Your Very Next Step newsletter for May / June 2020
By Ned Lundquist
www.yourverynextstep.com
“The Earth is what we have in common.”
– Wendell Berry
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
– Lao Tzu
This edition of YVNS comes to you from Springfield, Virginia.
http://www.yourverynextstep.com/2020/04/19/your-very-next-step-newsletter-for-march-april-2020/
Fellow travelers and wonder-seekers…
I like to include content in YVNS that encourages us to get out and see the world, experience nature, and connect with our fellow human beings all over this magnificent planet. We are all faced with stay-at-home orders, social distancing and travel bans. But we can think and study about places we’d rather be. And we can always dream.
Share your bucket list with your fellow next-steppers. Send me a list of the five places you rweally want to go to and the things you want to do and I’ll share in the YVNS newsletter. It’s okay to dream right now! Send your bucket list to Ned at lundquist989@cs.com. (Note: a few have already sent their bucket list. I’ll be consolidating in the next issue.
*** If you are not receiving this newsletter via the new Google Groups list, contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com to get on the list for YVNS distribution.
“Your Very Next Step” adventure/outdoors/conservation newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate. Share your adventures with the network today! Send to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** To subscribe for free: Join our Google Groups Listerv. If you are already a Google Groups member, just sign up for the “Your Very Next Step” group. Otherwise, send Ned an email, ask nicely, and he’ll get you on the list. Contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Send us your comments, questions, and contributions to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** In this issue:
