Volunteers: Ways to Stay Engaged During COVID-19

HIKE WITH BRIAN:

Brian Hughes, Interpretive & Training Manager, invites you to come along with him on hikes or other virtual experiences.

Virtual Walk with Brian in Buck Gully (6/16/20 Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian in Orchard Hills (6/9/20 Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian on the Mesa Loop (6/2/20 Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian to the East Deck and Limestone Ridge (5/26/20 Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian in Agua Chinon and The Sinks (5/19/20 Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian in Weir Canyon (5/12/20 Tuesday Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian at Bommer Canyon and Irvine Open Space Preserve (5/5/20 Tuesday Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian at the Native Seed Farm (4/28/20 Tuesday Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian in Fremont Canyon (4/21/20 Tuesday Email)

Refresh Your Hiking Backpack (4/14/20 Tuesday Email)

Virtual Walk with Brian in Limestone! (4/7/20 Tuesday Email)

 

BRIAN’S WEEKLY TIPS:

(5/26/20 Tuesday Email) 2020 Graduating Class.“Acknowledge the graduates in your life. As this unprecedented school year is winding down, many graduates are missing out on what is usually a very important day of personal recognition for their accomplishments. And while many schools are delaying ceremonies or finding other ways to make this time as special as they can, it won’t be the same. So, if you know a graduate (Erica’s daughter is a senior in high school and we have one in our house too, 8th grade, and he’s a little down), be sure to take the time to do something special for them, to let them know that you are proud of their perseverance during this time and that they will be stronger for it as they move to the next step in their life.“

(5/19/20 Tuesday Email) Grow Some Food!“Grow a plant for food. Eating something that you have taken the time to grow and tend is a fantastic way to create a connection between the earth and ourselves. Especially if you’ve not ever done so before and double especially if you have kids or grandkids that can share the experience with you. The process establishes a direct connection between the health of the land and the health or our bodies and homegrown fruits and veggies always taste better too. Squash, cucumbers and melons are a few that come to mind for planting this time of year. It doesn’t need to be complicated or large scale, and the warm soil should help with fast germination and growth. Get planting!”

(5/12/20 Tuesday Email) We Want Your Feedback! “This week, I’d like to request and remind you to take a few minutes and complete the ‘Resumption of Activities’ survey that was sent out on Monday of this week. We greatly value your feedback and want to know your thoughts on returning to public interaction on the Landmarks.”

(5/5/20 Tuesday Email) Remember Mother’s Day! “Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 10, so  be sure to do something special for the mothers in your life. Celebrations are difficult with stay at home measures in place, but find some way to make this day meaningful for all the moms you know. Send flowers, a video or a card, anything that reminds moms how much they’re appreciated.”

(4/28/20 Tuesday Email) Create an Interpretive Story. “Pick one local (to the Landmarks) plant or wildlife species and do some research, find material to create an interpretive story that you could share during a public activity about it. It doesn’t need to be complex, but should be interesting and complete. It doesn’t need to be long, just a few minutes worth. Try to answer questions like where is it found, what is special about it, what are its characteristics, what role does it play in the ecosystem, how does it survive, and most importantly why do YOU find it interesting or important. Try to make your story relate to our mission and relate to the visitor. Stick this in your “back pocket”, “tool belt” or “pack” for the next time, and yes there will be a next time, you’re out on the land with our visitors.”

(4/21/20 Tuesday Email) Read a Book. “Grab a book you’ve been putting off reading, find a quiet spot and enjoy the written word. If you’re like me, you’ve got a stack of books on a nightstand or bookshelf just waiting to be opened and read. My stack always seems to grow faster than I can get through them. So, now may be a chance for you to take some time to step away from the noise and put your nose into a book. For me, I’m picking up a book by Aldo Leopold, one of my favorite nature and conservation writers. It’s one I’ve had for a while, but am yet to open, For the Health of the Land, a collection of unpublished essays and other writings of his. My personal preference is to read real, paper paged books, because it’s a way to get off the screens. But e-reading is great too. Just try to find something that gives you a chance to break from the news cycle and take a reprieve from current events. I think I’d try to avoid the dystopian sci-fi though for a while.”

