Chaco Footwear retrofits factor to make protective masks
Everyone’s favorite sandal maker (or is it just mine?), Chaco Footwear, has announced that they have refocused their Michigan ReChaco factory and mobile factory bus—where sandals are repaired and products are customized– to manufacture face masks and other personal protective equipment needed by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company is gearing up to potentially produce gowns and aprons as well. “This is both critical aid for our communities and an opportunity to empower our teams to lead, and we know other brands with similar resources in the outdoor industry, footwear, and fashion space will also rise to the occasion,” said Josh Weichhand, Marketing Director at Chaco.
The largest environmental film festival will be viewable online
The COVID-19 pandemic is cancelling gatherings large and small, and the Washington, DC, Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) is no exception. For the last quarter century, DCEFF has been showing environmental films to approximately 25,000 people a year. The festival was scheduled to take place March 12- March 22 but due to the pandemic the whole event will now take place online.
During the virtual event, nearly half of the films showing at the festival will be available to view for free until the end of March. To learn more and view the available films, visit https://dceff.org/2020online/.
Meet Oliver, Colorado’s hiking ferret
It’s been a long week, and we could all use a reason to smile, no? That reason is Oliver, a hiking ferret that has climbed his way to the top of all 11 of Colorado’s highest peaks. His adventures have been documented by his partner in crime, Lauren, on Oliver’s Instagram page (warning, some of the photos feature Oliver in a bowtie and the cuteness overload is real.)
Lauren says that in addition to hiking, Oliver enjoys camping and kayaking (don’t worry, he wears a safety vest in the water.) He also likes traveling and has visited eight national parks and traveled to six U.S. states. No matter where Oliver goes next, we hope he keeps exploring for a very long time—and that he and Lauren continue to take us along for the ride.
Originally published on Blue Ridge Outdoors by Kim Dinan