*** Ned’s upcoming travel, maybe, perhaps
*** Eastern Whip-poor-will
*** The Best State Park in Each State
*** Overcoming Fears and Trepidation: Helping the Corporate Traveler Get Back On Board
*** The Best Airline Boarding Music To Enjoy At Home
*** What Should I Do With My Airline Points and Miles Right Now?
*** Complete guide to airline elite status during the coronavirus outbreak
*** 15 Most Beautiful Places in the U.S.
*** Coronavirus Outbreak: Flight Compensation Guide
*** Covid-19 – How to find your airline cancellation policy
*** You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Eaten Fondue in a Swiss Hut
*** GARDEN ECOSYSTEMS – Designing spaces to support wildlife, protect the environment, and enhance our lives
*** HOW OUTDOOR GEAR COMPANIES ARE RESPONDING TO COVID-19
*** The Coolest Museum in Each State
*** Maps new and old offer shelter-in-place globe-trotting – and lessons in human history
*** 20 Around-the-World Adventure Travel Ideas for 2020
*** An Insider’s Predictions On Post-COVID-19 Adventure Travel
*** 10 BACKYARD NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
*** 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the U.S. National Parks
*** Hidden Houses – Do You Know What These Are?
*** Travel Bucket List: The Trips We’re Dreaming of Taking Next
*** 16 Local, Low-Impact “Microadventure” Ideas for Pandemic Isolation and Social Distance
*** International Town Names That Will Crack You Up
*** 5 Breathtaking U.S. National Forests
*** The Top Airlines of 2020
*** Books about survival -The Mountain Shepherd Adneture School book list
*** Respecting Wildlife in National Parks
*** 10 Under-the-Radar U.S. Islands
*** The Best Road Trip Snacks, According to Our Editors
*** TANZANIA – I’m a Safari Guide, And Coronavirus Will Change the Future of Safaris
*** The American Pika
*** 8 Ways Your Hotel Stay Will Be Different Post-Pandemic
*** 5 Things That Surprised Me My First Time in Business Class
*** The National Parks Are Reopening. Here’s What We Know
*** 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S.
*** Rail Trail of the month for May 2020
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities (see listings below for links):
1.) Environmental Nonprofit Graduate Intern Volunteer, Institute for Environmental Solutions, Denver, Colorado
2.) Black Bear Educator, American Bear Association, Orr, MN
3.) River Steward Intern, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Bellingham, WA
4.) Animal Care and Education Internship, Seal Rescue Ireland, Wexford, Ireland
5.) Social Media and Videography Internship, The Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, Colorado
6.) Conservation Leadership Development Program, Kupu Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
7.) BLM Recreation and Trails Intern, Snowy River Cave NCA, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roswell Field Office, Conservation Corps New Mexico, Ft Stanton, New Mexico
*** Travel/Outdoor/Conservation job opportunities (see listings below for links):
1.) Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat (BOSH) Project Outreach Coordinator, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever Boise, Idaho
2.) Technical Editor, The Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
3.) Trail Stewardship Leader, Colorado Mountain Club, Salida, CO
4.) Coordinator, Government Relations and External Affairs, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, DC
5.) Sanctuary Grounds Manager, American Bear Association, Orr, MN
6.) Director of Activities (Immediate opening), Wilderness Adventure, New Castle, VA
7.) Development and Marketing Coordinator, Four Mile Historic Park, Denver, Colorado
8.) Park Ranger (Protection), National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Sitka, Alaska
9.) Social Media and Videography Internship, The Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, Colorado
10.) Director of Communications, East Foundation San Antonio, Texas
11.) Recreation Management Specialist, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Overgaard, Arizona
12.) Assistant Director, National Landscape Conservation System, Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado
13.) Climate Change Communications Manager, Lincoln Headquarters, Mass Audubon, Lincoln, MA
14.) Biological Science Technician (Research Permits), Ash Mountain HQ, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, National Park Service, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Three Rivers, CA, California
15.) Wayfinders Program Director, Camp ELSO, Kenton Action Plan, Portland, Oregon
16.) Communication Officer, Oceans and Climate, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Los Altos, California
…and much more…and it’s all FREE!!!
*** Do you have a travel adventure, conservation or outdoor update to share?
Send me your stories and I’ll post in the “Your Very Next Step” and on the YVNS website (http://www.yourverynextstep.com/).
*** Travel news and adventures
*** Ned’s upcoming travel, maybe, perhaps:
None
*** Eastern Whip-poor-will
My recent foray up to Cressman’s Hollow once again brought me close to the nocturnal Eastern Whip-poor-will They have a distinct call, which can be annoying if you are trying to sleep in your tent (in fact, we were surrounded by them). If you go looking for them you can see the reflection of your flashlight in their eyes, but they are usually difficult to spot with their excellent woodland camoflage. We drove out to Storybrook Trail and walked to the overlook to see the sunrise. In doing so, we
So, yes, I’ve seen them, including a few up close and personal, but nothing like the 10 to 20 we saw on the road.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Whip-poor-will/id
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recreation/natureviewing/recarea/?recid=79259&actid=50
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Whip-poor-will/id
http://www.nightjars.org/learn/
*** The Best State Park in Each State
By Morgan Love
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/the-best-state-park-in-each-state/
*** Overcoming Fears and Trepidation: Helping the Corporate Traveler Get Back On Board
By Matthew Parsons
*** The Best Airline Boarding Music To Enjoy At Home
https://onemileatatime.com/airline-boarding-music/
*** What Should I Do With My Airline Points and Miles Right Now?
By Stefanie Waldek
*** Complete guide to airline elite status during the coronavirus outbreak
By Andrew Kunesh
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/airline-elite-status-coronavirus/
*** 15 Most Beautiful Places in the U.S.
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/15-most-beautiful-places-in-the-u-s/
*** Coronavirus Outbreak: Flight Compensation Guide
by Teodora Mitova
https://skyrefund.com/en/blog/coronavirus-flight-compensation-guide
*** Covid-19 – How to find your airline cancellation policy
https://www.iflyflat.com.au/blog/covid-19-airline-cancellation-guide
*** You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Eaten Fondue in a Swiss Hut
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/fondue-in-a-swiss-hut/
*** GARDEN ECOSYSTEMS – Designing spaces to support wildlife, protect the environment, and enhance our lives
https://anshome.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Garden-Ecosystems-Guide.pdf
*** HOW OUTDOOR GEAR COMPANIES ARE RESPONDING TO COVID-19
By Matt Heid
www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/how-outdoor-gear-companies-are-responding-to-covid-19
*** The Coolest Museum in Each State
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/the-coolest-museum-in-each-state/
*** Maps new and old offer shelter-in-place globe-trotting – and lessons in human history
By Walter Nicklin
*** 20 Around-the-World Adventure Travel Ideas for 2020
By Ian Centrone
https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/20-global-adventure-travel-ideas-for-2020-that-anyone-can-do/
*** An Insider’s Predictions On Post-COVID-19 Adventure Travel
By Suzie Dundas
*** 10 BACKYARD NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
By Steve Holt
https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/10-backyard-nature-activities-for-kids