(4/14/20 Tuesday Email) Refresh Your Backpack. “Take time when you’re not able to get out to check and refresh your pack. Grab your pack or packs and pull everything out of them. Give the pack itself a good looking over, ensure straps and pockets are in good shape. And go through all your gear. Refresh items that may be in disrepair or running low. Add anything that may have been missing. Repack and you’re ready for your next adventure. You won’t be heading out wondering if what you need is there and in good order. Check this week’s video for more on this topic.”

(4/7/20 Tuesday Email) Hobby, Anyone? “Learn a new (or take up an old) skill or hobby. Going to credit my son’s 8th grade teacher with this one. She challenged her class one day to learn to do something they’d never done before. I ended up teaching him how to tie a fishing knot. Maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do? Being sequestered might give you the time to do so. A musical instrument that’s been hiding in the garage or a recipe you’ve wanted to test? How about knitting or crochet or painting (a room in your house or a plein-air landscape), making a birdhouse or planting a vegetable garden (last I checked Home Depot was still open). Exploring fitness classes like yoga or tai chi, I hear there are lots of great online, live and recorded programming, to keep your body fit at home. Or maybe it’s something as simple as learning a new family board game that’s still in the wrapping (have to admit we have a couple of these) or a jigsaw puzzle (remember those?) you’ve been putting off? There are many, many options and lots of great sites to learn new skills online. Just be sure to have fun and keep it low pressure. This should be something that reduces stress and again, gives you a chance to step away from the news cycle.”

(3/31/20 Tuesday Email) Slow It Down. “Take time to slow down, even stop and have a moment of quiet reflection. No distractions, no news programs, no cell phone, email or kids or anything else that forces the mind to work hard. Find a quiet place, maybe that’s a room in your house, a backyard spot, or a bench on a walking path in your neighborhood or local park. And just sit and contemplate, or don’t, let your mind wander to whatever and wherever it takes you and just BE.”

So often, we get caught up in the what-ifs of life, we busy ourselves to the point of exhaustion and very seldom ever take time to just be quiet with our thoughts. This morning I was sitting on our back deck, with a cup of coffee, having one of these quiet moments, and there was a flash of color in the tree behind our home, as I silently watched, two pairs of Bullock’s Orioles were flitting about. On a “normal” day I would have missed this. But today, alone with my thoughts, before anyone in the house was awake, I was inspired to remember that there is still beauty in the world to be experienced and enjoyed.”

(3/24/20 Tuesday Email) Download and Use theiNaturalist App. Brian encourages the idea of using the iNaturalist App anytime you are out just walking your neighborhoods to identify and record what you see: “Get out. Anywhere, and anytime you can. Walk your neighborhood, you never know what you might see or experience. Everyone’s neighborhood has resources to engage our bodies and minds, and it’s easy to miss them when we are busy with work and school, going to and from constantly. As difficult as this anchor-in-place situation is, it’s also an opportunity to explore areas right outside our front doors.”

 

ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO!

1. Celebrate Earth Day (or any day!) with a “Color Hunt” or “Color Crawl.” (4/21/20 Tuesday Email)

To celebrate the Earth, whether you are at home or on your walks, take time to look around and appreciate what you see by doing a color hunt or color crawl. You’ll be surprised at how many items of a particular color you will find!
1. Choose a color (from paint samples or color wheel examples online).
2. Go “hunting” (e.g. on a walk outside) for those colors.
3. Take pictures.
4. Make a digital collage.
If you don’t want to go outside, perhaps you can organize your own beautiful photos from your previous travels or hikes on the Landmarks that fit a particular color theme.
Examples of a color hunt collage are below:
Share your collages by posting to the Instagram handle @ocmounainstosea and hashtag account #ircvolunteerschillin -or- send them into activityoperations@irconservancy.org so that we can share them for you.
We are excited to see what color treasures the Earth holds from your mind’s eye. (For more details, please click on this attachment.)

