Outdoor: Did you hear?…

For the week of April 26-May 2

>> Continuing to support and encourage beginner-friendly paddling experiences, Rutabaga Paddlesports in Madison, Wis., is offering the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium again this year, July 8-10. The focus of the symposium is on the non-competitive nature of paddling, allowing participants to go at their own pace. The nature of the courses and tours are designed to allow what Co-owner Darren Bush calls “challenge by choice.” Rutabaga said registration is ahead of last year, and many of the paddlers who attended last year have signed up again this year. It expects to sell out early. For more information, contact Bush at 608-223-9300, ext. 228, or darrenb@rutabaga.com. www.everyonepaddles.com

>> Timberland has given the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) a $10,000 grant from its competitive community investment program, which supports organizations whose leadership results in positive change. NFCT is a non-profit organization devoted to creating a 740-mile paddling trail stretching from Old Forge, N.Y., to Fort Kent, Maine. Timberland’s grant to NFCT is linked to sales of its newly released Native Waters Sandal, which features information about the trail on its hangtag. Following historic Native American routes, the NFCT links waterways through the Adirondacks, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine. The trail is the first recreational multi-watershed project of its kind and the longest inland water trail in the Northeastern United States. NFCT is also recognized as a national model for community-based water-trail design and management, working with an active network of over 100 volunteers to map and steward the trail.

>> The Rescue Source (TRS), a supplier of swiftwater rescue training and equipment, recently shifted production of five of its RQ3 rescue products to Seattle Manufacturing Corp. (SMC). Headquartered in Elk Grove, Calif., TRS (www.rescuesource.com) and Rescue 3 have trained and equipped rescue professionals across the country for more than 15 years. SMC will manufacture the RQ3 Q-Eight and Mini-Q-Eight, as well as four models of RQ3 Rescue Pulleys. An ISO-9001 manufacturer, SMC is one of a few companies in the United States focused upon designing and manufacturing technical rescue equipment, and TRC is the third major customer in recent months to partner with it. www.smcgear.net

>> Matt Porter has joined the customer service team at Kokatat Watersports Wear. Formerly with WaterMark, Porter will also be a member of the event coordination team. He’s available at info@kokatat.com and 800-225-9749.

>> Big Agnes’ Seedhouse 3 tent has been named a top tent on Reserve America’s 2005 Camping Gear Awards List. The editors of Reserve America’s publications, as well as its readers, who provide gear testimonials and feedback throughout the year, determine the recipients of this annual award. Top tents were judged on their size, durability, assembly and quality. One of just five shelters named to the list, Big Agnes’ Seedhouse 3 is a lightweight and versatile backpacking tent weighing less than 6 pounds. Reserve America (www.reserveamerica.com) processes over 3.5 million camping reservations per year, and services over 2.8 million members. Its website includes access to more than 150,000 campsites throughout America.

>> Newly released data from NSGA’s Sports Participation reports showed that women represented 45 percent to 49 percent of participants in various outdoor activities. They are hiking (48 percent), camping (48 percent) and canoeing (45 percent). For the study, a participant is defined as someone seven or older who participates in a sport more than once within the year. The two-part sports participation report is based on a survey of 20,000 U.S. households. For more information, visit www.nsga.org.

>> Hyland’s, a manufacturer and marketer of homeopathic medicines, has acquired the IvyBlock brand of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac prevention and treatment products. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The IvyBlock is FDA approved and contains an active ingredient called Bentoquatam that serves as an absorbent barrier that blocks the allergenic oil in poisonous plants from reaching the skin. The line includes Ivy Block lotion, Ivy Cleanse towelettes that remove harmful oils after exposure, Ivy Soothe, a cream that provides fast, soothing relief from itch and rash after exposure, and Ivy Complete, a combination package that includes all three products in one box. “IvyBlock is a great fit with the homeopathic medicines marketed by Hyland’s and with our ongoing commitment to provide the best in health care medicines to consumers,” said J. P. Borneman, president of Hyland’s. “We see a great opportunity with the brand and plan to put significant support behind trade and consumer promotion so that a growing number of individuals know that this product is available and can benefit from its revolutionary ingredient.” Currently, Adventure Medical Kits distributes IvyBlock to the outdoor industry. For more information, visit www.ivyblock.com.

>> Outside Magazine has hired Steve Kennedy and Todd Peters as new account managers in its New York sales office. Kennedy has worked with Tennis magazine, Sporting News and Sports Afield. Peters was most recently the sales account director for Elements of Living magazine, and has also worked for Food & Wine magazine.

>> CAMP-USA has announced that Huck Rohl recently joined the company as manager of operations. In this newly defined role, Rohl will be in charge of overseeing inventory management and accounting. Prior to joining CAMP-USA, Rohl was the operations manager for Eldorado Wall Company.

>> Icebreaker is moving its U.S. customer service, marketing and operations center from Santa Barbara, Calif., to Sun Valley, Idaho. The transition will be complete in June.

>> Pacific Northwest retailer G.I. Joe’s opened its 10th Washington state store in Mount Vernon on May 1 with lots of fanfare and special events. A week of festivities is planned, including in-store prizes every 30 minutes (awarded for identifying local Mount Vernon landmarks), a free trout-fishing pond for the kids, and a host of special in-store events and seminars. The 50,000-square-foot Mount Vernon store has been serving residents in the Skagit Valley on a limited basis since mid-April. The store features the latest in energy conservation technology including photocell-controlled lighting with automated dimming and skylights. Part of the store design are12-foot glass windows prominently displaying its water sports category. The retailer said it is putting increased emphasis on helping its customers have more fun in the water. G.I. Joe’s (www.gijoes.com) now operates 23 stores in Oregon and Washington.

>> Dansko has hired Christian Shea as its marketing/development specialist, a new position for the company. Shea’s responsibilities include the creation of the shop-in-shop program for Dansko retailers, which includes new graphics, photography and POP signage to convey the Dansko story and its products. He will coordinate the partnership between Dansko and Utility Inc., which is designing and building the new shop-in-shop program. Shea was most recently at Digital Globe in Longmont, Colo., and 23airmail, in Denver. Dansko said his background in the dot-com world also makes him a valuable asset to its online business plans, which include increased functionality for retailers and sales reps later this year.

>> The Faytex Company, suppliers of performance fabrics to the footwear, apparel and sporting goods industries, has hired the True North Brand Group to handle its publicity and marketing efforts. Also, Faytex is moving manufacturing from Taiwan to a China textile facility, which it says will give it more flexibility in the footwear industry and expand its capabilities for the apparel and sporting goods markets.

>> Peregrine Distribution Services (PDS), a division of Peregrine Outfitters, has signed on Linckia, the manufacturer of NEOS Overshoes and ULU boots and shoes. PDS will provide warehousing and order fulfillment services, which it also does for AKU, Julbo and Traksports.

>> According to Adweek, Lands’ End has contracted Rojek Consulting Group for what is believed to be a review of its estimated $30 million ad account. An RCG official confirmed the Cleveland-based consultancy is working with Lands’ End, but did not provide details, Adweek said. Lands’ End left Havas’ McKinney + Silver in February.