This year, perhaps more than “Can you hear me?” or “I’m going to share my screen now” or “Drop the link in the chat”, something I’ve heard often in Zoom meetings with fellow library staff is, “I’ve never sat so much in this job!” Library work is an ever-changing thing: teaching, shelving, circulating, trouble-shooting, making, and more. Our jobs are so much bigger than our desk chairs and desktops. But then March 2020 relegated us to our computer screens and webcams, and our work lives became (and stayed for some time) stationary. For some, the months in quarantine impacted more than our work hours mobility, for others, being home was a springboard for more activity than before, for others, little changed in that one respect, but work for certain had changed for all.
But while video conferencing physically distanced us from our students and co-workers, CSLA harnessed technology to bring us together with more consistency than maybe ever before. With Discord chats and Twitter, the Better Together programming, regional workshops, the conference, LFD Book Club, and more, we came to know not only each other better but our family members, pets, living rooms and home offices. While in sessions together we drove in our cars, cooked and ate meals, attended to children, and sometimes walked our neighborhoods. CSLA’s opportunities for professional development, personal growth, and collaboration were there to connect us despite the isolation of our circumstances. They activated our minds, challenged, inspired, and supported us, but logistically mostly kept us seated. As in the past, CSLA’s Healthy Choices programming stepped up for the week of the state conference to activate our bodies, and for some, this week of communal activity marked a lasting shift in habits.
And from that momentum and motivation, after three years of group walks and solo workouts (and fifteen months of social distancing), the Healthy Choices programming moved beyond the annual conference and has hit the walking paths of Southern California.
Organized by Charles Stelzried, CSLA Southern Region Section 2 Representative, school librarians of the Los Angeles area have been meeting for walks around the greater Los Angeles area, and throughout Southern California. Starting with the first walk (which was a part of the CSLA Southern Region, Section 2 May 23rd “Movie, Dinner and Walk” event http://cslablog.blogspot.com/2021/05/southern-region-section-2-movie-night.html#more) on The Strand in Hermosa Beach to walk, bike, or skate, the initial walk, with John Hamrick (also a CSLA Southern Region Section 2 Representative) going on his inline skates, and some Teacher Librarians on bicycles, along the coast, has since been followed by a walk, bike, or skate from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, and two walks in historic Griffith Park - one walking a trail loop, and the other exploring the interesting ruins of the old LA Zoo, and a hike in the historic Franklin Canyon (https://mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/franklin-canyon-park/).
The walks are open to all Teacher Librarians of CSLA and LASLA (Los Angeles School Librarians Association), as well as retired Teacher Librarians, any friends, family members, or colleagues who would like to join. Participants meet up, talk about libraries, books, ideas, and life, and get out into their community, together, to enjoy activity in the outdoors and IRL company.
As our work lives return to normal and we again spend fewer hours tethered to our keyboards and our screens, our walks will continue, hosting, approximately, at least one walk a month. You can track our progress on our website, https://bit.ly/LAlibrarywalks. This is not a step challenge; there is no competitive element, or prizes. Our purpose is wellness, exploration, movement, joy, appreciation of the natural environment, and connection. We walk collectively; we track collectively. We invite others to take this on in their own areas, suggesting walks/hikes, perhaps leading us on a walk in one of your favorite outdoor locations, and perhaps leading to coordinated simultaneous walks across our Golden State.
The next group walk (which is scheduled for 7/30/21, Friday morning at 6:00 AM) was suggested by Teacher Librarian Jennifer Baptiste, who will lead us on a walk she has done several times before at the challenging “Culver City Stairs.” (A more meandering pathway to the top is an available option, here, too.)
Notices of upcoming walks will be given and posted on the CSLA Twitter and CSLA Social Media accounts. Please retweet and notify others of the walks, too. Let us know if you have an interesting walk or location for an upcoming walk, and if you’d like to lead one.
If you’re in the LA area, or would like to travel down for this unique event, all are welcome! Please join us, July 30th at 6:00 AM at The Culver City Stairs.
Meet up location is at “the trailhead” just off Jefferson Blvd.
“To get to the trailhead: From the Overland Exit of the 10 Freeway, just east of the 405, take Overland Avenue south for 1.2 miles to Washington Boulevard. Turn left and drive 0.6 miles into downtown Culver City and turn right on Duquesne Avenue. Proceed another 0.6 miles to Jefferson Boulevard. Turn left and drive 0.4 miles to the intersection of Hetzler Road. Park on Jefferson Boulevard just before or after Hetzler Road. The trailhead begins from the southeast corner of the intersection.
Trailhead address: Hetzler Road & Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232
Trailhead coordinates: 34.020234, -118.382324 (34° 01′ 12.84″N 118° 22′ 56.36″W)”
(https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/baldwin-hills-scenic-overlook-hike/).
Event Questions? Contact: Charles Stelzried, Email: charlesstelzried@icloud.com / cell: (323) 507-9700 or, Ashley Brockman, Email: albalb00@yahoo.com
Ashley Brockman
Teacher Librarian, Palos Verdes High School
CSLA Conference Committee & Membership Committee
Walk, Skate, Bike on The Strand, Hermosa Beach 5/23/21 John Hamrick (CSLA Southern Region, Section 2 Representative), Jennifer Baptiste (LAUSD Teacher Librarian), and Charles Stelzried (CSLA Southern Region, Section 2 Representative)
Skating and biking together on The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 5/23/21 John Hamrick and Jennifer Baptiste
Charles Stelzried (CSLA Southern Region, Section 2 Representative) 5/23/21 Healthy Choices Walk/Bike/ Skate at The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 5/23/21
Walking together in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA 5/29/21 Soryl (Friend/Supporter), Laurie Keogh (retired LAUSD Teacher Librarian) and John Hamrick (CSLA Southern Region, Section 2 Representative)
Ducks and turtles in “Heavenly Pond” at Franklin Canyon hike 7/17/21
Suzanne Osman (LAUSD Teacher Librarian) enjoying the beautiful Franklin Canyon hike 7/17/21
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