Editor’s Note: I wrote this article for the Sierra Club - The North Star Chapter biannual publication, The North Star Journal. The article was featured in the 2020 Spring/Summer edition.

Racking your brain around the state of the world this spring was nothing short of an anxiety-inducing nightmare. What’s usually relegated to science fiction became a reality as the world faced a pandemic that continues to mount an omnipresent front. One of the only ways to slow it is to stay at home - preferably indoors. 

People in government, business, and, of course, health care grappled with what to do - and how fast to do it. The spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, swept through the U.S. quickly, changing everyday life for just about everyone. 

In Minnesota, stay-at-home orders went into effect in March and later extended into May in an effort to slow the spread and, ultimately, reduce pressure on health-care workers and facilities. 

Under Governor Walz’s order, people were to limit outings to essential errands - as in getting to safety, traveling to care for family, or buying groceries. As Minnesotans, the idea of hunkering down during a storm is second nature - just as nature and the outdoors are ground into the culture. While there wasn’t a mighty blizzard or a torrential downpour, the storm was, and is, a hardship just the same. 

While it’s critical that people limit travel to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Governor Walz’s executive order allowed people to enjoy the outdoors, including “walking, hiking, running, biking, hunting, or fishing.” When recreating outdoors, you’d still have to practice safe social, or rather physical, distancing protocols. 

The outdoors has proven time after time to be a sanctuary to those suffering from mental or physical ailments. Some researchers have found that more than two-thirds of people flock to the outdoors during stressful times, according to the University of Minnesota. The vast majority of people report feeling better after spending some time in nature - or even seeing signs of nature. 

During a time of heightened stress and anxiety, being able to simply go for a walk in a nearby park is like medicine. So, during a time of extreme uncertainty and stress, why not enjoy some time outdoors to take the edge off? 

Find Adventure Close to Home

Having a strong affinity for the outdoors comes with something of an adventurous spirit. The urge to hit the road is always present, even if subdued in the back of your mind. But that yearning never ceases. It’s what pushes you to go farther and see new horizons. 

Unfortunately, that’s out of the question. Unless, new horizons means a few blocks away or a short drive from home. People need to limit their geographical footprint, and take the necessary precautions when they do venture out. See the Minnesota Department of Health’s guidelines on its website. 

When it’s all over, people will likely relish their freedom like never before. But, until then, it’s best to get better acquainted with your local woods. 

For those who live nearby, state parks remain open for day use. Regularly check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s website for more information on closures and updates. Mobile apps like AllTrails, Gaia GPS or The Hiking Project can help you find nearby trails as well, along with record your hikes, add notes and reviews, and more. 

Set Down Roots

Rather than feeling stuck, why not set down roots? As spring turns to summer, the time for starting a garden couldn’t be better - even if you’re bound to an apartment or a small patch of land. So long as your plants can live with the amount of sunlight available, a garden is a viable source of happiness, pride and distraction.  

Being homebound is also a good time to learn about the natural world. Minneapolis-based Sidewalk Plant Lab is helping people discover more about the local flora that sprout out of sidewalk cracks and perennially show up around town. 

On Instagram (@sidewalkplantlab), Liz Dengate, a long-time Sierra Club volunteer, shares regular posts of plants found around the Twin Cities. Part of the organization’s mission is to label the plants with handmade signs to help others identify the plant. 

Plan for the Future

The Minnesota state parks remain open during the stay-at-home orders, but many state forests, public lands, access points, and more were closed or restricted to keep people safe and manage resources. Overnight camping is a no-go under these circumstances, and naturally, it’s best that folks limit unnecessary travel anyway. 

No camping, no backpacking, no overnight canoe trips. (As of press time on May 12, anway).

You can only walk around the same block so many times. There is only so much work you can do in a garden. If you can read about plants all day, more power to you. But, for some, the more time at home might’ve had you itching to run off to the wild.

Channel that energy into the future ahead. Where do you want to go when it’s safe? What adventure do you want to have when the dust clears? The Friends of the BWCAW published a free e-book for use as a planning tool, including suggestions for bucket-list trips. With nothing but time, start planning that epic now. 

Activism at a Distance

One major theme of the pandemic is that it forced rapid change on everybody. Some good, some bad. One positive was that people were able to find connections in spite of physical distance and unprecedented challenges.

The use of video conferencing software, live streaming platforms, and social media skyrocketed with activists finding alternative routes to keep the communication going during a critical time. Some were able to organize in person while adhering to social distancing guidelines, including a drive-in demonstration around the State Capitol advocating for the Boundary Waters. People found a way to stay on top of the issues at hand and press on. 

“These are trying times,” said Governor Tim Walz in a news release on his executive order. “But we are Minnesotans. We see challenges—and we tackle them. No matter how daunting the challenge; no matter how dark the times; Minnesota has always risen up—by coming together.”

During a time of remote rallies and demonstrations, you can find a community to be a part of and contribute to - the Sierra Club included. We are now hosting Conversations for People and the Planet, where we provide an overview of a given topic like Climate Justice or Sulfide Mining and then have conversation to build connections with each other and find ways to help out, even if it’s at a distance.

I’ve been a volunteer with the The North Star Chapter for more than two years now, but it wasn’t until recently (as of this writing) that I started doing communications work for the organization. Learn more about my work in my portfolio.