 

2. #ircvolunteerschillin: IRC Volunteers Are Invited to Share Photos of What They’re Doing While ‘Staying at Home.’ (4/14/20 Tuesday Email)

We thought it might be nice to create something online where volunteers can post and share photos or videos of themselves keeping active (or not) while not being able to volunteer on the land for this period of staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. These may be things that you are doing at home, in your yard or other ways that you are responsibly getting outside.

These photos or videos would be posted periodically on IRC’s Instagram page:  @ocmountainstosea, using the hashtag: #ircvolunteerschillin. For a sneak peak of what’s been posted so far, please check out this link to #ircvolunteerschillin

Click here for step-by-step instructions on how you can get your photo or video posted. This is optional for IRC volunteers to participate in. Please note that, while not required, we prefer a photo of you doing something (or not doing something). Keep in mind that these will be posted on IRC’s Instagram page, so material should be appropriate.

 

ALL ABOUT BIRDS:

1. Hummingburds Can See Colors We Cannot Even Imagine. (6/23/20 Tuesday Email)
Hummingbirds can see an impressive array of colors that are invisible – or appear very different – to the human eye: https://www.popsci.com/story/animals/hummingbird-color-vision-ultraviolet/
2. Rare Bird Alert! (6/16/20 Tuesday Email)
The American Birding Association (ABA) inspires all people to enjoy and protect wild birds all across North America. Please check out the June 12, 2020 rare bird alert for some spectacular sightings.
3. Activity of the Week: Try a “Bird Sit” or a “Breakfast Birdwatch.” (4/28/20 Tuesday Email)
A “Bird Sit” can be a powerful mindfulness practice and you can do it from your yard or in your neighborhood. And, a “Breakfast Birdwatch” can be a great way to start your day. And, while you don’t have to know anything about birds to enjoy these activities, you will soon find that you will passively learn a lot about them! What secrets will the birds reveal to you?

4. “Birds of the World” has taken flight! (3/24/20 Tuesday Email)

“Birds of North America Online” from Cornell Lab of Ornithology has undergone a major expansion and rebranding to become the new Birds of the World. This expanded resource is provided to all Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers free-of-charge as a handy tool to enrich your experience as a naturalist and further your role as an ambassador of the Landmarks. One of the biggest features of the new expanded version is that Birds of the World will feature 10,721 species accounts, rather than the previous 760 under Birds of North America!

Watch a video from the Cornell Lab introducing the new website: Cornell Lab Birds of the World Introduction.

The new URL for Birds of the World website is now: https://birdsoftheworld.org. (The former “Birds of North America” URL is no longer available.) Click here for the new log-in instructions for all IRC volunteers.

5. Attract Birds to Your Yard. (3/24/20 Tuesday Email)

Tips from Orange County Water District on how to get birds to come to your yard: OCWD: Wild Secrets – Attracting Birds to Your Yard

BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES:

1. What’s Happening to the Monarch Butterfly Population? (6/23/20 Tuesday Email)

Researchers want your help to figure out where they go between winter and when they breed: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/science/monarch-butterfly.html

2. Monarch Butterflies Will Be Protected Under Historic Agreement. (5/26/20 Tuesday Email)
More than 45 transportation and energy companies, as well as dozens of private landowners, have agreed to create or maintain monarch butterfly habitat along rights-of-way corridors across the United States.

3. Information on Butterflies: (4/7/20 Tuesday Email)

Butterfly Q & A from North American Butterfly Association: https://www.naba.org/qanda.html

Meet the scientist who’s been counting California butterflies for over 47 years with no plans to stop! This website includes over 34 years of butterfly data collected by Dr. Arthur Shapiro, professor of Evolution and Ecology at University of California, Davis: http://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/

4. Planting Gardens to Attract Butterflies and Moths: (4/7/20 Tuesday Email)

For ideas on what to plant in your garden, click here to see document from the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants in Sun Valley, CA. Check out more about the Theodore Payne Foundation at: theodorepayne.org.

