As the Zoom doldrums carry on without spring break on the horizon, taking time away from the computer over Presidents Day weekend has become more important than ever for students’ mental health.
Dr. Quade French, a licensed clinical psychologist at USC Campus Wellbeing and Education, said continual Zoom meetings make it harder for students to focus and express creativity. “Without breaks, our minds can be like engines that are red-lining for too long and eventually overheat,” he said. “We need breaks in order to function.”
Over the long weekend, students might be tempted to use the extra day to play catch-up on assignments, but French suggested resisting the temptation, especially if it’s coming from a place of guilt. “For many, the guilt to work through a break is brought on by a sense of competition that students report feeling amongst each other,” French said. “Taking a break can feel like you’re now one step behind your peers.”
In reality, French said that logging off to enjoy time outdoors augments productivity in the long-run. “If we can be intentional about stepping away from the screen even for just one minute, we give our minds time to heal and recover,” he said.
Normally, outdoorsy student groups including Peaks & Professors and SC Outfitters would organize both day and weekend-long trips over the holiday. In past years, SC Outfitters hosted Base Camp— a multi-day camping and cookout extravaganza — Presidents Day weekend.
SC Outfitters President Lizzie Fedde understood the guilty feeling associated with logging off to go outside, but she said that fresh air helps her get in the mindset to study. “I always come back feeling recharged and less prone to procrastination,” Fedde said.
Although the pandemic has put club outings on hold, the senior studying business administration and environmental science made sure to carve time out of her Zoom-laden days to be active. “Just the other day, a friend and I picked a point near campus on Google Maps and decided to go there on a bike ride,” Fedde said. “I’ve never regretted going outside even when I’m busy.”
This year, since the coronavirus pandemic put a halt on all large gatherings, students will be responsible for planning their own outdoor activities if they opt outside next weekend.
“It’s going to be a busy weekend, so do some research about where to go ahead of time,” Fedde recommended. “Search BLM lands for places to camp for free, check the weather ahead of time and pack your mask the night before. Always follow health guidelines.”
For students with less experience outdoors, Fedde said that making a plan to get outside is as easy as asking a friend about the cool places they’ve hiked or looking up local trails on Google Maps or Yelp. “Even a walk or bike ride down Adams [Boulevard] is a good place to take a break from the computer screen,” she said.
With more than a week until the holiday, there is still plenty of time to plan a memorable outdoor adventure in the greater Los Angeles region. Escape the monotony of Zoom and maybe even cross off a Southern California bucket list item with one of the following excursions.
Pedal Boat Echo Park
Just six miles north of the University Park Campus, Echo Park Lake offers sweeping views of the downtown skyline. One of the city’s original reservoirs from the late 1800s, today the 13-acre lake is surrounded by recreational open space and walking trails.
Wheel Fun Rentals is the exclusive pedal boat rental outlet at Echo Park Lake. Hop in a swan boat and take in the sights of the skyscrapers overhead then the turtles, fish and other aquatic life below. Hourly swan boat rentals cost $11 per adult. Night rides — the swans are illuminated with LED lights and the night sky radiates with the glow of downtown — are also available at the same price. Hand crank pedal boats are offered to ADA customers.
Sheen Walenta, Marketing Director at Wheel Fun Rentals, said to plan your excursion early. “We encourage visitors to reserve night rides several days in advance as they tend to book,” Walenta said. All guests are required to wear masks in line and on the dock. Picnics, coolers and drinks are allowed but no alcoholic beverages.
Reservations are required and can be made here.
Hike the “Bridge to Nowhere”
Built in 1936, the “Bridge to Nowhere” almost led somewhere. Intended to connect traffic from the San Gabriel Valley to the mountain village of Wrightwood, the bridge over the East Fork of the San Gabriel River was never completed after a 1938 flood altered the canyon beneath it.
The bridge was not removed. Today, it is a popular destination for ambitious hikers looking to catch a glimpse of a unique vestige of LA’s architectural history.
The Bridge to Nowhere via the East Fork Trail is a 9.5 mile out-and-back trail that features over 1,000 feet of elevation gain and is rated as moderate, according to Alltrails.com. In addition to the bridge, hikers can see a waterfall and creek.
The trailhead is within the Angeles National Forest, and all parked vehicles must display a National Forest Adventure Pass or an America the Beautiful Interagency (National Parks) pass. Adventure Passes can be purchased at many convenience stores in the surrounding area. A full list is available here.
Snowshoe Around Big Bear Lake
Less than two hours from USC, a winter wonderland awaits. White with recent snowfall, the San Bernardino Mountains are an escape from the busy city. While better known for its three ski resorts, the mountain range is a natural playground for more affordable winter activities such as snowshoeing.
Snow-covered roads on the north shore of Big Bear Lake are delineated with trail markers shaped like blue diamonds and accessible to snowshoers, free of charge. However, a National Forest Adventure Pass must be displayed on parked vehicles. On the south side of the lake, try Town Trail near Snow Summit Ski Resort.
For those looking for groomed trails or perhaps want to try out cross country skiing, Rim Nordic offers a day pass and rental packages starting around $40.
Snowshoes or cross-country skis can be rented at numerous outlets in the San Bernardino Mountains or at REI locations in Los Angeles, starting around $20.
SUP the Newport Back Bay
The largest estuary in Southern California is only 45 minutes from campus. Upper Newport Bay is a rest stop or seasonal home for migratory birds from Canada and Alaska. As many as 30,000 birds can be spotted on any day during the winter.
The birds can be seen up close from a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rented at the Newport Aquatic Center. Rates are $15 an hour for a single kayak or $20 an hour for a double kayak or SUP.
If birding isn’t your thing, paddle toward the ocean to see beautiful waterfront homes and massive yachts docked on Linda Isle and Harbor Island in the Lower Newport Bay.
For additional resources on mental health care and wellness, members of the USC community can check out Mindful USC’s website and app.