*** 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the U.S. National Parks
By Jersey Griggs
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-u-s-national-parks/
*** Hidden Houses – Do You Know What These Are?
https://www.natureoutside.com/hidden-houses-know/
*** Travel Bucket List: The Trips We’re Dreaming of Taking Next
https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/travel-bucket-list-ideas
*** 16 Local, Low-Impact “Microadventure” Ideas for Pandemic Isolation and Social Distance
By Andy Cochrane
https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/16-microadventures-for-the-pandemic/
*** International Town Names That Will Crack You Up
https://www.traveltrivia.com/funny-town-names-from-around-the-world/XqgZkXU1XQAGkivS
*** 5 Breathtaking U.S. National Forests
By Tara Schatz
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/5-breathtaking-u-s-national-forests/
*** The Top Airlines of 2020
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/top-airlines-of-2020/
*** Books about survival
The Mountain Shepherd Adneture School book list
https://mountainshepherd.com/store/amazon-books/
*** Respecting Wildlife in National Parks
https://www.us-parks.com/nature-and-wildlife/respecting-wildlife-in-national-parks.html
*** 10 Under-the-Radar U.S. Islands
By Kristine Hansen
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/under-the-radar-us-islands
*** The Best Road Trip Snacks, According to Our Editors
By MEGAN SPURRELL
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/road-trip-snacks
*** TANZANIA
I’m a Safari Guide, And Coronavirus Will Change the Future of Safaris
by ASHLEA HALPERN
April 20, 2020
The closing of camps impacts more than just the guides-it’ll change animal behavior and attract poachers, too.
Hamza Raza Visram is a leading safari guide for Asilia Africa. He joined the company in 2012 after graduating from the College of African Wildlife Management in Tanzania. Visram has guided at Dunia Camp and other luxury properties in the central Serengeti, Rubondo Island Camp on Lake Victoria, Kwihala Camp in Ruaha, and Roho ya Selous in the Selous Game Reserve. We called him up last week at his home in Bukoba, Tanzania, near the Ugandan border. With most camps shut down indefinitely and no tourists to speak of, Visram and other safari guides face an uncertain future.
March is when we started taking the virus seriously. Asilia did COVID-19 training for every staff member, especially guides and waiters–the people who face our guests the most. Hugging or handshakes were suddenly taboo. We washed our hands constantly and used hand sanitizer, and always left enough space between each [safari] vehicle.
We actually had clients staying at our camps through the end of March; they were super worried they wouldn’t be able to get a flight home. Other guests decided not to go back to their countries. The last two couples I guided were from Italy. They told me they were going to stay [in Tanzania] for three nights, then fly to Zanzibar and rent a house until the situation at home got better. They said they felt safer in Africa.
Now we have no guests. There are still a few bookings in June, but nothing for April or May; they’ve been canceled [or postponed]. April and May are the low season, at least, so many of our camps are closed anyway. But the situation we’re facing now with no clients at all? We are frustrated, I can tell you. Because now we have to find another means of surviving.
I usually do 45 to 60 days in the bush, and then take two weeks off, rotating through different properties. I am still working for Asilia full-time, but I can’t do anything because the camps are closed. The only thing I can do is admin work from home. Many other guides are losing their jobs, especially the young ones. They had short contracts, about three months, and their contracts aren’t being renewed. We recently trained some new guides, but we won’t hire them until things get better. A lot of smaller companies, especially, can’t afford to keep their guides. They might even go bankrupt. There is no government assistance, either. Guides are having to figure out other ways to sustain themselves. They’re starting small businesses, like in sugar or rice–things they can grow themselves and sell at market. This is a wake-up call.
I’m worried that a massive number of people in Tanzania will suffer. Our lockdown is voluntary, but most bars, clubs, and hotels are closed at the moment. If you don’t have an “essential” job, you’re being told to stay home. But a mandated lockdown would be a disaster in this country, because there are so many poor people who depend on their daily activity to eat.
Also, when there are no camps operating in the area, there is less movement of people and vehicles. This attracts poachers. I trust the government has already improved their strategy of how to protect the parks against poaching. It doesn’t make sense to patrol within the parks, because they cover such a huge area, so instead, they patrol the boundaries of the parks and nearby villages. That is where poachers are most likely to enter.
There will also be a big change in animal behavior, because now they can move more freely. Nobody’s disturbing them, like when there’s 20 cars stopping for a single lion laying in the grass. Or a leopard that’s 100 meters away, and there are 100 vehicles. Before they were not skittish; by the time we return, [the wildlife] will be scared of the vehicles and avoiding them. It won’t be the same experience.
I’m confident tourism will come back after this crisis passes, but it will change completely. It may start back up in six months but it will take a year and a half to two years to stabilize. Some countries will require expensive health insurance to visit; others will force travelers into a 10-day or two-week quarantine before they can go on safari. Some people don’t have that kind of vacation time, especially Americans. I also expect to see fewer older travelers or retirees, as they’re at higher risk [of contracting the virus].