Informative article from Rogers Gardens: Monarchs and Milkweeds: What Gardeners Need To Know

5. Participate in Butterfly Counts: (4/7/20 Tuesday Email)

    1. Count Painted Lady butterflies all around southern California for a Citizen Science project from The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles! Check out a short video about the count and another video with tips to identify Painted Lady butterflies. Click on this link to learn how to contribute to the count: The Natural History Museum LA Citizen Science Project.
    2. Contribute sightings of Monarchs and Milkweeds in the western U.S. to the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper Project(a partnership between the Xerces Society, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service): https://www.monarchmilkweedmapper.org/
    3. Track Monarch butterflies during the Western Monarch Mystery Challenge between February 14 through April 22: https://www.facebook.com/monarchmystery/
    4. Participate in a butterfly count for the North American Butterfly Association. Maybe start a new count circle with all our own naturalists out there! https://www.naba.org/counts/participate.html

RELATED TO THE ARTS:

1. (6/23/20 Tuesday Email)
Virtual and In-Person Summer Events Pick Back Up as Orange County Slowly Re-Opens.
This summer will not be typical by any means. But arts and cultural organizations are doing their best to create virtual and in-person experiences to entertain. Read more here: https://voiceofoc.org/2020/06/virtual-and-in-person-summer-events-pick-back-up-as-orange-county-slowly-re-opens/
2. (5/12/2020 Tuesday Email)
The California Art Club is hosting a virtual experience for its 109th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition in collaboration with the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. The event was originally scheduled to be revealed at the museum, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they will make the exhibit accessible online. It will be presented from May 16 through June 13, 2020.
Mssr. Jean Stearn will be opening the virtual tour which features some amazing works of art. Mssr. Stearn presented at a past IRC Naturalist Notebook lecture at which many of you were present. He is an art historian and the country’s foremost authority on the California Impressionism movement. He is the senior curator of California Impressionism at UC Irvine and the Museum of California Art.
The 109th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition unveils some amazing artists, including John Cosby, who exhibited his works at IRC’s 2018 Volunteer & Partner Celebration and Michael Obermeyer. Both of these artists have painted on the Landmarks.
Please do not miss the California Art Club Virtual Exhibition May 16 – June 13: californiaartclub.org/goldmedal
3. (5/12/20 Tuesday Email)
And, to showcase your own art skills, please consider submitting your California native flora photography to CalFlora’s 6th Annual Photo Contest. The contest runs from May 1 – May 31, 2020. Typically, the contest requires that any photos submitted be actually taken in the month of May, but, this year, they are accepting any observation submitted during May 2020, regardless of when the photo was taken.
If you do submit a photo to CalFlora and the contest, please also send your photo to us at activityoperations@irconservancy.org. We will showcase these photos in a future “Tuesday Email.” We would absolutely love to see your photos!

GENERAL NATURE RESOURCES:

