REI Grant Dollars in Action

REI's grant program seeks to engage communities--especially youth--in outdoor recreational activities and active stewardship of the environment. As our CEO Sally Jewell writes, "In a time when too many people are over-scheduled and sedentary, we know the outdoors offers the way to a better, healthier life."

Therefore, REI's grants support efforts to make outdoor activities welcoming and accessible to all people and promote stewardship of the outdoors.

Below are several examples of REI grants from 2009. These are just a sample of more than 250 grants that REI has made so far this year for an annual total of $2 Million. For more information about these groups, please click on the names of the organizations.

Alaska Geographic
Anchorage, AK $5,000
REI's grant will support Explorer's Ridge Trail, a project designed to engage younger generations with the Chugach National Forest and create responsible stewards of wild places by incorporating youth into the process of updating and designing recreation and trail features in the area. Youth will lead trail planning efforts in response to input from their peers. Young people will also take part in overnight outdoor trips to visit the trail and will volunteer with trail construction and maintenance efforts. REI funding will expand the number of students involved in route and trail planning and get more students outdoors planning the trail, camping, hiking and snowshoeing.

WiLDCOAST
Imperial Beach, CA $10,000
WiLDCOAST is working to conserve and restore the Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP), a 9,000-acre area of open space in south San Diego County, California, four miles north of the U.S.- Mexico border. The region is one of the last areas of open space in south San Diego County. The OVRP has trails for hiking and biking and serves as a community asset for outdoor recreation and the enjoyment of nature. REI's funds will support WiLDCOAST's efforts to involve community members in the conservation and restoration of the OVRP, provide stewardship training for community leaders, and increase awareness of the healthy outdoor recreation opportunities in the OVRP.

Conservation Corps North Bay
San Rafael, CA $10,000
Conservation Corps North Bay's (CCNB) Project ReGeneration summer program for middle and high school students introduces participants to a stimulating blend of community service, environmental education and recreational activities. Offered in two 4-week sessions every summer, ReGen channels the energy and ingenuity of youth for a summer experience that's as meaningful as it is fun. Members select, design and implement service projects that benefit the community as well as impart teamwork skills; build self-confidence and instill an ethic of environmental service. Activities include habitat restoration and organizing volunteer service projects.

Valmont Bike Park
Boulder, CO $10,000
Bicycling is big in Boulder. Valmont Bike Park will begin to meet off-road riding and racing needs for bicyclists of all ages and abilities--from Boulder and beyond. The 25-acre, purpose-built bike facility will include 3 miles of trails, a variety of areas for bicyclists to build and practice skills, and spaces for beginners and young riders to learn and challenge themselves in a safe environment. It will also be a venue for bicycling clinics, events and races, and a place for youth teams to train. When it's complete, Valmont Bike Park will be a reflection of Boulder's enthusiastic, engaged cycling community and of the city's commitment to cycling. REI's grant funds will provide equipment and supplies for volunteer crews to help construct the park.

Piedmont Park Conservancy Inc.
Atlanta, GA$10,000
Each year more than 3 million people visit Piedmont Park, making it one of the most frequented free attractions of Atlanta. Committed to bringing together the many communities of Atlanta, Piedmont Park Conservancy's (PPC) volunteer program plays a huge role in meeting the long-term needs of Piedmont Park by investing thousands of volunteer hours in stewardship of the park. Through ongoing efforts, PPC has developed model volunteer programs while providing tremendous cost savings to the organization. REI's funding will provide tools and landscaping supplies for the Park Volunteer Program. REI's involvement will help the Conservancy and its volunteers further the mission of enhancing and preserving Piedmont Park as a vital, urban green space.

Friends of the Chicago River
Chicago, IL $10,000
The Friends of the Chicago River's ("Friends") River Volunteer Stewardship Program (RVSP) seeks to increase the number of high-functioning volunteer stewards enabling the Friends to better restore and improve natural lands along the Chicago River. Utilizing a strong and effective framework, RVSP manages volunteers through a continuum of activities and advocacy. The Friends believe that this approach affects the health of the river more profoundly by drawing individuals and groups into deeper involvement with its organization and the Chicago River. This initiative is an evolution of Friends' existing volunteer stewardship efforts and places new emphasis on coordinated mission-driven, outcome-based volunteerism. REI's funds will support the dedication of additional staff time to increase volunteer participation and will also provide materials and tools to support volunteer projects.

Friends of the Wissahickon Inc.
Philadelphia, PA $5,000
Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) was founded to ensure the preservation of the Wissahickon Valley, a spectacular 1800-acre forested gorge of the Fairmount Park System in the city of Philadelphia. FOW's Sustainable Trails Initiative is a comprehensive plan to restore over 50 miles of trails. This restoration will ensure the establishment of an ecologically, physically and socially sustainable trails system that will serve a growing community of park users for generations to come. REI's grant will be used to support the volunteer activities associated with the restoration.

Workshop Houston
Houston, TX $10,000
The Third Ward Bike Shop, a program of Workshop Houston, is a community bike education resource. The shop is designed as a place for youth to learn new skills and accomplish goals through hands-on learning experiences. The Open Shop program provides everything that youth need to fix their own bikes including mechanical expertise and parts and tools. For young people in need of a bike, Workshop Houston's Earn-a-Bike program offers the chance to acquire one by learning, practicing and sharing bike repair skills. Many program participants frequently return to the shop and become accomplished mechanics, volunteers and cycling enthusiasts. REI's grant will provide program coordination and supplies for the bike shop.

Passages Northwest
Seattle, WA $10,000
Over the past decade, Passages Northwest (PNW) has engaged more than 5,000 girls and women in outdoor programming. With REI's support, PNW is planning to grow their their Girls Rock! program to reach new students and double the number of girls served. Girls Rock! is a ten-week afterschool climbing and mentoring program that helps girls learn to express themselves, gain leadership skills, and build community.