Welcome to the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Virtual Recreation Center! This is your one-stop-shop for tips, tricks and tales to help you pass the downtime caused by school closures, quarantines and other COVID-19-related County advisories.
While our standard rallying cry is to encourage
people to spend more time outside, we understand that recent realities
may not make that feasible. We’re now poised to offer many of our
incredible outdoor activities in an online environment, or in a manner
that supports social distancing.
Bookmark this page and check back often. We’ll post new content as
new opportunities are available.
Take a Virtual Hike! Experience our trails from your favorite mobile device.
View popular vantage points in 360 degrees. You take the reins in these interactive videos that offer walk-through reviews of historic sites and summits.
Gain insight into the history of our parks in these short profiles with our park rangers!
Take our Tour our Trails Challenge, which is comprised of 15 hikes across San Diego. Prizes will be awarded for every category you complete! Participation is free and booklets will be available at most County properties. Check back for updates.
Seven trailheads in our parks system feature TRACK Trails, a fun and interactive hiking adventure for kids. Starting at the TRACK Trails kiosk, kids can pick up an adventure guide, which provides information on the trail. Kids follow along and take notes – later logging them into their Kids in Parks account for a chance to earn prizes.
County Parks launched a new trails app that makes it even easier to get information on hiking, biking and riding paths in our parks and preserves. Easy2Hike is a free app that allows users to locate and view trailheads, park maps and points of interest in Southern California and beyond.
Learn from the experts. We made short videos to answer our most frequently asked questions!
Watch our most recent Facebook Live videos. We saved the clips in case you couldn't tune in... check back for new additions!
Showcase your creativity with these printable coloring sheets – featuring some of our favorite park locales!
Be kind to your mind during Mental Health Month (May) with this coloring activity that spans emotions from Very Happy Halibut to Very Sad Shrew, with tips on how to move your mood in the right direction. It's made for kids but all can play along!
Download the Energy Saving Adventures booklet for word games and other challenges.
View Ranger Kyle and his virtual touch table – then try your hand at our matching games.
Complete all seven steps in our Happier Healthier Earth puzzle to win a cool prize.
SD Nights is going virtual, with interactive activities, games, classes and conversations designed for teens!
Interested in free nutrition and cooking workshops? The Food Smarts virtual series will teach you all about healthy cooking, budgeting tips, meal planning and more! Online sessions begin Aug. 18. Register at Carolyn.Proskow@sdcounty.ca.gov or call (858) 495-5998.
Take a stroll around the block! You don't have to go far to find cool stuff in nature – try this scavenger hunt in English, or Español!
Try your hand at our Instagram Bingo Game.
Enjoy our summer movies program from the comfort of your home! We will be suggesting movie titles that go along with our activity kits, which include DIY projects, games, recipes and more.
Download the Libby app, and read in your patio or yard! This is a free book-sharing service offered through County Libraries.
Live near a County park or preserve? Cool! Verify it here. Most County parks and preserves remain open as long as social distancing is maintained, though some on-site amenities are closed for your safety and ours.
If you don't see your park, Google it to see who manages it and visit them online. Every jurisdiction has the right to stay open or close, adhering to local, state and federal guidelines.
How You Can Help
We all have a role to play to help prevent the spread of coronavirus while offering support to those in need. Here are ways you can pay it forward.
Practice social distancing. Here are six tips for success!
Share and be aware. Following proper trail etiquette means exercising caution, using communication and acting with respect. Watch this award-winning video for the inside scoop!
Protect your pets! Here are seven things to keep in mind for their protection, as well as yours, as you venture into our park system.
Support a Live Well San Diego Partner. The County has established working relationships with hundreds of local businesses that embody the Live Well commitment to healthy, safe and thriving communities. Consider following them online, attending a virtual workshop, purchasing a gift card or ordering takeout to help keep them in business during this trying time.
Pledge to make a difference. County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher has joined forces with the San Diego Foundation to establish a COVID-19 Community Response Fund that makes emergency funding available to nonprofits and rescue crews helping to combat coronavirus, and those dedicated to providing support for affected individuals and businesses.
Follow us online. Join the conversation on our official social media channels.
Stay informed. With information changing daily, it’s important to be in ‘the know’.
