5 Ways to Have Fun in a Time of Physical Distancing

Living in the great Pacific Northwest has its unique advantages—even in these unusual times. We’re always here for each other, we’re creative, and we know how to have fun.     

In fact, having a positive outlook on life can only lead to better health and, many times, better outcomes and opportunities. Use these days you have at home to build a stronger relationship with your spouse or children, get things done around the house that you have been putting off for far too long, or take a moment to breathe in that fresh PNW air. 

Bring the adventure of the outside to the inside with five uniQue fun, local ways to stay busy and engaged at home. 

Letters to Trees in the City of Vancouver 

The City of Vancouver’s Urban Forestry department just released a new program called Letters to Trees that aims to connect people from all over the community with local heritage trees within the City of Vancouver. This program is for all ages and is meant to do individually or as a group. Is there a tree in your yard or neighborhood that you’ve been interested to learn more about? Ever wondered which tree is what as you drive by? This is the perfect opportunity for you! They even have a Heritage Tree Map if you need to find the perfect tree to draw and write a letter to. You can even do a bike ride tour of Vancouver’s Heritage Trees; that is exercise and learning all in one!   

Get Outside and Move 

While it may be easy nowadays to just stay at home and watch the TV, it’s also the perfect time to introduce some fun, healthy activity to your life. Kids at home? Take them along – they will appreciate getting outside and enjoying the beautiful outdoors just as much as you. Take a stroll through your neighborhood on a sunny day, learn some easy at-home yoga moves with Parallel 45 Yoga, or even do a circuit workout from the backyard with the entire family. The opportunities are endless – so what are you waiting for? Get outside and get moving! 

Scavenger Hunts 

Another exciting option you may love are scavenger hunts. Create one on your own in your house, in your yard, or even in your neighborhood. This is a fun way to get active and creative.  You can even bring trivia into the mix to add a unique element of education to this fun activity. If creating your own scavenger hunt isn’t your thing, there are numerous options available to you in Vancouver and Portland that have been put together by professionals, including the scavenger hunt provided by Operation City Quest which has options for Vancouver and Portland. These already-made scavenger hunts do come with a price, but they won’t cost you a fortune. Happy scavenging! 

Lemonade Day’s Lemonopolis 

This program was brought to Clark County just this year by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and is presented by iQ Credit Union. While this program was designed for in person learning, now we are saying “No Classroom?  No Problem!” Lemonade Day is all about teaching our community youngsters in grades 3 - 5 about entrepreneurship. They will learn the basics of money, how to create and stick to a budget, develop a business plan, implement the business plan, and so much more. Now, this incredible learning will be done virtually in Lemonopolis where they will work their way through the city (virtually) by entering certain buildings to complete activities and watch educational videos. In the end, our youth will learn everything they need to know about starting their own business. Join us as we paint the county yellow with lemonade stands and raise up our future community entrepreneurs. Now, how about a glass of ice-cold lemonade?   

Visit the Oregon Zoo – all while in the comfort of your home! 

The Oregon Zoo is bringing the zoo to you via their Facebook page or their YouTube channel!  Go behind the scenes to meet animals and the animal-care staff. After each live video, you can even go find fun filled animal activities to do at home. The activities are aimed for kids K-5, but all animal lovers are welcome to join in on the fun. After you watch some of these videos, you might be interested to explore the rest of the world – and you can now do this virtually, too. Explore the world from your home, and when this pandemic has finally subsided, maybe start planning a trip to your new dream destination, whether that is the Oregon Zoo or somewhere in the great PNW.   

Now, wander a little bit and explore the great PNW and beyond – even if it is from your couch!