is comprised of 8 different activities designed for youth ages 5-11. Complete each component in the series to earn a button. Complete all activities to earn a Venture Outdoors special prize.

Join the adventure here: https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/virtual-outdoor-experiences/youth-explorer-button-series/

 

Venture Outdoors: Adult Adventure Learning Series

This series is great for anyone who wants to feel more comfortable getting outside! They provide information to help you learn and engage in a variety of outdoor experiences that can be done both in and outdoors. Categories include: Knot Tying, Trail Basics, Tree Identification, and more

Join the adventure: https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/virtual-outdoor-experiences/adult-adventurer-learning-series/

Right now the American Hiking Society is holding a weekly photo contest (prizes vary) to encourage each other to share our photos of our little outdoor escapes whether it be a hike, a walk around your neighborhood, or just playing in your own backyard, any outdoor activity counts!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanHiking/

Quarantine Bingo

The Washington Post has created both indoor and outdoor Bingo cards to keep you busy during quarantine!

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/05/01/getting-antsy-try-quarantine-bingo/