1. Got Questions? (6/30/20 Tuesday Email)
Have you been out on the trails practicing your naturalist skills that you learned on the Landmarks as an IRC volunteer? This act not only keeps your skills keen, but qualifies you as an ambassador of the land – so, when you meet new people, you can share with them what you are observing. But, what about when you run into something that you find puzzling or don’t know what it is? We invite you to send in your question (along with photo(s)) to activityoperations@irconservancy.org. We have certified naturalists and biologists on staff and access to scatologists and trackers. Keep up all our skills by sending in your questions to us!
2. Ten US Cities With the Best Parks. (6/30/20 Tuesday Email)
I’ll bet you won’t be surprised to see which local city made the top ten list!
3. Winners! 6th Annual Calflora Photo Contest (6/30/20 Tuesday Email)
4. National Pollinators Week (June 22 – 28, 2020) (6/23/20 Tuesday Email)
Celebrate National Pollinator Week this June 22 – 28, 2020! Hard-working animals help pollinate over 75% of our flowering plants, and nearly 75% of our crops. Often we may not notice the hummingbirds, bats, bees, beetles, butterflies, and flies (and even mosquitos!) that carry pollen from one plant to another as they collect nectar.
5. Soothe the Soul with Gardening and Landscaping. (6/16/20 Tuesday Email)
As the weather warms, gardening is providing a dose of sanity and fresh air for people who have been cooped up amid the coronavirus pandemic. Piet Oudolf, one of the world’s foremost landscape designers, is deeply familiar with the restorative properties of gardening. In a couple of virtual visits (below), he talks about “solace in the garden” and how plants can provide nourishment for both body and spirit.
6. How You Can Create Water-Wise Native Gardens. (6/16/20 Tuesday Email)
7. 25 Orange County Nature Photos to Welcome Spring. (6/9/20 Tuesday Email)
It feels a little bit too much like summer today 🌞🌡😌, but these 25 photos will make nature-lovers smile.
8. Why Restoring Nature is the Best Way to Protect Humans. (6/2/20 Tuesday Email)
Consider watching the TED Talk by Kristine Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia, who is now undertaking the challenge of establishing national parks in South America.
9. What Makes Earth So Special? (6/2/20 Tuesday Email)
You may also be interested in these other TED Talks that explore why we may want to make strides to preserve our shared, galactic home: TED Talk Playlist focusing on our planet.
10. Last Weekend’s SpaceX Launch. (6/2/20 Tuesday Email)
For those of you interested in space, you are probably already aware of the recent historical SpaceX launch – historical in the sense that SpaceX is the first private company to send humans into orbit and to the International Space Station. Click on the below links to view the launch, approach and docking and to see how the astronauts are doing in space.
11. UCI, Loma Ridge and IRC. (5/19/20 Tuesday Email)
If you’ve been on any of IRC’s Hicks Haul Road hikes in the past, you are probably aware that UCI is doing research on Loma Ridge (OC Parks land in partnership with Irvine Ranch Conservancy). Late last summer, UCI scientists were awarded $2.7 million for soil nutrient microbiome research – how soil microbes respond to drought with the ultimate goal of determining how to best grow biofuel crops in the future. In a small way, we all help with this important research.
12. Take a Road Trip. (5/12/20 Tuesday Email)
If you’re like me, you are having some stir-crazy moments by now. The below links take us on a virtual road trip to some of our country’s National Parks. That sounds good about now!
(And, for a funny look at park visitors’ one-star reviews (!?) of some of the National Parks: https://www.ambersharedesign.com/work-blog/2020/2/26/subparparks)
Additional tours from the National Park Service and the National Parks Foundation:
Xanterra, who runs grand hotels and lodges in some of the National Parks, has some amazing National Park photos of nature’s beauty and National Park history on their Facebook #roamfromhome page.
13. Got Toilet Paper? (5/12/20 Tuesday Email)
The toilet paper shortage of last month has been somewhat resolved. But, just in case it happens again, read the quite interesting April 16 OC Register article on how you can grow your own toilet paper!
14. California “Wildfire Preparedness Week” May 3-9. (5/5/20 Tuesday Email)
The current focus on the pandemic may have caused many of us to forget about the recent devastating wildfires in California. May 3 – 9, 2020 has been declared as “Wildfire Preparedness Week” in the State of California.
For some thoughtful reminders, please click on the below:
From northern California, but still relevant: https://abc7news.com/cal-fire-california-wildfire-preparedness-week-press-conference/6150089/
15. The Ultimate Naturalist, Alexander Von Homboldt. (4/28/20 Tuesday Email)
With some time to expand our budding naturalist horizons a little bit, below are two links about the man who greatly influenced John Muir, Henry David Thoreau and Thomas Jefferson, among others.
Article in ‘The Atlantic,’ showcasing von Humboldt’s forward thinking from the 1800’s, which is still relevant today:
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/12/the-forgotten-father-of-environmentalism/421434/
Audio presentation of her book, The Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, by author Andrea Wulf:

