Finding Wild Things from Inside

Many of us have been experiencing Safer at Home practices for about a month.

While some have found reliable rhythms and routines, others are struggling to adapt and cope. You are not alone.

Fear, constant worry, uncertainty, hypervigilance (the work of taking special care with hand-washing and disinfecting surfaces), reading or watching news updates, reminding loved ones to take care, caring for those loved ones without respite...

All of these things can take a toll on mental well-being.

Resilient Wisconsin has many resources for individuals and families struggling with the challenge of this pandemic.

Many of us continue to take solace in the natural world. Research studies have shown that access to green and natural spaces can reduce the brain activity associated with rumination, the repetitive thought cycles associated with negative emotions.

But what if you are unable to get out in nature? We recognize that access to green or wild spaces is a privilege that not everyone can experience based on differences in living environment, mobility, health status, and economics. We know that the advice, “Get outside,” doesn’t work for everyone.

How then might we find connection with the natural world if it isn’t within reach?
Looking closer for things wild and natural might be a place to start.

• Do you have a patch of sky visible from your window?

It might sound a little silly until you try this, but observing through a window can be calming. How does the sky change throughout the day? How does the light shift? Taking a few moments to pause and notice can be a welcome break from worries and concerns.

• Virtual Nature Learning

No window available? Bring the amazing sights and sounds into your space with these virtual experiences. We know it's not quite the same as experiencing the world firsthand, but give them a try. You might be caught in a moment of awe and wonder. Many families have begun to gather and connect around these resources.

• Sounds of nature 
• Sounds of weather
• Virtually tour Joshua Tree National Park
• Google Street View: The Grand Canyon

Webcams are great to watch wildlife. Here are some local favorites:

• Peregrine Falcons
• US Fish & Wildlife Service's Upper Mississippi Refuge Webcams

Environmental Education in Wisconsin has a well curated list of virtual wildlife viewing links here:

• Wisconsin Wildlife Webcams
• http://eeinwisconsin.org/resource/about.aspx?s=113551.0.0.2209

Our friends at Summer Outdoor Adventure Club in Reedsburg,WI, are doing daily nature videos and stories for kids. Subscribe to their Facebook feed.

If you have a backyard and simply need some new inspiration for activities, this resource provides  instructional videos from the naturalists at Fallen Timbers in Black Creek, WI.

• https://www.fallentimbers.net/curriculum/home-school-activities.cfm

• Consider trying to grow a little something. Observing plants for their resilience and persistence can be a small way to inspire hope and curiosity. It's remarkable how even our kitchen scraps can hold the promise of new growth. 

• Sprout something in your kitchen!

Reach out and let us know what's working for you and your families. How are you connecting with wild things when you are unable to get out?