CALABASAS, Calif. – Vivian and Desmond Van Deusen love the great outdoors and have spent a lot of time visiting National Parks, like the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree and Yosemite. Last month they were supposed to go to Zion National Park but that trip had to be cancelled and they are itching to start exploring again.

“I kind of miss, like, being out in the fresh air," 10-year-old Vivian said. "Like fresher than backyard air.  Like in nature.”

Well, good news, Vivian, Rangers at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area have got you covered.

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“We’re going to bringing the outdoors to you at your home," Ranger Catharine said during a recent Facebook Live event.

The National Park Service has launched an initiative called #SAMOatHome and Ranger Ana Beatriz Cholo says they have big plans for streaming live content on Facebook and Instagram.

“It’s not perfect.  It’s not the same," she admitted, "but we want to try to brainstorm and come up with as many ideas as possible to make this still a tolerable time.”

 

 

 

For instance, kids of all ages can become a Junior Ranger, or in this case, a Backyard Junior Ranger, although a backyard is not required.

“I think anyone can find a little bit of nature anywhere they go," Cholo said. "You know, just looking up the sky, you can see the clouds.  That’s nature. You can see the birds. We have to use a little bit more of our imaginations but I think it can be done.”

Over the course of a few weeks, rangers at the King Gillette Visitor Center, which is of course closed to the public right now, will walk kids through the activities in the Junior Ranger book available online. Other programs including Reading with a Ranger and learning about animals in English and in Spanish. They are also planning virtual hikes and for adults, conversations with their scientists and researchers.

“We want to stay connected to people," Cholo said. "We feel it’s important for people to know that we’re still here, we’re still thinking about you, we want you to come back when we reopen.”  

 

The Van Deusens will be there and have their own message for the rangers on the other side of the screen.

“Thank you for doing all these videos," 7-year-old Desmond said, "and for making us able to learn more things without having to go there.”

“Yeah…what he said," his big sister added.

If you have ideas for programming you would like to see online, the National Park Service would love to hear them.  You can email suggestions to samokids@nps.gov.