Published September 15, 2020 10:01PM
Yosemite Facelift 2020 Cancelled, Replaced By Facelift: Act Local Virtual Event
With the 2020 Yosemite Facelift canceled, the Yosemite Climbing Association is holding a worldwide facelift, encouraging climbers to clean up their local crags.
"Vincent Battault/Unsplash" (Photo: <a class='o-credit__link' href='https://unsplash.com/@vincentbattault'>Vincent Battault/Unsplash</a>)
The Yosemite Facelift is an annual cleanup event hosted by the Yosemite Climbing Association in which climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts volunteer to clean up trash around the national park. Years past have drawn thousands of volunteers to the event and removed tens of thousands of pounds of litter. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings and the wildfires currently burning in California, the 2020 Yosemite Facelift has been called off. However, in lieu of the Yosemite Facelift, the YCA is holding a Facelift: Act Local event from September 22-27, encouraging climbers to clean up their local crags and outdoor spaces.
“We are still hosting a Facelift event, but this year it will be virtual,” YCA wrote on their Instagram page. “#FaceliftActLocal calls on all of us to make a meaningful impact in our communities by safely venturing outside to pick up trash with a small group of friends.”
There will be prize giveaways to those participating in the Facelift who have pledged and tagged #faceliftactlocal in at least one Instagram post. There will also be virtual evening programs streamed on yosemitefacelift.com from climbers, activists, and organizations, including Cedar Wright, Mike Libecki, Protect Our Winters, and many more.
“We are all disappointed that we are not going to see you in Yosemite this September,” said Allyson Gunsallus, managing director of YCA. “But, our idea for Yosemite Facelift 2020 Act Local is to take that spirit of Yosemite that makes us all want to take care of that place and then apply it to your local park, even your backyard.”
YCA encourages you to get your friends involved for a greater impact, while still practicing social distancing and only working in groups of ten or less.
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“We know this isn’t the same as being together,” Gunsallus continued. “But we actually think this might lead to a larger effort all around the country and maybe even the world.”
To find out more about how you can get involved in the Facelift: Act Local event, visit yosemitefacelift.com.