Dear ERC Friends and Partners,

I am writing to let you know that the Environmental Resource Center will be closing our offices beginning Monday, March 16th. Our staff will continue to work remotely, and will be reachable through email and voicemail. Recycling drop-offs of plastic film and batteries are suspended until the office reopens. Ohio Gulch remains open and accepting recycling at this time. As the situation is fluid, please check with us online or call 208-726-4333 for the latest updates.

It's never an easy choice to make dramatic changes and close the (physical) doors of a small organization. However, we made the decision based on a simple question: by changing the way we do our work, does it help our first responders, medical professionals, educators, and other nonprofit colleagues do theirs? It's important for us to do our part to flatten the curve.

However, this doesn't mean that our work here will come to a halt. Our outdoor education programs may take a different form for the time being, but they will continue! Please connect with us online at ercsv.org and on social media: Instagram @ERCSunValley, and Facebook @ERCSunValley. Be on the lookout for educational ideas and updates from us in the next few weeks. If you have any great ideas for at-home projects, please send them our way.

This is certainly not what any of us expected the end of March would look like, but we'll get through these challenging times together. Yesterday I talked to my mom, who is currently under lockdown in Madrid. She's a language teacher there, and decided to stay and continue teaching during the COVID-19 outbreak. We spent several hours with our phones on - she made dinner over there while I made breakfast over here. She told me that in her neighborhood they've begun opening their windows every night to clap and cheer for the medical workers who are doing such heroic work. There's going to be a lot of talk in the next month about social distancing, but I think a better way to describe what will be needed is physical distancing with social closeness. Now is precisely the time to pick up the phone and call neighbors, friends, and family. Now is precisely the time to think about how we can be sources of strength and calm for others. Stay home, but stay connected.

Outside, migratory birds are headed north. Poppies are coming up through the snow in the ERC backyard. So many of us value our time in nature for precisely the lessons it has for us during times of fear and uncertainty. The ERC staff and board wishes you and your loved ones peace and good health in the weeks to come.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. You can always contact us here.