CLEVELAND, Ohio — Most of the trails around the Buckeye State are still open during this health crisis. But if you don’t feel like leaving your home, don’t worry because there are some state park online programs being offered to make you feel like your enjoying the great outdoors.
- Most state parks still open, but restrooms and other amenities remain closed
- ODNR is providing a collection of online virtual activities for those who can't make it out
- Naturalists say you can go into your backyard and experience Ohio's spring bird migration
Some trails across Ohio are still open for business event hough their facilities like bathrooms and other amenities will remain closed during the Stay Safe Ohio Order.
If people can’t make it out to one of Ohio’s 83 state parks, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is providing a collection of online virtual activities.
“We have basically a Digital Discoveries page on our website and it has a whole range of things, all the way from kids activities to even up to science projects for all ages, and so you’ll see videos, we actually have an ODNR Field Notes YouTube channel where you can see videos from different parts of ODNR all the way from the naturalist to the division of wildlife," said Lauren Broddrick, naturalist at ODNR.
During these difficult times, people are inside their homes more than ever. So now they can discover the outdoors online with ODNR experts.
If you can’t visit one of Ohio’s state parks in person, they are giving you the tools to connect with mother nature.
“it’s important because it still allows us to have a sense of normalcy. It allows us to get in touch with nature, get in touch with our state, and kind of relate to other people throughout, so you might see other people posting pictures of the animals they saw in their back yard, you can post pictures of what wildlife you might see in your backyard, and that kinda connects us even though we might not necessarily can’t be close together right now” said Broddrick.
If you dont feel like traveling to a state park, Broddick says you may not have to go far to experience nature from home.
“So, you can even see migratory birds coming through your backyard if you can’t make it out into a park, so it’s really important to try to get outside, kind of get yourself some fresh air and enjoy the spring as it comes," said Broddrick.