16. The Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks April 21, 2020. (4/21/20 Tuesday Email)

One positive outcome of the ‘stay-at-home’ orders around the globe is that nature is responding with clearer skies, cleaner waters and wildlife that are enjoying a respite from humans encroaching on their territory!
This may help set the stage for a spectacular night show, peaking tonight and into tomorrow morning. You can catch the show starting at 10 pm, but this shower is perfect for early risers, as the hour or two before dawn is the best time to spot “shooting stars,” possibly up to 18 meteors per hour.
A couple of interesting reads:

 

17. Help Scientists Studying the Earth and Global Environment. (3/31/20 Tuesday Email)

Download the GLOBE Observer App to your smartphone. This app allows you to record environmental observations to compare to NASA satellite observations to help scientists studying Earth and the Global environment. The app includes Clouds, which allows you to photograph clouds and record sky observations and compare them with NASA satellite images. It also includes Mosquito Habitat Mapper, which asks you to identify potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, sample and count mosquito larvae, and, with optional equipment, examine and photograph a specimen to identify its genus. Your observations contribute to a global database that will be used by scientists to verify predictive models of mosquito population dynamics based on satellite data. Public health authorities have access to this mosquito data for use in managing disease risk in communities.

18. Be a Naturalist / iNaturalist App. (3/24/20 Tuesday Email)

    1. Watch “Being a Naturalist: The Power of Observation – UC California Naturalist 2016 Statewide Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
    2. How to use your mobile device and app as a Citizen Scientist: How to Make an Observation on iNaturalist using our Mobile App
    3. Additional instruction at: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/video+tutorials+%252f+tutoriels+video)
    4. Things to do at home from iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/31664-exploring-nature-when-you-re-stuck-at-home
    5. Other things to do at home from California Naturalist: https://www.facebook.com/CANaturalist/posts/needing-some-more-nature-while-in-or-around-your-home-here-are-some-suggestions-/2966167720089703

ANIMALS:

1. Southern California Mountain Lion Gives Birth! (6/9/20 Tuesday Email)
2. Fishing and Whale Watching Resume! (6/9/20 Tuesday Email)
3. Live Stream African Safaris. (6/2/20 Tuesday Email)
Travel is still restricted to varying degrees, so virtually going places can still be a good way to see new things. WildEarth’s safariLive offers two live safaris daily that you can join from the comfort of your home.
4. Recent Protections for Our Local Mountain Lions. (5/19/20 Tuesday Email)
On April 16, the California Fish and Game Commission took a vote that gives the cats temporary protective status in six geographic areas, including the Santa Ana mountains.
5. Orange County’s Starr Ranch Audubon’s Owl & Wildlife Cameras and Blog. (5/19/20 Tuesday Email)
Look for the clip of the May 5 mountain lion sighting: http://starrranch.org/blog/

6. World’s Largest Owl Hatches Giant Babies Outside Man’s Window . . .  and Now They Watch TV with Him. (5/26/20 Tuesday Email)

Enjoy this human/animal-interest story and video from Belgium: http://www.flanderstoday.eu/europes-largest-owl-raises-babies-windowsill-geel-apartment

7. California Watchable Wildlife. (5/19/20 Tuesday Email)
As people are now getting out more, wildlife is probably wondering what is going on! They were just getting used to peace and quiet! This website (https://www.cawatchablewildlife.org/camap.php) lists optimal places in California to view specific birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish or mammals. You can filter for what you would like to see and the website will provide optimal viewing places in California. Even though we might not yet be able to visit all these places, the website is very complete and provides very interesting photos and information about the places listed.

 

8. Help Wildlife from Home. (3/31/20 Tuesday Email)

Another suggestion for people who might want to help wildlife from the comfort of their homes. Check out zooniverse.org  for crowdsourced projects ranging from arts to science. Some things that volunteers can do include processing large data sets of online trail camera data, ID acoustic recordings for bats, whales or nest watching.

