14 Ways to Experience Nature for 14 Days of Quarantine

The Center for Disease Control(CDC) recommends a 14-day quarantine after contact with someone with coronavirus. They also recommend that everyone maintain physical distancing & wear a mask as a preventitive measure. During this time it is vital to maintain 6 feet or more of physical distance from others, thoroughly wash your hands, and sanitize commonly touched surfaces. While taking these life-saving precautions we also encourage you to keep up in touch with God’s creation. While maintaining social distancing & wearing a mask, the outdoors is not only a safe place to be; it is a healing force that boosts your mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Check out this list of 14 ways to experience God’s creation while keeping yourself and others safe. Additionally, we encourage you to find detailed guidence from the Center for Disease Control Website.

1. Care for your garden and house plants
This is a great way to spend time outdoors digging in the dirt or caring for a little bit of creation right in your own house.

2. Play with your dog or cat 
If you have a dog or cat, it is safe and encouraged to spend time with them- as long as you do not have symptoms of Covid-19 and have not been exposed to someone with Covid-19. According to the CDC, there are some cases of covid-19 in pets. In order to safely spend time with your animals please check-out the CDC pet guidelines.

​3. Go to the park
Go to your local park to enjoy flora and fauna near you. Be mindful not to expose park staff, though. Check out www.findyourpark.com. Find guidence from the CDC HERE.

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4. Go swimming, kayaking, or paddle boarding
If you have a natural body of water near you that is safe for swimming, taking a dip is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the gift of water. In open water, swim with a buddy or a spotter, but make sure you and your buddy maintain the social distancing standard of at least six feet apart.

According to the CDC, you can also swim in a swimming pool or hot tub maintained with chlorine or bromine, as long as you would not have a close physical encounter with others or potentially leave traces of the virus on surfaces around the pool which others could pick up. Because it is harder to control your physical encounter with others at a public pool or hot tub, this is not recommended. 

You could also hit the water in a single person paddle board or kayak. As mentioned earlier, it is always important to go into the water with a friend, but during this time of social distancing please make sure that you and your buddy are six feet apart.

5. Go stargazing
Gaze at the night sky. Consider augmented stargazing with apps that show you what you’re looking at.

6. Identify plants
Walk around the neighborhood and try to identify the plants in gardens and along your path. The free app Leafsnap can help: www.leafsnap.com

7. Take a walk, jog, run, or hike
Walking, jogging, running, and hiking are wonderful exercise options that also will get you a breath of fresh air.
 
8. Do some bird watching
Watch birds either out of your window, from a park bench, or on a walk. See how many you can identify. If you have a bird feeder, make sure to fill it up to see who comes for a snack. Check out the free Audubon Bird Guide app www.audubon.org/app

9. Climb a tree
This is an adventurous way to experience creation.

10. Make art using materials found in nature
Go to your yard, park, or sidewalk and pick up leaves, sticks, flowers, and anything else from nature that can be used to make art. Get creative!

11. Ride a bike
Bike rides are a good way to get fresh air and exercise.

12. Have a picnic
Eat one of your meals outdoors to the front steps, a porch, backyard, balcony, or park. 

13. Read a nature book
Dust off a book about caring for God’s creation or look at beautiful pictures of the natural world in a magazine.
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14. Pray in Nature 
Find resources to connect with God in creation at the Center for Spirituality in Nature at    https://www.centerforspiritualityinnature.org

We hope that you found some of these tips helpful and let us know which ones you try.
Please stay safe as we move through this pandemic together.