Like you, the FCV Staff is practicing social distancing at this time. But because our work depends so heavily on people connecting with one another, we are definitely thinking about how we can stay “social” during this time of physical distancing! We wanted to share some of these ideas from our staff on ways you can stay social and civically-engaged:
- Fill out the 2020 Census! The data gathered from the 2020 Census will inform important policy decisions and determine federal funding allocations for a decade, including housing, highway planning, health programs, and education funding. All Florida residents should complete a Self Response of the 2020 Census by May 1, 2020, which can be found online at https://2020census.gov/.
- Join the FCV Book Club. FCV Staff have compiled our reading wishlists, including books about nature, Florida, and environmental justice. What should we read first?
- Go for a run or walk.* If you live near a secluded trail or have a treadmill, you can even train for a virtual 5K!
- Birdwatch in your backyard. Learn bird calls and see if you can identify the sweet tweets of your neighbors.
- Take a virtual visit outdoors and learn about Florida’s environment by subscribing to FCV’s YouTube channel. We’ll be sharing more of our outdoor experiences in natural Florida in the coming days and weeks.
- Write! Journaling is a great activity for mental health and intellectual growth. We’ve found that starting out with a prompt can be really helpful. Spend 15 minutes outside observing the world around you, including sights, sounds, and smells.
- Renew your FCV Membership or join today. You’ll get four complimentary stickers that you can put on your laptop, journal, or other creative spaces that will remind you of your impact as a Conservation Voter.
- Play with your pets! Teach them how to fetch, take lots of photos, and create a pet Instagram account. Make sure they follow FCV → @fcvoters
- Visit FCV’s Take Action page to find ways you can continue to advocate for Florida’s environment.
- Write a Love Letter to Florida and read your fellow Conservation Voters’ submissions.
- Request your vote-by-mail ballot in order to vote in any and all local elections and in the November presidential election.
- Experiment in the kitchen. Many counties – like Leon and Pinellas where we live – are home to local produce groups that can make deliveries or sanitary pick-up.
- Tune into a webinar! We are excited to partner with the CLEO Institute and Environment Florida for the Florida Climate Pledge webinar series. As a pilot, we’ll be building this environmental webinar series as an educational resource, featuring speakers like authors, scientists, and students. What topics would you want to learn more about?
- Donate and/or volunteer at your local food distribution center.
- Connect with your fellow Conservation Voters on Facebook. e In lieu of public meetings, like the Toll Roads Task Force, FCV Staff members are hosting Facebook Live video chats. Tune in, drop a comment or question, and spend some time learning how you can help protect Florida’s land and water.
- Grow your garden. Whether you have ten acres or a small balcony, you can find joy in gardening. Get your hands dirty!
- Check out the FCV Blog to read inspiring stories from Women in Conservation, including our staff. Explore other topics using Tags at the top-middle of the page.
- Swim with manatees, virtually. Check out Save the Manatee Club’s webcam.
- Video chat your friends, family, and neighbors. Make sure to remind them to complete their 2020 Census!
- Subscribe to FCV’s emails to get impact in your inbox. We send our weekly ICYMI (in case you missed it), virtual event invitations, action alerts, news articles, and featured videos and blog posts.
We’re all in this together, Conservation Voters. Like you, FCV staff are adjusting to a new normal. We are here for you and are committed to staying connected, for the good of Florida. We will continue to fight for Florida’s land, water, and democracy, and hold our elected officials accountable. Will you join us?
*Please practice social distancing at this time. If you visit a park, forest, or other publicly accessible greenspace, we encourage you to take precautions and ensure there are at least six feet of distance between you and other visitors. Please follow all state and federal recommendations. Call your health care provider or County Health Department if you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath and returned from international travel or a cruise in the last 14 days. The COVID-19 Call Center is available 24/7 at 1 (866) 779-6121 or by email at [email protected]