Take a Visual Staycation

Sustainability

Classes start soon, but there’s still time for a vacation!  If you can’t get away, or if you’re concerned with the environmental (or financial) impact of road and air travel, you might opt for “staycation” (vacationing at or near your home). Whatever your vacation plans might be, you can take a visual staycation by visiting one or more of these wonderful websites devoted to nature, conservation, and sustainability.

bioGraphic
The tagline of bioGraphic, powered by the California Academy of Sciences, is: Revealing Nature // Inspiring Solutions
Strange and beautiful portraits of biodiversity. Unexpected and extraordinary discoveries. Mind-blowing innovations and ideas for sustaining life on Earth.

National Geographic
We all know the iconic National Geographic magazine.  In addition to stunning photography, their website includes stories of exploration and conservation from around the world, as well as binge-able TV shows.

BBC Earth
I’ve heard many people say that their love of nature came from watching hours of David Attenborough as a child. At BBC Earth’s website you can read, listen, and explore the world’s creatures and habitats, as well as dive into what it means to be human.  They even have a 10-hour loop of oceanscapes and sounds.

TreeHugger
If you want to devote some time this summer catching up on what’s what with sustainability (so you can have something wise to talk about at the next bbq), explore TreeHugger, “the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, we strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information.”  They do a great job keeping tabs on sustainability trends and challenging thinking – including their own.

There are plenty more out there, but in addition to exploring these websites be sure to spend time exploring the great outdoors — even if it is just your own backyard!

[Image courtesy of  National Geographic – their latest iconic cover]

Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist