Pandemic projects: Spokane area newcomers create ways to connect during crisis

Relocating to a new city is always challenging.

Finding your way around the area, meeting new friends and neighbors, discovering favorite shops and restaurants takes time, but landing in a new spot only to have a pandemic hit seven months later offers unique challenges.

Yet, George and Susan Stratman have found ways to connect with their community in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions.

“At the end of June, 2019, George retired from his 30-plus career in Outdoor Education with the California Public School system. Two days later we were packed and moved to Spokane where our adult daughter lives,” said Susan.

The couple settled in Spokane Valley, near Dishman Hills.

“We wanted to make sure wherever we lived we could walk right out the door and into the woods,” she said.

That affinity for the outdoors provided new connections for the couple. In January, they attended a meeting of the Dishman Hills Education Committee and George volunteered to help with the Kids on the Hills program.

“It seemed like a good fit for me,” he said.

When the shutdown suspended in-person programs, George adapted by joining other volunteers in making a series of videos about ways to explore nature. The videos feature activities suitable for folks of any age.

“During May and June he created over 50 short (5-8 minute) videos,” said Susan.

One video demonstrates how to find your “sit spot,” by paying attention to the natural world and creating a sound map of the things you hear when you’re outdoors.

Another activity involves color.

“You can take paint chips from hardware stores, or a box of crayons, and try to find those colors in nature,” George said.

Meanwhile, Susan found a creative way to stay connected to her mother who lives in Nebraska.

“Since June, I’ve been sending my Mom monthly calendars. Each day has a different activity for her to do. I include simple exercises; tongue twisters to say out loud, finding things that start with a color or letter of the alphabet; crossword puzzles; word searches; and ‘national’ days to celebrate,” explained Susan. “For example, Nov. 23 was National Cashew Day, so I enclosed a bag of cashews. I cover each calendar day with colorful paper, so each day is a new surprise. I’ve certainly enjoyed creating the calendars and she seems pleased to do the activities.”

When their gym closed, the couple spent even more time outdoors, which led them to a new passion – painted rocks.

“We were out in Dishman Hills and found this gorgeous rock in the middle of nowhere,” Susan recalled.

The back of the rock had the Spokane Rocks Facebook page listed, so they left the rock where they found it and looked up the Facebook group.

It’s a simple idea: paint a few rocks, hide them around town, leave a clue on the page if you wish, and then post when you find other rocks.

George, an artist since high school, immediately dove in.

“He’s painted hundreds of them,” said Susan. “I’m not an artist, but I’ve gotten a lot better. He uses oils; I use acrylics.”

They hide the rocks throughout the area, from Manito to Mirabeau. Part of the fun is posting photos on the Facebook page of rocks they’ve hidden and rocks they’ve found.

“It’s a safe, socially distant activity, and gives us motivation to get out and hike,” Susan said.

George often settles on an artistic theme, like eagles in November, to encourage people to vote.

“Right now I’m doing holiday-themed rocks,” he said.

He’s also painted dozens of owls and hidden them in trees for observant hikers to discover.

“Being outdoors, hiking the same trails, you get to know people at a distance,” said George. “It’s helped us to connect to the community in a real way at a time when connection is limited.”

On Giving Tuesday, the couple visited three area parks, leaving brightly-painted rocks.

“It’s been a tremendous amount of fun, like random acts of kindness,” said Susan. “It can really brighten someone’s day – a little ray of sunshine, especially during COVID.”