Stuck-Inside Survival Guide From SD Zoo, Safari Park & SDRVC

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego Zoo Global and San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy have come to the rescue of sheltering-inside locals yearning for a dose of nature.

While the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are closed, and SDRVC events canceled, due to coronavirus woes, the organizations offer online resources aplenty to keep all ages entertained, learning and happily distracted during the stressful, COVID-19 shutdowns.

“It’s truly heartwarming that we can be a source of comfort and joy to the public during these trying times,” said Ted Molter, San Diego Zoo Global’s chief marketing officer.

For parents suddenly transformed into home-school teachers, San Diego Zoo Kids offers a website with classroom curriculum that includes lessons on such critters as wild cats, water shed animals and rhinos. Check it out here.

The entire San Diego Zoo Kids site is chock-full of videos, stories, activities and games. See it here.

Take a deeper dive into animals and plants with this San Diego Zoo page, featuring links to habitats and regions. Plus the San Diego Zoo Kids Channel offers YouTube viewing of educational programming from zoos worldwide.

And don't forget the extremely addicting Wildlife Live Cams, with “being there” views of the Zoo and Safari Park's elephants, penguins, baboons, koalas and more animals as they explore, eat, swing, roll and play through their day. Footage from the Panda Cam archives is available, too, from the time when giant pandas Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu were at the San Diego Zoo, before returning to China.support from our incredible donors committed to saving species from the brink of extinction.

The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and maintaining natural resources of the San Dieguito River corridor and watershed, has postponed its typical roster of community hikes, educational programs and restoration projects in keeping with recommendations to limit COVID-19 spread.

"Even though SDRVC programs are temporarily suspended, there are many online nature and environmental programs available to explore together," the organization said.

Among SDRVC's recommendations:

• MysteryScience.com, which offers activities for grades kindergarten through fifth, with such lessons as Why do frogs say "ribbit"?, Can animals laugh? and (particularly relevant now) How does hand sanitizer kill germs?
• Virtual field trips: Check out links that offer virtual explorations of Mars, Yellowstone National Park and multiple tours of working farms.
• Nature journaling: Turn a walk around the neighborhood or time spent on the patio into a self-exploration and discovery with this printable template.
• Birch Aquarium Kelp Cam: Watch live video of the kelp display within aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla.
• California Academy of Sciences: Observe different animals via videos and 3D renderings of skulls/ specimens.
• San Diego Natural History Museum: Check out the array of videos that explore a myriad of topics.

And parents and guardians, this one's for you: Support Your Wellbeing: Tips and tricks on how to cope with stress during an infectious outbreak.

ALSO SEE:

• Liven Up Your 'Stay-At-Home' & Cook With L.A. Celeb Chef Gino
• 9 Activities To Keep Your Housebound Kids Entertained
• Aww! Orphaned Koala Joey Bounced Back & Doing Fine At SD Zoo