Environmental Stewardship

At REI, outdoor recreation is our passion. We're equally passionate about protecting and maintaining the places where we hike, climb, cycle, camp, paddle and ski. Advancing environmental stewardship through corporate giving, volunteerism and outreach programs is a key REI imperative in protecting the outdoors for future generations. Through our volunteerism, grants, workshops and education initiatives, REI commits time, money and gear to ensuring that the outdoors is accessible and respected by all. It's the right thing to do, and it's a whole lot of fun.

REI Community Grants

REI has been giving financial and gear grants for nearly three decades to support outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship with the goal of introducing more people to the outdoors and to volunteerism. Each year, REI donates millions of dollars and thousands of hours to nonprofit organizations in communities across the country. All of our efforts are initiated and championed by our employees from our retail stores, distribution centers and headquarters.

Outdoor Service Projects

Each REI store coordinates volunteer service projects, in which employees, members and local communities come together to help maintain and enhance outdoor recreation destinations. In addition, REI sponsors national events such as American Hiking Society's National Trails Day and the Access Fund's Adopt-a-Crag. Each year, REI-led volunteers donate thousands of volunteer hours of "sweat equity" gathering trash, maintaining trails, restoring wetlands and cleaning coasts.

Our Commitment to Future Generations

REI funds and offers programs that introduce young people to the joy and passion of the outdoors while at the same time teaching safety, respect and care for the environment. In addition to financial and gear grants, REI employees also volunteer their time to teach Leave No Trace principles of environmental ethics through the PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) program. Created in partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, REI employees visit local schools, youth groups and outdoor clubs getting kids involved in fun games and activities that reinforce environmental ethics and impacts. Because getting kids active and involved in the outdoors is a high priority, several REI stores offer reduced rates on rental gear for nonprofit organizations or have "gear banks" providing loans of outdoor gear to help introduce the outdoors to youth who wouldn't normally have the opportunity to experience such an adventure.

REI is also a founding member of The Conservation Alliance, an outdoor business coalition dedicated to protecting the outdoors for human-powered recreation.

Interested? Read more about REI's stewardship efforts.

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