Camping on a mountain lake.

#OptOutside Reaches 1 Million People and Doubles Partner Organizations from 2015

Less than two weeks after announcing #OptOutside, more than 365 organizations and more than 1 million people have joined REI in choosing to #OptOutside on Black Friday.

Nov 7, 2016

SEATTLE – Less than two weeks after announcing #OptOutside, more than 365 organizations and more than 1 million people have joined REI in choosing to #OptOutside on Black Friday. The response more than doubles the number of partners involved in 2015, and includes national and local organizations encouraging their members to #OptOutside or hosting outdoor activities for people to choose trails over sales on Black Friday.

“#OptOutside has provided the outdoor community and our nonprofit partners an incredible platform to share the transformative power of the outdoors. The response it’s received in its second year is a powerful reminder of how this idea connects with people at an individual and emotional level,” said Jerry Stritzke, REI CEO and president.

#OptOutside partner highlights include:

  • Scores of parks and nonprofits partners are opening outdoor spaces for free, including all state parks in Colorado, Delaware, Kansas and Minnesota.
  • The National Interscholastic Cycling Association is encouraging all 10,000 student athletes and 4,000 coaches to take over 600 teams across the country out on rides on Black Friday.
  • Nonprofits like the Washington Trails Association with deep ties to local outdoors spaces are hosting volunteer work parties to steward trails.
  • The Massachusetts Audubon Society is leading bird enthusiasts through sanctuaries across the state on Black Friday and the day after, and for bird lovers in Michigan, the Huron-Clinton Metromarks are hosting an “Owl Prowl” on November 25.
  • Downhill skiers, snow shoe enthusiasts and fat bike riders in Washington can enjoy Methow Trails in Winthrop Washington for free on Black Friday.
  • The Greenway Foundation in Denver will take elementary school students to the South Platte River for educational field trips all month leading up to Thanksgiving week.
  • Girl Trek is organizing 100 “Family 5K” walks across the country designed to get families moving, complete with race bibs and t-shirts.

CJ Goulding at the Children & Nature Network and Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison at Girl Trek have also voiced their support of #OptOutside on the REI Co-op Journal.

About the REI Co-op

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 23 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 184 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.