Yosemite Conservancy Newsletter | June 2021

Photo: © Kathryn Havey

Recent News from Yosemite

Tioga Road reopened to vehicle traffic on May 27th. The park's day-use reservation system took effect on May 21 and is set to remain in place through September 30, now with increased visitor capacity in conjunction with improving public health conditions in Mariposa County. The National Park Service is accepting public comments on its proposed plan to restore Ackerson Meadow, the largest mid-elevation meadow in Yosemite and an important resource for the endangered great gray owl.

June is Great Outdoors Month – an annual reminder to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outdoors! If you’re in the park, join us for a Naturalist Walk or enjoy the free Yosemite Bike Share, which is up and running for the summer season. If you can’t get to the park, join us virtually for an online Wine and Paint class! Show us how you’re celebrating on social media with the hashtags #GreatOutdoorsMonth and #YosemiteMemory.

Photo: © Oscar Guzman

Top 4 New Exhibits To See This Summer

1. Yosemite Wilderness Center: Modern exhibits have been installed and are open to visitors in the Wilderness Center in the Valley! Fun fact: Conservancy email subscribers and social media followers submitted images for potential inclusion in the exhibit, and a few of those submissions are featured in this newsletter. Thanks to all who answered our call for photos!
2. Climbing Exhibit: Installed in 2020 in the Valley Visitors’ Center, this exciting introduction to Yosemite’s rock climbing community will be unveiled when the VVC reopens.
3. Women in Yosemite Exhibit: A companion to the digital exhibit created last year, the physical “Yosemite Women” exhibit will be installed this month in the Solarium at the Ahwahnee and will open to the public later this summer.
4. Chinese Laundry: You may have read about the 2019 restoration of a historic Chinese laundry building in Wawona in our 2020 Autumn/Winter donor magazine. The highly-anticipated accompanying exhibit will be installed this month, with the opening date set for later this summer.

Photo: @TravelsWithCarolyn

Announcing Our #FindYourPark Photo Contest

Here’s how our partners at the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation describe #FindYourPark: “America’s national parks are as unique and varied as the people who love them. They are places where people find their serenity, their moments, and their adventures. There are lots of ways to experience the parks, no matter where you are.”

Here’s our question: What makes Yosemite your park? How does Yosemite offer you serenity, adventure or both? Share your photos for the chance to win Yosemite prizes!

Photo: © Yosemite Conservancy 

Peet's Coffee

We’re so grateful to Peet’s Coffee for their continued support of the popular Bike Share program in Yosemite Valley, which just reopened for its third year! Peet’s makes it easy to support your park  – even before breakfast  – when you fill your cup with their Yosemite Dos Sierras blend. This organic and sustainably sourced full-bodied coffee evokes milk chocolate sweetness and hints of caramel – yum! Purchase a bag and give back to Yosemite with every sip.

Find Us On Instagram Shopping

It’s easier than ever to shop for your favorite Yosemite goodies and gear! Our Instagram shop is live and our Facebook shop is coming soon. Share products with friends, save your favorites for later, and message us instantly (@YosemiteConservancy) with any questions. To celebrate the launch of our shop on social media, we’re offering a blanket discount on ALL our available products with code: INSTAGRAM.

*Please note: Instagram Shopping isn’t compatible with a desktop computer, but you can still use the discount code on our regular online store.

Want the chance to see your shots featured here?
It’s easy! Share Yosemite photos with us on Flickr, and tag your best shot with #yosemiteconnect. Winners will be featured online and in our monthly newsletter.