Celebrating and Promoting Volunteerism

Volunteer service is an ethic that has been an important part of REI for more than three decades and is embedded in the co-op's core purpose. Over the years REI has promoted outdoor stewardship by encouraging volunteerism through service projects, education and support of organizations at both the local and national levels working to maintain and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. Central to this work is our support of active stewardship which is accomplished by working hand-in-hand with our members and customers. To achieve this, REI hosts, promotes and participates in conservation-focused events across the country where we have a presence and we support numerous national groups which are working in support of trails, habitat, climbing areas waterways and more.

REI's service ethic extends to the strong encouragement of employee volunteerism as well. This includes the incorporation of service into many business activities, such as new employee orientation. Volunteer board service is also encouraged and recognized, and REI's grant program favors nominations of programs and projects that include active employee engagement.

Highlights

In 2008 the co-op's community outreach efforts included grants to nonprofits that supported and will support a wide range of service projects. These projects have or will deliver more than 1,573,000 hours of labor from 130,347 volunteers.

In addition, REI led 785 projects where 40,281 volunteers donated 159,299 hours of sweat equity devoted to conservation.

Challenges

REI does not have a mechanism for tracking employee volunteer hours or board service.

Our public lands are facing significant funding challenges in the current economic crisis. There is tremendous pressure on land managers to effectively operate park lands and other recreational infrastructure. In this environment, volunteer service has never been more important because it helps with the support of otherwise unaffordable maintenance and enhancements. Further, an active volunteer base demonstrates a support and constituency for outdoor recreation and the lands upon which it depends. REI is committed to continuing support of this important work. At the same time, given our need to ensure a strong focus on serving the retail needs of our members and tighter resources necessitated by the current economic situation, we are actively looking at how to focus our efforts in a ways that enhance or multiply our work. In our direct service efforts we will focus on high quality and enduring partnerships; nationally, we will continue to work with key partners to leverage our donations and resources to maximum effect.

Looking Ahead

Service is at REI's core and embedded in our mission. As many public land managers struggle in the years ahead with the lingering effects of the economic crisis, continuing to engage and support in service will play an increasing important role. REI also has an amazing base of employee talent that we will further encourage to become active in support of important community causes.