Navigating Responsible Travel During COVID-19

Can we hit the road responsibly during a pandemic? As someone planning to car camp or take a drive into the wilderness, you might not feel like you alone could make a huge impact on this pandemic-- but the reality is that travel can lead to transmission-- which means that travelers have the capacity to create an immense effect on the trajectory of viral spread.

The good news is that we’re not here to make you feel guilty. We know you want to travel (we do too!), but more importantly: we want you to be knowledgeable and prepared, whether you’re planning to get out there soon, or hoping to sometime later in 2020. In this episode, we’re aiming to help in that process by providing you with questions, tips, and tools to make your own, best decisions at the time. We look at information through the eyes of women who love to travel and also hold public health as a top priority: Seattle-based nurse and overlander Emily Scott, travel nurse Em Cheng, and founder of the Outdoor Advocacy Project, Katie Boué.

So tune in and get ready to be honest with yourself when it comes to responsible travel. Because the safer we are collectively, the more we can actually go out and do.

Featured in this episode:

Emily ScottFollow Emily on Instagram: @twodustytravelersEmily’s travel blog: Two Dusty TravelersEm ChengFollow Em on Instagram: @explorn_emchengKatie BouéFollow Katie on Instagram: @katieboueKatie founded the Outdoor Advocacy Project. Check it out!

Resources for responsible recreation:

Interested in diving into how to hit the trails and water with responsibility in mind? Our sister show, She Explores, took a look at these considerations in their most recent episode, 150: Playing it Safe: Outdoor Rec & COVID-19Learn the 6 steps to recreate responsibly here.Katie Boué created an Instagram Story series on the specific steps she takes to plan local, self-contained camping trips. Check it out here.

Resources on supporting the Navajo Nation & other Indigenous communities:

Official Navajo Nation COVID-19 Relief FundNative Womens Wilderness just completed their first round of donations of food and hygiene boxes to folks in the Navajo Nation. Continue to support their efforts by donating here.Natives Outdoors is running a COVID-19 print sale for Navajo relief. See the print here.The NDN Collective COVID-19 Response Project aims to provide support to Indigenous communities across the US.Do you know whose land you’re on? Or what reservations are nearby to where you might plan to travel to or through? Start here.

Resources for proper mask usage:

Emily Scott joined us for our latest Road Tip Tuesday to answer questions and demonstrate proper face mask usage. Check it out here.

Resources for continued learning about infectious disease:

Samantha Yammine: @science.samLaurel Bristow: @kinggutterbabyHeather Caslin Findley: @heather.caslin.phdJessica Malaty Rivera: @jessicamalatyriveraScience VS PodcastCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)World Health Organization (WHO)

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WOTR is produced and hosted by Laura Borichevsky.
Music is by Jason Shaw and Josh Woodward.
Podcast cover artwork designed by Dani Opal.