Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous parks in the United States. According to the Barcelona Field Studies Centre, nearly 3.5 million people visit the park each year. Now, one organization is asking visitors to give back.
The Yosemite Climbing Association partnered with over 20 locations across the country to encourage stewardship and volunteerism. From Sept. 20 to Sept. 24, visitors can trade trash for spa treatment during the annual Yosemite Facelift. This year, the program has partnered with Rush Creek Lodge to provide volunteers with a free foot detox treatment in exchange for cleaning up the park.
Two Decades of Volunteerism
The Yosemite Facelift project was created 20 years ago by park climber Ken Yager. The nature enthusiast noticed accumulating litter in the park and wanted to help visitors enjoy the landscape without all of the trash.
Each year volunteers return to Yosemite to clean up trash around the park. Last year, the project welcomed more than 13,000 volunteers. The clean up crews rounded up more than 14,000 pounds of trash and contributed a collective 11 thousand hours of work.
Over time, Yager’s stewardship efforts have spread beyond Yosemite. The facelift project works with 20 other park locations in the United States to help clean up litter.
Spa Treatments For Helpers
In exchange for cleaning up, park volunteers will receive a complimentary foot detox treatment at Rush Creek Lodge & Spa. Located a half mile from Yosemite Park, the lodge features a Himalayan salt block dry sauna, an aromatherapy steam room, a sensory room, a granite waterfall mineral hot tub and warm river rock beds.
In addition to the complimentary foot treatment, facelift volunteers also can book discount rooms at the lodge during their visit to Yosemite.