We are facing hard times while living in a global pandemic. You have to be cautious with who you hang out around; you have to worry about hand sanitizing after you get out of a store. Then, you add school to it all! With everything virtual, you might feel like you are all on your own trying to figure out how to manage everything online. You might feel completely isolated. You might also be feeling bummed out about the holiday season because you can’t do the things you usually do (I know I was!) I’m here to tell you to not give up hope! It is FALL! One of the best times of the year, at least for me, and there’s PLENTY to do! Here’s a little list of Fall COVID-19 safe activities that you can enjoy with your inner circle of family and friends:
Sunflower Picking
There are so many farms spread across South Jersey. You can’t drive anywhere in South Jersey without seeing at least one farm! If you don’t see a farm, you might be lost. Anyway, you can head on over to any farm that offers it and go sunflower picking! Price varies depending on where you go, but it is usually inexpensive! So, you’re still able to have lots of fun and keep some money in your pocket. Plus, you can be an Instagram model for the day! It’s the best of both worlds, as Hannah Montana would say.
Apple Picking
Another inexpensive way to enjoy Fall with one of your family members or friends is by going apple picking! One of the best things about apples is that you can do so much with them. You could have them as a healthy snack or make apple pie. One of my favorite things to do is to make fried apples. You no longer have to go all the way to Cracker Barrel for those delicious fried apples if you can just make them yourself! It is so easy to make (coming from a person that barely knows the basics of cooking). Mine don’t taste exactly the same, but hey, it’s close enough to curb those cravings!
Pumpkin Picking
Pumpkin picking is one of my favorite things to do in the Fall! It’s so inexpensive! You can go with a friend and once again you’re an Instagram model for the day. Afterwards there is so much you can do with pumpkins, too! You can take it home and have yourself a carving contest. You could also paint them if you aren’t prepared for carving. You can make pumpkin pie. You can keep the seeds for next year so you can have your very own pumpkin patch, or you can dress up with a pumpkin on your head!
Go Ghost!
Grab a bedsheet and some sunglasses. Invite a friend or family member. Go out to the woods (watch out for those creepy crawlers known as spiders), and take some pictures! Go to a nearby lake or a really cool neighbor’s fence (just ask beforehand, it’ll probably make their day) and take some pictures. You could also bring that pumpkin you got from the patch along, too! Have yourselves a little photoshoot for the day. This might sound like something a five-year-old would do, but HEY — Halloween is coming up and what’s more spooky than a ghost? Other than maybe a spooky scary skeleton…
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Written by LeAnne H., a Rutgers—Camden Undergraduate Student and Raptor Ambassador.