#Dash for Trash Park Cleanup Contest, May 23 - June 6

Join Coconino County Parks & Recreation in a Dash for Trash park cleanup contest! Weather in Northern Arizona is warming up and a lot of people are using the areas’ parks, natural areas, and trails. If you’re out visiting the county’s parks, natural areas, and trails and notice trash, please take a few minutes to pick it up and put it in a proper trash receptacle. Park stewardship can be as simple as that.

Don’t pick up anything sharp. Instead, please notify parks and recreation staff. 

If possible, wear close-toed shoes and gloves. 

Share your findings! Share a picture of the trash you collected and be entered to win a prize! Tag Coconino County Parks & Recreation on Facebook (@CoconinoParksandRec) or Instagram (@CoconinoCountyParksandRec and #coconinocountyparks) to enter.

Read the contest terms and conditions.

Ideas for Practicing Mental and Physical Health

Given these constraints with social and physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, what are ways you can continue to practice mental and physical health? 

• If you’re looking to get outside, parks and natural areas managed by Coconino County remain open for public use. Click on Parks and Natural Areas for a list of Coconino County parks, natural areas, and trails.
• Trails and outdoor spaces are good options for avoiding crowds with the ability to practice social distancing or keeping a 6-foot distance between you and someone else. Remaining active and experiencing nature can be healthy for body and mind, which is important in times like these.
• Keep physically active and try doing your workout at home. Or download a new app and try something new.
• Reach out by phone to friends and family and use technology to see beloved faces.  
• Read a book and join an online discussion. If you’re interested in outdoor-related books, Outside magazine has an Outside Beyond Books Club. 
• There are many lifelong learning options online and many are free. What’s your passion? You can also explore new learning opportunities and expand your horizons. Take up a new hobby or pick a subject to learn more about and research it online. 
• If you’re looking for ideas on how to engage your kiddos, read more from Scripps Health. 
• Looking to try meditation? Encourage the time for mindfulness and self-care. 
• Willow Bend Environmental Education Center is virtual programs available.
• Lowell Observatory is offering online programs like Meet An Astronomer, Cosmic Coffee Talk, and more.
• Listen to a watchable wildlife podcast. Arizona Watchable Wildlife Experience has several podcasts available for local outdoor spots, several of which are Coconino County’s parks and natural areas.
• The Arizona Historical Society social media channels are featuring trivia, highlights from their collections, and behind-the-scenes videos. The also launched a new Arizona History Digital Hub with links to their digital collections, Zoom backgrounds from history, virtual events, handouts and activities for families, and more. The Arizona Historical Society manages the Pioneer History Museum and the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, two gems in Northern Arizona. 
• Online apps like iNaturalist.org and eBird support citizen science efforts with easy ways to upload photos and document species.
• Coconino Master Gardener Association offers online tutorials for high-elevation gardening, just the thing to watch as gardeners are starting to plant seeds.
• Do you have ideas you’d like to share? Let us know.

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