Like many of you, the Rogue Riverkeeper team is not only working from home, but also figuring out how to stay safe and healthy during the Stay Home, Save Lives order recently issued by Governor Brown. Of course, we love getting outside and we know that you do too! But right now, staying home is best. So, in the hopes that we can lighten your day a little, here’s a sample of some of our favorite activities and resources that you can enjoy at home!

Stay Active!

In addition to running, hiking, a 4-year stint as a yoga teacher, and dancing for 20+ years, finding ways to stay active at home is really important to me! Over the years, I’ve explored some different resources that are coming in handy right now. Here are some of Stacey’s favorites:

Fitness Blender: Want to get your heart rate up with minimal space and equipment? Check out one of my favorite free online workouts, Fitness Blender. You can pick from a range of HIIT, cardio, and strength training videos that are all easy to do at home!

HeadSpace: Looking for a few minutes to center yourself? I’m a big fan of the Headspace app, which is offering some additional free guided meditations called “Weathering the Storm” to help us handle these new challenges.

YogaGlo: Back when I used to teach yoga, I used this program all the time. Right now, YogaGlo is offering several free online yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes open to everyone.

Support local classes! Many yoga, dance, and other fitness classes in the area are going online. You might be surprised at what you can do! I’ve taken both hip hop and ballet classes over Zoom from my tiny apartment. Check out your favorite studios and see if they are offering anything virtually! I’m currently enjoying Rose Yoga in Ashland, and Rasa Yoga in Ashland and Medford.

Kid Fun!

“School’s out for the summer! School’s out forever!” Um, really?! While that song typically brings excitement for summer days of lounging by the river - in light of COVID-19 and the closing of Oregon schools - I think it’s safe to say that those of us with kids are all feeling just a *bit* stressed. Yet! There are a ton of resources out there to keep our kids occupied and engaged. Check out the following suggestions from Sara:

Kid’s Yoga + Movement: Keep the kids moving! The Cosmic Kids Yoga channel (Youtube) is filled with yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation videos designed for kids ages 3+. I also stumbled across this GoNoodle site bursting with silly, yet educational, dance videos.

Kid’s Reading + Story time: Have OTHER people read to your kids - brilliant! Listening to Josh Gad (oh hello, Olaf!) read his favorite books aloud on his Twitter feed is downright hilarious. And also! Who doesn’t want to hear a bedtime story from an astronaut?! Check out Story Time from Space.

Wearing the same “Elsa” dresses, and both making burritos for dinner!

Kid’s Art + Crafts: Get out the markers, get out the watercolor paper, and of course - GLITTER! Check out McHarper Manor for live art tutorials (released daily) that kids can do in real time.

Kid’s Cooking: A personal favorite...cooking! But let’s be frank, cooking with kids is messy, it takes twice as long, and often includes someone (me) crying. Yet, it’s fun and gratifying. Enter, Spatulatta! It features over 350 step-by-step video recipes featuring kids making the food!

Kid’s Virtual Tours: Did you have any idea this existed?! I didn’t! Google Earth provides MANY virtual tours of our national parks, while many museums, zoos and aquariums offer either virtual tours or live cams. Very cool.

Kid’s Connecting with Friends: I’m of the age where I fondly remember spending many hours on the phone with my friends. Kids these days have it even better - video conferencing. My kids miss their classmates. But with programs like Zoom, they are able to connect and have virtual dance parties, make PB&Js together, chat over popcorn, and draw each other pictures.

Just some of my collection. Let me know if you’d like to “check one out”!

Time to Read!

I have been a river guide and river lover for most of my life. Over the years, I have built quite the collection of river related books. From historical fiction to nonfictional essays, there is an abundance of wonderful, watery reads out there to satisfy your river loving soul. Below are some of my favorites.

The River Why - David James Duncan: Since its publication in 1983, The River Why has become a classic. David James Duncan’s sweeping novel is a coming-of-age comedy about love, nature, and the quest for self-discovery, written in a voice as distinct and powerful…

The Emerald Mile - Kevin Fedarko: From one of Outside magazine’s “Literary All-Stars” comes the thrilling true tale of the fastest boat ride ever, down the entire length of the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, during the legendary flood of 1983. (Nail biting adventure, history, geology, river running….This is such a good book!)

The Secret Life of Water - Craig Childs: Childs' obsessive quest to find, map, observe and get wet in the waters of America's deserts has personal roots. Born in the Sonoran Desert of West Texas, this naturalist, river guide and author of four previous books grew up learning to revere water, that fickle, scarce, elemental sustainer of life. More than a fiercely lyrical travelogue through Arizona, Utah, the Grand Canyon and northern Mexico's cottonwood-willow forests, his hypnotic new book describes an existential adventure.

My Story as Told by Water - David James Duncan: In this remarkable collection of essays, acclaimed author David James Duncan braids his contemplative, rhapsodic, and activist voices together into a potently distinctive whole, speaking with power and urgency about the vital connections between our water-filled bodies and this water-covered planet.

Riverwalking - Kathleen Dean Moore: In twenty elegant and provocative essays, Moore invites us to travel the West with her, and often with her family, as she rafts down rapids, hikes through dunes, camps in the desert, and walks along riverbanks. All along the way, she shares her remarkable observations about the life—both human and otherwise—that is sustained by rivers. Moore ponders love, loss, motherhood, happiness, evolution, and country music with ease and acuity.

And as we continue to experience the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, please remember to support your local bookstore!

Bloomsbury Books in Ashland receives orders in two days and is offering curbside pickup.

Village Books in Medford has been in business since 1994 and offers nearly 70,000 titles.

Oregon Books & Games in Grants Pass offers a wide selection of local authors and topics as well as best sellers and children’s books.

We’re all in this together. Staying at home is the right thing to do.

Learn more about the COVID-19 response from the Oregon Health Authority.

Gov. Brown’s order directs everyone to stay home as much as possible and prohibits non-essential gatherings, regardless of size, outside of the home if the required 6-feet of social distance can’t be maintained. Regarding outside recreation, the order specifically states:

“Individuals may go outside for outside recreational activities (walking, hiking, etc.), but must limit those activities to non-contact, and are prohibited from engaging in outdoor activities where it is not possible to maintain appropriate social distancing (six feet or more between individuals).”

If you do decide to spend some time outside, make sure to adhere to all requirements from local public health officials, the Oregon Health Authority, and the CDC. Remember to check these requirements frequently as the COVID-19 response continues to change.

Here are some best practices if you’re thinking about hitting the trails:

Observe at all times the required social distancing of six feet from other people. Keep it as you walk, bike or hike.

Know before you go! Make sure to check for any trail or park closures before you head out. Remember that search and rescue teams may not be operating and emergency responders may be at capacity.

Stay close to home. Minimize traveling to and from walking, biking, or hiking spots.

Try less popular trails during off hours to maintain social distancing. Go prepared with a back up plan if a trailhead looks busy or plan to come back later.

Follow the CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to trails — wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use trails if you have symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc.

Note that trail and park users may find public restrooms closed — be prepared before you leave and time outings.

Think ahead about what you’ll need so you don’t need to stop for supplies.

Bring a suitable trash bag. Leave no trash, take everything out. Follow Leave No Trace Principles, including properly dealing with human waste.

We are continually grateful to all of our community members who are providing healthcare services or who cannot easily work remotely right now. And we are doing our best to support advocates leading the charge to create an economic and social safety net for all Oregon families during this time.