Outdoor Recreation Programs

REI's grant program seeks to engage communities--especially youth--in outdoor recreational activities. 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.

Below are several examples of REI grants from 2008. During 2008, REI funded 395 groups for an annual total of $3.7 Million in grants. For more information about these groups, please click on the names of the organizations.

  • Bay Area Wilderness Training
  • San Francisco, CA $10,000
  • Bay Area Wilderness Training's (BAWT) mission is to create opportunities for at-risk and underprivileged youth to experience the transformative power and beauty of wilderness first hand. BAWT believes that once young people are exposed to wilderness, they have a broadened sense of themselves and the world around them. BAWT's core work entails training youth service workers and classroom teachers in the skills needed to successfully lead overnight wilderness trips with at-risk youth. Additionally, BAWT supports these trainees with the outdoor equipment necessary to embark on overnight adventures with their young clients at no charge. REI's grant funds will support BAWT's program coordination, promotion and outdoor gear for trainees to use during their outdoor adventures.
  • Active Transportation Alliance
  • Chicago, IL $5,000
  • The Active Transportation Alliance (ATA) will collaborate with REI to deliver comprehensive bicycling education classes at REI stores and park district locations throughout the greater Chicago area. Throughout their years of experience as bicycling advocates and educators, they have consistently identified an unmet need for quality, accessible adult bicycle education in the region. When people do not feel confident about their understanding of cycling rules of the road, safe cycling practices, proper helmet fit, and what to expect while cycling, it can act as a major barrier to outdoor cycling for recreation and transportation. Even with remarkably expanded marketing and education efforts, the ATA has found that demand for safe bicycling education only increases with the number of new cyclists. At a historic time for people to switch from automobile travel and recreation to cycling, they are experiencing record demand for this kind of education. Through this project ATA will hold a series of bike education events including an on-bike portion and helmet fitting. Funds from REI will provide programmatic support as well as printing and other supplies for the program.
  • Hillsboro Parks and Recreation
  • Hillsboro, OR $8,736
  • Hillsboro Parks & Recreation will develop a program to promote environmental awareness and stewardship while introducing middle school students to the many wonderful and empowering recreational activities that take place in the 'great outdoors'. The program seeks to help this at-risk age group to discover the thrill of participation in outdoor experiences; learn the tools needed to enjoy the outdoors, and understand the importance of preserving nature spaces for the future. All TREKS programs will include a stewardship and service-learning activity so youth understand the importance of giving back and not taking the land for granted. REI's grant will provide gear to facilitate fun outdoor adventures. REI funds will also be used to purchase training materials from Leave No Trace to teach youth the importance of stewardship.
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities
  • Minneapolis, MN $5,000
  • Boys and Girls Club Voyageur Environmental Center (VEC) is an environmental treasure for underserved youth. Each day of the VEC Summer Camp includes sessions on canoeing, orienteering, nature hikes, first aid training, camping and survival skills, and other outdoor recreation activities. Through their environmental education programming campers also learn about conservation and these urban youth are empowered with the tools for adapting an ecological lifestyle. Activities encourage youth to engage in responsible outdoor recreation activities with enhanced environmental awareness. Funding from REI will provide GPS units and cases so that participating youth can have hands-on experiences that help create an understanding of nature as well as piquing interest in the technology field.
  • C.I.C.L.E (Cyclists Inciting Change Through Live Exchange
  • Los Angeles, CA $10,000
  • Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange (CICLE) works to create meaningful ways to inspire both first time and existing cyclists to use the bicycle to supplement some of their in-town transportation needs. CICLE's 'Bikes in the City: Urban Expeditions' program accomplishes this by utilizing a social and recreational focused strategy that motivates and educates new riders to start connecting with an activity--and to a community--that supports and reinforces the concept of creating positive change through active and sustainable transportation choices. REI grant funds will support outreach to new program participants and volunteer ride leaders.
  • Friends of Reading Recreation Inc.
  • Reading, PA $5,000
  • In 2008-2009 the Friends of Reading Recreation (FORR is planning a wide range of outdoor recreation events that will build on their success from last year and be open to all Reading residents. The events, including road races, an REI bike maintenance clinic, a family camp out, a series of day hikes, volunteer stewardship projects, and much more will offer a variety of activities that are geared toward young and old alike, all levels of ability, and anyone who is interested in participating. FORR's goal is to offer all of these events at low or no cost. Among the many goals for these events is to help create a greater sense of community in Reading, help improve the quality of life for all residents, provide fun and engaging outdoor activities for Reading's residents, and instill a sense of value for volunteering and being active in the community. Funds from REI will provide support for the bike clinic, road race, trail maintenance training, and guided hikes, as well as providing them with family tents for participants to use at their campouts.

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