REI Outdoor School FAQs

How do I sign up?

Find a class or outing that interests you and press the registration button to walk through our online registration process. Pre-registration and payment are required for all classes. If the class or outing that you want to register for is full, you can opt to waitlist yourself and we will notify you when spaces become available. For additional information or questions, please send us an email to outdoorschool@rei.com.

I tried to sign up and it says course closed, what does that mean?

It is sometimes necessary to close our courses to registration in advance to give our instructors adequate time to prepare. There may still be spots! If you'd like to find out if there is still availability on a class, please contact your local store.

I'm on a waitlist, how will I know if a space becomes available?

We will do our best to accommodate your interest in participating in a course with us. If a space becomes available, all those on the waitlist will be contacted by email and the first person to register will get the available spot. Providing us with your best contact information increases your chances of joining us.

What do I need to bring?

Once you have registered for a course you should receive an email which tells you all of the equipment that we provide and the equipment and clothing that you will want to bring. All of our field classes require you to bring your own food and water. We provide major equipment such as bikes, boats, GPS units, etc. We may also provide carbon neutral transportation to and from the course for your convenience.

I need to cancel or transfer a course, how do I do that?

Free Classes
You may cancel your registration for a free class or event up until the start time of the class.

Paid Classes
You may cancel your registration for a paid class up to 24 hours before the class/event. Refunds will not be issued if you cancel less than 24 hours before the class/event start time. Alternatively, you may transfer your registration to a different date for the same class within the 24 hour time period without penalty.

Class or Event cancellations on the part of REI will be refunded in full, regardless of timeframe. Please note that inclement weather does not necessarily cancel an event, and you will be contacted by REI in the event of a cancellation. If you need to cancel or transfer a class/event please call your local store and speak with one of our customer service specialists.

Remember to provide a valid email address when registering for a class or event at your local store. Providing your email address will allow you to access your registration details online.

I'd like to have a private lesson or schedule a group class, how do I do this?

Interested in getting your team from the office out of your daily routine? Do you want to take your entire family of 12 outside for a day of fun? Or, do you just want a one-on-one lesson with one of our professional instructors? REI Outdoor School offers private classes of any of our public courses and we can customize our courses to your needs. For questions or to set up a private class and/or outing, email us at outdoorschool@rei.com. Please indicate where you are located and what type of course you are looking for in the email.

Where do I meet my instructors on the day of the class?

In your confirmation email you will be notified where you are to meet your instructors in addition to where the class will occur. In some cases these are the same. We will identify the location of where you should plan to meet your instructors as "Meeting Location" and the location where the class will actually occur as "Event Location". Directions to the "Meeting Location" will be provided. When meeting at a location that is not a REI store, look for the REI Outdoor School signs and you'll find your instructor.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

REI Outdoor School strives to provide the best outdoor education programs possible. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee ensures that our classes and outings at REI Outdoor School meet your high standards - or we will gladly offer your choice of a refund or a chance to re-take the class/outing.