REI Outdoor School Classes and Outings

Learn a new activity or brush up your skills.

Ready to launch into a new outdoor activity or advance in one you already enjoy? REI Outdoor School can get you on your way! We offer beginning to advanced-level classes and outings in kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, navigation, snowshoeing, road cycling, backpacking and more. And you don’t need a lot of equipment to participate: we provide kayaks, bikes, snowshoes, GPS units and other gear. And most importantly, our professional instructors are committed to sharing their knowledge and ensuring a safe, enjoyable experience for every participant. Come join us!

Find Out About REI Outdoor School Programs

Climbing Classes & Outings

REI Outdoor School will teach you all the skills you need to know to get up the rock and confidently out climbing. We have classes that will teach you the basics of belaying, climbing technique, anchor building, lead climbing and self rescue skills. We provide all the climbing equipment and AMGA trained instructors.

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Cycling Classes & Outings

Feeling wobbly on two wheels? Or do you want to hone your biking skills? REI Outdoor School has a full selection of cycling programs to suit your needs. Our road biking courses teach you everything from balancing on the bike to bike commuting. Our mountain biking courses help you get off the road and onto the trails with a variety of obstacles to suit your level of skill. We provide Novara bikes and professionally trained cycling instructors.

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Hiking & Camping Classes & Outings

Join the REI Outdoor School in learning how to make a comfortable home in the outdoors. We'll teach you how to travel, set up a campsite, cook and backpack in some of the country's most beautiful places. Want to get the family outside? We can make it easy with our family specific classes.

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Navigation Classes & Outings

Learning to navigate with a Map, Compass and GPS device can be challenging. Let the professional navigation instructors at REI help you gain your bearings so you feel confident on your own. Our navigation courses will teach you how to orient a map, use a compass, mark and follow waypoints, and help you see the landscape in new ways.

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Outdoor Fitness Classes & Outings

Join the REI Outdoor School in learning how to increase your fitness level and comfort out on the trail. We'll teach you trail running techniques in some of the country's most beautiful places.

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Outdoor Photography Classes & Outings

Join REI's professional photography instructors both in store and in the field as we teach techniques to turn everyday outdoor snapshots into beautiful compositions. We teach the basics of how to use your camera (both digital and film) and take you to the next level with macro photography, nighttime photography and more!

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Paddling Classes & Outings

Want to gain a new perspective of the outdoors from the deck of a sea kayak? Join REI's professional sea kayaking instructors as we teach you how to paddle, self-rescue, and navigate a variety of water bodies. We provide boats, paddles, life jackets and our ACA trained instructors.

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Snowsports Classes & Outings

Get outside and active in the winter! REI Outdoor School will help you get out on snowshoes or cross country skis this winter. We'll help you understand how to stay warm, teach a variety of snowshoeing and skiing techniques, and help you feel confident going out on your own.

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Stewardship Classes & Outings

Join REI in making a difference on the trails and outdoor spaces near your home. We have programs that teach Leave No Trace principles to help you become a steward of your favorite outdoor places.

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Store Event Classes & Outings

Used in OR for store specific items.

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Wilderness Medicine Classes & Outings

REI is collaborating with the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS to offer a comprehensive two day course that will teach you the wilderness medicine skills you need to recreate with confidence in the backcountry. From the Patient Assessment System through traumatic, medical, and environmental emergencies, you'll experience a wide variety of topics designed to prepare you to act if an accident occurs.

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