There will be a big psychological impact as well – not just on travelers, but on Tanzanians. Some locals may believe visitors bring the disease in. People who follow the news and know what’s happening, [seeing foreigners] won’t be a big deal. But for local people who don’t work with tourists, they won’t understand.
What gives me hope is knowing a lot of people love to travel and that Tanzania is one of the nations people like to visit. But we may have to market more to locals [in the interim]. We had a good number of [city-based] Tanzanians coming to the bush this year, especially around Christmas and New Year’s. More and more, Tanzanians are learning the importance of tourism in their own country
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/im-a-safari-guide-and-coronavirus-will-change-the-future-of-safaris
*** The American Pika
https://www.us-parks.com/nature-and-wildlife/mammals/american-pika.html
*** 8 Ways Your Hotel Stay Will Be Different Post-Pandemic
By Johanna Read
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/8-ways-your-hotel-stay-will-be-different-post-pandemic
*** 5 Things That Surprised Me My First Time in Business Class
By Kellie Coppola
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/5-things-that-surprised-me-my-first-time-in-business-class/
*** The National Parks Are Reopening. Here’s What We Know
By Maggie Fuller
https://www.afar.com/magazine/when-will-the-national-parks-reopen-heres-what-we-know
*** 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S.
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/best-outdoor-towns-in-the-us/
*** Rail Trail of the month for May 2020
Montana’s Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail (Thompson Park)
by Laura Stark
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation internship and volunteer opportunities:
1.) Environmental Nonprofit Graduate Intern Volunteer, Institute for Environmental Solutions, Denver, Colorado
2.) Black Bear Educator, American Bear Association, Orr, MN
https://www.americanbear.org/get-involved/volunteer/
3.) River Steward Intern, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Bellingham, WA
4.) Animal Care and Education Internship, Seal Rescue Ireland, Wexford, Ireland
5.) Social Media and Videography Internship, The Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, Colorado
6.) Conservation Leadership Development Program, Kupu Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
https://www.kupuhawaii.org/openings/#program-positions
7.) BLM Recreation and Trails Intern, Snowy River Cave NCA, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roswell Field Office, Conservation Corps New Mexico, Ft Stanton, New Mexico
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation job opportunities:
1.) Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat (BOSH) Project Outreach Coordinator, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever Boise, Idaho
https://www.partnersinthesage.com/blog/bosh-coordinator
2.) Technical Editor, The Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
https://awc.careerwebsite.com/job/technical-editor/53812701/
3.) Trail Stewardship Leader, Colorado Mountain Club, Salida, CO
https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-trail-stewardship-leader-salida-colorado/193505776
4.) Coordinator, Government Relations and External Affairs, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, DC
https://jobs.jobvite.com/defendersofwildlife/job/okgCcfw8
5.) Sanctuary Grounds Manager, American Bear Association, Orr, MN
https://www.americanbear.org/get-involved/employment/
6.) Director of Activities (Immediate opening), Wilderness Adventure, New Castle, VA
https://www.wilderness-adventure.com/about/employment
7.) Development and Marketing Coordinator, Four Mile Historic Park, Denver, Colorado
https://andrewhudsonsjobslist.com/jobs/development-and-marketing-coordinator-in-denver-colorado-us/
8.) Park Ranger (Protection), National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Sitka, Alaska
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/567951800
9.) Social Media and Videography Internship, The Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, Colorado
10.) Director of Communications, East Foundation San Antonio, Texas
11.) Recreation Management Specialist, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Overgaard, Arizona
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/569826000
12.) Assistant Director, National Landscape Conservation System, Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado
13.) Climate Change Communications Manager, Lincoln Headquarters, Mass Audubon, Lincoln, MA
14.) Biological Science Technician (Research Permits), Ash Mountain HQ, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, National Park Service, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Three Rivers, CA, California
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/568408000
15.) Wayfinders Program Director, Camp ELSO, Kenton Action Plan, Portland, Oregon
https://jobs.macslist.org/job/wayfinders-program-director-portland-oregon-16652
16.) Communication Officer, Oceans and Climate, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Los Altos, California
http://philanthropynewsdigest.org/jobs/54783-communication-officer-oceans-and-climate
*** Send your job opportunities to share with the YVNS network to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2020 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC –
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com
Published with Google Groups
Ha’ina ‘ia mai ana ka’puana
(And So The Story Is Told)
-Traditional ending to Hawaiian songs