​Back in the early part of the lifetime that this pandemic has surely lasted, I posted about working from home. What if you want to do that outside, and take advantage of this global emergency to conference call in the fresh air? 

Plenty of people I know are asking a similar question about spaces for their kids to do school work outside, at home. Good news: it’s a pretty similar set of requirements, regardless of the size or age of the worker. So what do you need?

A good school/office workspace outside needs:

Freedom from distraction, especially noise.
Don’t face traffic. Think about where the air conditioner is and don’t sit right next to it. If you’re going to be on the phone or talking via Zoom, put yourself somewhere you don’t feel like you’re constantly being overheard. Consider investing in a speaker or two to boost your computer’s sound, in case of neighboring lawnmowers or other loud phenomena. 

Comfortable place to sit.
Better yet, a selection of comfortable places to sit, each suited to a different task or time of day. Maybe a chair for using a laptop, a soft seat for watching videos or interacting via Zoom, and a lounge or hammock for reading. The material of these seats makes all the difference in how comfortable they are in different conditions: metal is cold yet also hot; plastic is neutral (though not as durable); cushions are far more comfortable in cooler weather (but take them in when it rains).

Table or other stable, flat surface for laptop, books, writing, and so on.
The right height for this is essential, and the relative height of chair and table is also essential. It’s the difference between fatigue and hours of comfortable use.

Good light.
That means no glare in the direction you are looking, no baking in the sun, but also enough focused light to read and do other non-screen tasks. Even during the day, a comfortably shady spot can be a bit dim to read in. Outdoor lamps exist, but lanterns or even headlamps can be fun alternatives that will be easy to repurpose when all this is over (or light your way through the zombie apocalypse, whichever).

Not too windy, not too stuffy and still.
Since this is personal taste and can vary with the day’s weather, the best way to handle this is to let the worker customize shelter to suit his/her tastes at the moment. Freestanding screens can work. Making the various chairs and seating themselves mobile will work, too, since it lets them be shifted to a warmer or cooler spot. 

Electric outlet(s) and solid wifi + cell service.
Providing an outlet can be as easy as plugging in an outdoor-grade extension cord. If you do, take the time to route it where it won’t be easy to trip over and/or tape it down. Fun additional resource: a solar bank charger, probably useful even on cloudy days, and another way to sneak a bit of science into the home-school day. (Also handy the next time the power goes out. Ask me how I know.)

Last bit of advice: ergonomics matter outside, too. No one wants carpal tunnel as a souvenir of the pandemic.

More tips coming soon in Part 2!

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​Church or other worship services outside is a new 2020 idea that isn't new at all. From a COVID-19 perspective, indoor worship as usual has some problems: lots of people, indoors, in close proximity, for an extended period of time. Singing, shaking hands, hugging - all a viral playground. 

Move the service outside, and it’s a lot less risky. In my career as a landscape architect, I’ve designed plenty of prayer gardens, memorial gardens, and other outdoor spaces for churches and temples. Here’s a place to start:

Five ways to make church outside work:

Make people comfortable 
Shade, air circulation, comfortable seating (maybe everyone brings their own chairs). Less obvious: make it easy to look at what you’re supposed to look at, when you expect people to be there. So no glare behind the pulpit or other spot where the speaker will stand. Facing the morning sun of the east has historical meaning behind it, but facing north or south is a more practical choice for minimizing the squinting for both leaders and congregation. What do you do if it rains - a tent? Umbrellas? Cancel? Make a decision and work that into the plan.

Quiet really matters 
You need to be able to hear people talking, without amplification, so no spots next to the highway or the loud HVAC units. If your service includes music, people need to be able to hear it. Don’t make anyone yell. Basically, noise = amplification = more trouble and expense in AV equipment. But also, sound is important to creating a spiritual atmosphere. Maybe that’s windchimes or bells, or the wind in the trees, or the whispered prayers of the other parishioners. 

Accessibility
Outside is full of potential obstacles to those with mobility problems. Make sure your worship space is as level as possible, with a smooth surface that allows those using canes or walkers to navigate it. No steps, especially between parking or drop-off and the space. Also important for people with infants in strollers and for anyone setting up and tearing down before and after services. 

Restroom access
You’ll need it. Glorious as it might be to have a service in the woods way out behind the building, the trek to the restroom will be less glorious for every small child, pregnant lady, and older man with prostate trouble. No steps between the restroom and the space, either. 

Tap into outdoor traditions
The difference between being forced outside into a miserable substitute for normal and having an enriching and meaningful new tradition is mostly attitude and a little bit of effort. What’s your faith tradition’s history of outdoor worship spaces? From ancient rituals and gardens to 20th century camp meetings and revivals, there are a lot to explore.

Finally: yes, it is absolutely worth it to create an outdoor worship space in places where it snows. It’s August. Snow is months away, and the effort you need could be as little as having people bring chairs to set up in a shaded spot. Once this long hot infectious summer finally wanes, there’s ways to create a good Winter Space, too, and if necessary, that could include spaces at your church. Another post on that, coming soon.

Thanks for stopping by! For more posts like this, click the "Add me to the list!" button in the right sidebar or follow me on Twitter or Facebook @susandieterlen ​