Greetings guys, gals, and non-binary pals!
The world, or at least most of it is in the middle of an enforced isolation shut-down. Everyone’s stuck at home and if you particularly want to go for a stroll, or to the store, you have to be hyper-aware of those around you and wear protective gear. So, you might have a treadmill or yoga mat at home for physical exercise, but it’s just not the same as GOING somewhere. While perhaps not ideal this is our current reality and as such, it is a situation we need to work with.
In situations like these, I am reminded significantly of my childhood. When I was ill or recovering from surgery, I was relatively isolated at home doing crafts and watching tv programs. However, through the television’s lens, I also had access to the world. My mother was a recreation therapist at convalescent homes until about a decade ago and took residents on weekly “trips” to often distant and intriguing destinations. We pre-viewed the films at home before the weekly showings and I was often asked where I “wanted to go” that night. That is a big part of why I value adventure and film as much as I do now.
All of this was occurring at a time long before Youtube, vlogs, or really any social media existed. We would go to the local library and pick out interesting VHS tapes supposedly detailing long-forgotten aspects of faraway lands. Some, admittedly, were far more lacking than others, but we were going somewhere. That was the important part. And it was free, at least for the most part.
We all had health issues of one type or another and often had drastically limited funds. I can count on one hand the number of “summer vacation family trips” we took during my childhood, but at least once a week, we went somewhere. Now, I know that seeing the Grand Canyon and Taj Mahal on a screen can’t hold a candle to being there in person, documenting the experience with your own camera. I fully realize that. However, the internet being what it is, group chat is a thing, as are phone calls. Many agencies have begun posting links to livestreams and tours of their spaces. The Globe is broadcasting shows from London.
While it is not the same as being there in person and I understand the frustration that not being able to do anything breeds, it is important to stay at home. Stay safe, stay home, and we’ll get through this. While scientists are still learning the full nature of this virus, limiting contact and physical self-isolation is key to halting the spread. And I get it. Really. I had planned to go to a botanical conference this weekend and visit Joshua Tree on the way. Or just Joshua Tree, really. Somehow, I’ve lived in California my entire life, am a botany nerd, and still have never actually been there in person. Go figure.
My point is, there are a number of sites and resources that I will link below where you can watch, stream, download, etc. various content be it coloring pages from the Folger Shakespeare Library, or tours of national parks. You might not be able to physically go there at present, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a trip for a while. And if it’s recorded you can always head back too, regardless of finances, weather conditions, or time of day.
Be well, friends. Remember to wash your hands, don’t touch m.e.n.*, and practice social (physical) distancing.
Sincerely,
Kate
*m.e.n. — mouth, eyes, and nose: drawing a blank as to who (leave a comment if you know) but one of the Youtube peeps I watch shared it.
National Parks and historic Sites:
The Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA
Hawai’i’s Volcanoes, Hawai’i, USA
The Dry Tortugas, Florida, USA
Kenai Fjords, Alaska, USA
National Parks Interactive Map, USA
The Great Wall of China, China
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Academics:
The Medieval Academy of America virtual meeting
Botanical Medicine lectures
Kew Gardens learning about fungal and plant science
Museums:
The British Museum, London, England, UK
The National Portrait Gallery, London, England, UK
The Guggenheim (via Google Street View), New York, New York, USA
The National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., USA
Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France
The Louvre, Paris, France There’s also a 360* immersive version.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
The Pergamon Museum, Berlin, Germany
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Van Gogh Museum, Amasterdam, The Netherlands
The J. Paul Getty Musuem, Los Angeles, California, USA
The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
MASP - Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand, São Paulo, Brasil
The National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City, Mexico
Readings and Solo PERFORMANCES:
Sir Patrick Stewart reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets via Twitter
Levar Burton Reads Podcast with Levar Burton of Roots, Star Trek, and Reading Rainbow
Imagination Library: Dolly Parton’s Goodnight with Dolly (starts April 2nd)
Streamed Events & Stage Productions:
The Metropolitan Opera, New York, New York, USA
The Globe Theatre, London, UK Unfortunately, with things as they are presently, The Globe has had to close its doors and is completely funded by donations and sales/rental of prerecorded footage. They’ve set up a donation page, here.
The National Theatre, London, UK
Cirque du Soleil, Montreal, Canada
West End Acoustic: The Quarantine Sessions, London, UK
Leave the Light on Concerts, London, UK
Star Trek: Picard online release
Music via Billboard
Animal Livestreams:
Decorah Eagle Cam, Decorah, Iowa, USA
Decorah (North) Eagle Cam, Decorah, Iowa, USA
Tropical Reef Aquarium, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, California, USA
Penguin Beach, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, California, USA
Kitten Sanctuary Cam, Los Angeles, California, USA
Service Dog Puppy Cam, Penngrove, California, USA
Jellyfish, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, California, USA
Giant Flying Foxes, Lubee Bat Conservancy, Gainsville, Florida, USA
Cracroft Point Underwater Orca Lookout, Orcalab, Hanson Island, British Columbia, Canada
Great Spirit Bluff Falcons, Raptor Resource Project, La Crescent, Minnesota, USA
Mountain Gorillas, Rowanda, Africa Not a live feed, but fabulously constructed.
Other streams are posted, but these are a good representation.
360*/Streaming Platforms:
AirPano (Panoramic images and video): http://www.airpano.com/
Fullscreen360: http://www.fullscreen360.com/
Coloring Pages:
The Folger Shakespeare Library
The New York American Medical Library, Color Our Collections initiative. World museums inviting patrons to “color our collections” in whatever style they like.
Free/Discounted Services:
Fender: Offering 3 months of free guitar lessons
Skillshare, (affliliate link): You get 2 months of a premium membership and I get one month of premium membership free if/when you complete your first full payment.