Updated April 9
Based on advice from Sierra Club's safety team, we are extending our current COVID-19 cautionary status through Sunday, June 14th. There will be no travel, no in-person meetings, no public events and no outings through this date. Offices are functionally closed. But we are all here, working from home, doing our best to pursue Sierra Club priorities and values during these times.
This blog contains resources to help you and others cope with this crisis and engage with and explore the world from home. These resources are offered as a best attempt to inform you. We have not verified every link offered here. We cannot guarantee the quality of safety of any option offered below. Please use your best judgement and precautions when pursuing these or other options.
Our Top Priorities
1. Safety. For you, our staff, volunteers and families, and everyone in our communities.
2. Helping those in need.
3. Dedication to protecting the environment, because not all threats are self-isolating in response to this crisis.
Covid-19 tracking, resources, and safety best practices.
Two great online resources for tracking world-wide and local Coronavirus statistics:
John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
As a society, it is our responsibility to take action that protects our community. Right now, this action is practicing social distancing. At Sierra Club, our Executive Director Michael Brune released a statement on COVID-19 and the actions we are taking as an organization. All staff are working from home, all group outings have been canceled, and meetings moved digitally. As you get situated, we would like to offer some suggestions to fill your leisure time and support your working hours.
If you’re ready for activism, click here to volunteer. We’ll be in touch within the next few days with our plan for action
Updates on COVID-19
Stay informed on the outbreak to remain safe and help mitigate the spread of the virus by tuning in to your local, state and (inter)national authorities, such as:
Senator Cortez Masto's Covid-19 Resource Guide
Clark County
Washoe County
Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health
US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO) Advice for the Public
While we cannot come together physically during this hard time, we can support each other in solidarity to make it through. Remember to lend a helping hand to your neighbors, friends, and family as you are able. And do not be afraid or too proud to ask for help. We all need it from time to time. We must also rise above racist and other attacks and build a safety net that keeps families and communities around the nation afloat.
Economic and Insurance Resources
We recognize that COVID-19 is having an impact larger than just on health. Our economy is slowing down as well. Especially here in Nevada and the eastern Sierra, a lot of our work depends on tourism and service. If you were recently let go from your job or happen to find yourself unemployed during these hard times, here are some resources:
File for Nevada Unemployment Insurance
Video to assist when filing online
If you run a small business that is suffering because of decreased community activity and government closures of all nonessential businesses, the Small Business Administration has issued disaster relief low-interest loans to keep the doors open and staff paid.
Small Business Disaster Relief Funds
If you find yourself without health insurance, Nevada has re-opened the state’s marketplace for a special enrollment period through April 15th.
Nevada Health Link
Please support your local businesses.
Here is a list of restaurants in the Reno area still open for take-out and delivery orders. A similar list from Yelp.
Here is a list of restaurants in Las Vegas still open for take-out and delivery orders.
Food, shopping and other help for those who need
Places where you can volunteer or donate to help those less fortunate
Southern Nevada
Shopping Angels was just started by a UNLV student and has taken off. They may be interested in a donation.
Our partner, Battle Born Progress has begun a food pantry to help feed people who need help. Donate here, or contact them directly to volunteer to help deliver meals.
ThreeSquare. Southern Nevada’s largest food bank
Other Food banks in southern Nevada
Northern Nevada
Please donate and volunteer as you are able
Food Bank of Northern NV (doing kids' meals during the school closures)
The Boys and Girls Club are also providing hot meals.
Neighbor Network of Northern NV
Donate here to provide computers for kids at home, helping close the digital divide in CA.
Working from home
If your employment or education situation affords you the opportunity to work or learn from home during this public health crisis, this may bring about a natural set of questions to navigate, such as: how do I even stay connected with my coworkers, classmates… even my loved ones? We put together some tools to help you stay connected and productive:
Zoom - Video collaboration tool offering a free version. https://zoom.us
Hangouts - Google's free Web-based video collaboration tool. https://hangouts.google.com
Smartphone - If you have a smartphone, chances are it has video capability that you can leverage.
Monday, Asana, Airtable, nTask - Handy tool to help you and your co-workers organize projects, create timelines, even set up automated workflows. They have some pretty decent tutorials to help you get familiar with the tool.
Google G-Suite - Google's all-in-one suite for creating collaborative, online documents, spreadsheets, video hangouts, and more, including email (ala Gmail). https://gsuite.google.com
Caring for yourself and loved ones
To ensure you are taking care of your mental health, we recommend setting up daily video or phone dates with loved ones, going outside, and reading. The outdoors is core to the Sierra Club, so we plan to use some of our now freed time to reconnect with the great outdoors and watch the world come back to life this spring.
Getting outdoors
Living in Nevada and the eastern Sierra, we are lucky to have so many places to explore and maintain social distancing. Take advantage of these beautiful days to explore and enjoy this beautiful season and region. Nature also calms anxiety and boosts your immune system. If you see others on the trails, be kind and polite, but keep your space. Do not hike or camp in large groups, but do share a picture or video with your friends, family, or social media when you return. Please share your favorite photos on your facebook or instagram to give others something beautiful to enjoy.
However, please stay close to home and avoid the most popular destinations. Several state and national parks have been overwhelmed by crowds of visitors hoping to avoid crowds. And gateway communities like Moab, UT, and Truckee, CA, have been overwhelmed by visitors using this crisis as an excuse for a vacation, as outlined by this article in High Country News. This is not a holiday. By traveling to other cities, you risk spreading the disease to them, or catching it from them. Please stay close to home.
If you’re looking for trails, alltrails.com is a great opportunity to explore hikes near you.
National Park Service
Reno-Tahoe
Reno Trails
Reno Area Hiking and Walking Trails
Galena Creek Visitor Center
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Hiking
Lake Tahoe Basin - Hiking
Tahoe National Forest - Hiking
Plumas National Forest - Hiking
Eldorado - Hiking
Friends of Black Rock High Rock
Wild Areas in Nevada by Region
Exploring the world from your home
Some wonderful virtual reality tours from UNR Associate Professor Howard Goldbaum:
- All Around Nevada;
- Voices From the Dawn: The Folklore of Ireland’s Ancient Monuments
Here are a few excellent resources to explore and enjoy our beautiful planet:
Audubon’s Top 10 Wildlife Webcams
Audubon bird cams from around the world
Outside Magazine’s Definitive Ranking of Livestream Webcams
(I just got distracted by watching young polar bears wrestling)
The US Department of Interior’s Four Wildlife Cams You’re Guaranteed to Love
Patagonia’s Films and Stories
Patagonia has been sponsoring films that highlight amazing places, incredible athletes and issues that matter for years. Here’s a link to some of their best.
And here’s a link to some of Patagonia’s best writing.
Resources for kids
National Wildlife Federation Ranger Rick Website. All resources free to visitors between now and the end of June
National Geographic Kids
National Audubon Society, "Birding's for the Kids"
Activism.
Because environmental challenges aren’t going away. You can help from home.
Nationally and locally, Sierra Club staff and volunteers have been planning for a major shift of all activities from in person to digital. Details are still coming together and will be out soon.
Sign up now to volunteer. We’ll be in touch within the next few days with our plan for action.
Connect with us digitally
Toiyabe Chapter Facebook
Southern Nevada Group Facebook
Great Basin Group (northern Nevada) Facebook
Tahoe Group Facebook
Range of Light Group Facebook
Please take care of yourselves, and don't hesitate to email us if you need anything. Call me directly at (775) 848-7783 if it's important.
~ Brian Beffort, Toiyabe Chapter Director