YMCA volunteers in Colorado clean up Rocky Mountain National Park during government shutdown

The government shutdown affects a lot more things than most of us probably even realize, like who picks up around the national parks during it? The answer in Colorado is some good-hearted volunteers.

YMCA of the Rockies is organizing trash cleanup events at Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park to support park maintenance during the federal government shutdown.

With reduced staffing at national parks, dozens of YMCA volunteers have been collecting trash at areas like Glacier Basin and Moraine Park. The organization says it will continue hosting cleanups if the shutdown persists to help keep the park clean and accessible.

The same group also helped clean up the park during the last government shutdown in 2018.