For our community of outdoor adventurers, being stuck in self-quarantine is likely more daunting than trying to climb 5.15. But we can all stay plugged into the climbing community and use some of our copious amounts of free time to advance the sport we love. Here are a few ways to further the climbing advocacy cause while you’re stuck at home.

© Heather Distad

1. Stay local and check closures.

We can’t emphasize this enough. We strongly encourage all climbers to help flatten the curve and err on the side of caution. The best way to return to normal in the shortest period of time is for all of us to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus as quickly as possible. In many cases, that will mean that we simply shouldn’t go climbing.

2. Influence climbing policy.

Now is a good time to get informed about local and national climbing policy. There are a number of active bills and forest plans where you can make a difference by submitting comments to government officials through our easy letter-writing tool. We even provide talking points to guide your advocacy.

3. Donate the gas money from that cancelled road trip.

Access Fund has three Conservation Team crews out there (working solo to keep safe) improving our climbing areas. Donate to help support these teams. Every little bit helps.

4. Set up AmazonSmile to send donations to Access Fund.

Many of us are flocking to Amazon to secure the essentials for life under quarantine. Did you know that Amazon has a program that donates a percentage of your purchases to the charity of your choice?

5. Go a little deeper on The Climber’s Pact.

The Climber’s Pact is a commitment we make to each other to adjust our climbing practices to protect the landscapes we love. It’s an easy commitment to make online, and now is a good time to read up on each of The Climber’s Pact principles.

6. Research candidates and issues in the upcoming election.

Now is a good time to do some research in advance of the 2020 election. Learn where candidates stand on public land issues; the top issues facing public lands; and why a healthy democracy is critical for public lands.

7. Build your climbing advocate tool kit.

Our staff and advocacy partners have curated a list of essentials to help you build a climbing advocacy tool kit.

8. Help your local indoor climbing gym stay afloat.

This is going to be a rough time for our indoor climbing gyms, most of which have made the very hard but responsible decision to close their doors to slow the spread of COVID-19. If you can afford it, consider buying an online gift certificate for a friend, which helps your local gym get through this difficult time. Once it’s safe for them to open their doors again, you can introduce someone new to our amazing sport.

Advocate Reading List

Use some of your copious amounts of free time to brush up on your climbing advocacy skills.

That Wild Country: An Epic Journey through the Past, Present, and Future of America's Public Lands. Nearly 60% of climbing areas in the U.S. are located on federal public lands. Brush up on the history and future of public lands.

Tools for Grassroots Activists. This is a great book, published by Patagonia, with best practices for participating in the environmental movement.

The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors. Chronicles the first all–African American summit attempt on Denali, the highest point in North America. Part adventure story, part history, and part argument for the importance of inspiring future generations to value nature.

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors. Look beyond the discourse of the environmental justice movement to examine how the natural environment has been understood, commodified, and represented by both white and black Americans.