Climbing Advocacy Conference
Photo Courtesy of:Francois Lebeau
Welcome to Access Fund’s Climbing Advocacy Conference: A Global Perspective on Local Solutions
Join us virtually November 14–15, 2020.
Planned in partnership with:
Photo credit clockwise from top left: Truc Allen, Simon Carter, Francois Lebeau, Haeda Photography
Access Fund’s Annual Climbing Advocacy Conference is a gathering of more than 150 dedicated climbing advocates and conservationists from around the world. Our conference is the leading climbing advocacy and conservation conference, and the largest gathering of local climbing organizations focused on protecting access to climbing areas. This event is an opportunity to unite the global climbing advocacy community and dig into access issues that affect crags everywhere.
This event will offer more than a dozen sessions focused on climbing conservation and advocacy topics: public lands, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, trails and infrastructure, rebolting, mobilizing and engaging your climbing community, fundraising, climbing’s economic impact, and much more.
This year, our Climbing Advocacy Conference will be entirely virtual. For the first time, our conference is open to international attendees and speakers to learn how advocates across the globe are gaining and maintaining climbing access.
Registrants will be able to:
The Climbing Advocacy Conference provides critical skills to give back to your community when access issues arise.
The Agenda
*Subject to change
Day One: November 14
- 9–9:15 a.m. MT
Welcome Speech - 9:15–10:15 a.m. MT
Roundtable – Get to know the group as we encourage attendees to introduce themselves and give us insight into their home crag’s access issues. - 10:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m. MT
Panels – Choose from topics including Climbing as an Economic Force, Best Practices in Community Engagement, Respecting Bats and Raptors, and more, with speakers from around the globe. - 6–7:30 p.m. MT
Mountainfilm on Tour – Join us for a virtual program of inspiring and captivating films handpicked from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. The program will feature a collection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and engaging documentary short films that align with Mountainfilm’s mission to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.
Day Two: November 15
- 8-9 a.m. MT
Yoga for Climbers - 9–10:30 a.m. MT
Regional Meetings - Break into smaller meetings to hear from Access Fund regional directors and the local climbing organizations that work on protecting access to your favorite climbing areas. - 10:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. MT
Panels – Choose from topics including The State of DEI in Climbing, Bolting and Anchor Management Practices, Innovative Approaches to Sustainability in the Mountains, and more. - 4 p.m. MT
Wrap up and check out a list of ways to volunteer in your community.
Event Resources and FAQs
Who can attend this event?
Everyone is welcome! We usually see attendees from local climbing organizations, climbing gyms, college clubs, land trusts and outdoor companies, as well as athletes and anyone else who’s interested in advocating for climbing areas.
How do I attend?
The entire event is virtual this year, so you can attend from anywhere. We will post the registration link on this page when it’s ready. Once you register, you will be set up with a login to get into the conference platform.
What’s included in my registration?
You’ll get access into panels, meetings, and presentations that will connect you with other advocates across the country. This conference is designed to build your skills to protect the climbing resources in your backyard. All sessions will be recorded, and those recordings will be loaded into the conference platform, so be sure to register even if you can’t make the entire weekend.
How much does registration cost?
There is flexible registration for this year’s conference to ensure everyone can participate. You can donate what you’re able to and help Access Fund cover the costs of hosting these educational events.
What technology do I need to participate?
For the best experience, we suggest using a desktop or laptop computer with sound. Many of our sessions will take place over Zoom. Download the latest Zoom version here prior to the event. There will be a few opportunities for attendees to interact with speakers. If you’d like to participate, please use headphones with a microphone to ensure our team can hear you.