9. San Diego Zoo Live Cams. (3/31/20 Tuesday Email)

Check out the San Diego Zoo Live Cams of a variety of animals at the San Diego Zoo, including owls, condors and butterflies . . . and more (including koala bears and apes)! Also, check out the Burrowing Owls on the San Diego Zoo Global Live Cam.

10. Explore Live Nature Cameras. (3/24/20 Tuesday Email)

If we can’t actually be there in real time, now might be the time to check out some nature live streams from places and different landscapes all over the globe. https://explore.org/livecams

GENERAL VOLUNTEER RESOURCES:

1. 4th of July 2020 Amid Coronavirus. (6/30/20 Tuesday Email)

Response to the recent uprise in Coronavirus cases has brought about some serious changes, particularly in Los Angeles county, where the beaches (and more) will be closed for the weekend to discourage the gathering of crowds.

As of this writing, beaches in Orange County will be open. You may have to scour through the below website to find OC July 4 activities that are not cancelled, but there are some inventive “virtual” July 4 celebrations along with a couple of places still planning actual fireworks displays (but no public gathering). Remember to follow all COVID-19 guidelines and mandates to keep yourself and your household safe!

 

2. How the Quarantine Has Changed Us – And It’s Not All Bad. (6/16/20 Tuesday Email)
Read this article for an interesting perspective and suggestion of eight new habits we may want to keep. We already knew about #7!
3. But There Are Some Bad Things, Too. (6/16/20 Tuesday Email)
Here is an article that runs down a number of current scams that prey on anxieties and fears about coronavirus.
4. How to Keep Your Glasses from Getting Fogged Up When Wearing a Mask. (5/26/20 Tuesday Email)
In light of Orange County’s recent order to wear masks, we thought this information is timely. Anyone who wears glasses (or sunglasses) knows the problem . . . they fog up when you’re wearing a mask. Not only an inconvenience, this could be a safety hazard. See below for some tips:
5. National Heimlich Maneuver Day. (5/26/20 Tuesday Email)
Lest we forget, June 1 is National Heimlich Maneuver Day. It is important for all of us to remain aware of this important technique; you never know when you may need to know it! CPR/First Aid training prepares us for this and many other scenarios. IRC has provided this vital training to its volunteers in the past. We realize that we are now on a hiatus for all volunteer training, including CPR/First Aid training, but please know that we are looking at all the ways that we can possibly offer this training in compliance with current COVID-19 guidelines for Phase 2 reopening. Our priority is to keep you safe and healthy.
6. GivingTuesday Continues. (5/12/20 Tuesday Email)
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused a health crisis, but an economic one as well, which has impacted so many people. Since it can always be GivingTuesday, we would like to highlight a couple of local charities that are really making a difference right now. And, there are so many other organizations in OC needing support. We know of IRC volunteers who have gotten involved in these causes and we salute you.
Power of One (This organization has handed out free diapers for 2,000 children in OC over the last four weeks.)
7. “Giving Tuesday” – May 5, 2020. (5/5/20 Tuesday Email)
Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement. The Giving Tuesday Organization is launching a global day of unity to take place on May 5, 2020, as a response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
We encourage you to keep volunteering by keeping up your skills as IRC volunteers, and, if you are still wondering about other ways that you can give, consider volunteering (virtually or otherwise) to help charities assisting in the COVID-19 crisis such as food donations and mask-making. You can even give or encourage others to give to 501c3 charities like IRC.
We have noticed on the news that people seem to have taken a genuine interest in nature after seeing what can happen when the Earth was allowed to rest during this crisis. Even though the public and volunteers are currently not on the Landmarks, IRC is continuing to manage the land, flora and fauna in order to prepare for the future time when people can return. There is a lot of restoration still to be done. Donations to IRC can help us connect the community to the land.
It’s easy to donate to IRC, just text ‘IRC’ to 56512.

8. Celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 19 – 25) (4/21/20 Tuesday Email)

Shining a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve . . . information on Points of Light National Volunteer Week organization:  https://www.pointsoflight.org/nvw/

9. How the Natural World is Thriving Now that Humans are Staying Indoors. (4/21/20 Tuesday Email)

A positive outcome of the ‘stay-at-home’ orders around the globe is that nature is responding. For the fascinating details behind this, click here: https://www.insider.com/photos-videos-earth-planet-thriving-coronavirus-2020-4

 

10. Face Masks. (4/14/20 Tuesday Email)

The CDC now recommends that Americans consider wearing cloth face coverings in public: NPR: CDC Now Recommends Cloth Face Coverings

In fact, it is required when going out in Los Angeles. Confused about the various local requirements? Read this article: Confused about Face Covering Rules?

a. Using a Bandana

We suggest an IRC volunteer bandana (given out each year at the Volunteer & Partner Celebrations), of course! And, please wash after each use. Some of you have several years’ (and several different bright colors) of the IRC volunteer bandanas.

For instruction on how to create a mask from a bandana, read this: How to Make a No-Sew Face Mask Using a Bandana

b. Using an IRC “fandana” and an IRC bandana:

Wear the IRC “fandana,” (also known as a neck gaiter) covering your nose, mouth and chin.

Fold one of the many brightly colored IRC bandanas and insert inside of the fandana, covering your nose and mouth.

Be sure to wash after every use.

 

11. Tips from Someone with 50 Years of Social Distancing Experience. (4/14/20 Tuesday Email)

Below are some relevant tips for dealing with social distancing and isolation:

  1. Keep track of something.
  2. Keep a routine.
  3. Celebrate the stuff that matters, rather than the stuff you’re supposed to celebrate.
  4. Embrace the grumpiness.
  5. Use movies as a mood adjuster.

Read more, for one man’s experience: https://www.npr.org/2020/04/01/824001085/tips-from-someone-with-50-years-of-social-distancing-experience

12. Attention Crafters! (4/7/20 Tuesday Email)

For any of you who may sew, knit or crochet, there are many organizations to whom you can contribute. Below are a few:

Quilts of Valor (QOVs) (making quilts for soldiers)

Wildcare (organizes a Baby Bird Nest Craft-along to create knitted and crocheted nests from volunteers located across the U.S.)

Leggings for Life (takes requests from veterinarians and pet owners for injured and disabled animals that need custom-made clothing and cushions for their special needs)

Knots of Love (volunteers make crocheted caps for chemo patients)

Knit-a-Square (invites yarn crafters, including beginners, to knit or crochet 8-inch squares which are collected and sent to South Africa, where they are assembled into blankets for orphaned or vulnerable children affected by AIDS)

Snuggles Project (connects yarn crafters with animal shelters near them that could use security blankets to comfort animals)

Mats for Cats (invites crafters to make soft cage liners for cage floors at cat shelters-affiliated with the Potsdam NY Humane Society, but distributed widely)

Project Linus (gathers homemade blankets for children to be distributed through hospitals, shelters, and aid agencies)

Feel Better Friends (mobilizes volunteers to crochet dolls to resemble a specific child dealing with a traumatic health issue to

13. Translators Without Border. (3/31/20 Tuesday Email)

An idea for volunteers who speak a second language who might want to translate texts for NGOs and nonprofits. To explore this option, please visit the Translators Without Borders website.

14. Remote Volunteer Opportunities from AARP. (3/31/20 Tuesday Email)

For possible volunteer opportunities that you can do from home, check out the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) website:https://createthegood.aarp.org/. Be sure to filter to “Show only Home/Remote Opportunities.”

15. Volunteer Resource Web Pages. (3/17/20 Tuesday Email)

If it’s been awhile since you checked out the “Volunteer Resource” pages in your www.LetsGoOutside.org account, now might be a good time to do so. There is a lot of information including trail information, facts sheets about flora and fauna, an electronic version of the IRC Volunteer Manual, and much more.

16. IRLandmarks YouTube Channel. (3/17/20 Tuesday Email)

There is also a wealth of informative videos about the Landmarks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and more on the IRLandmarks YouTube Channel” with suggestions for other YouTube Channels to check out.