REI Programs, Events and Products Help Families Enjoy Outdoor Summer A

Whether hiking, biking, camping or paddling, REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), a national outdoor gear and clothing retailer, encourages families to schedule outdoor fun this summer and helps them get started by offering programs, classes, events and products.

REI’s Family Adventure Program helps aspiring adventurers discover how easy it is to experience the outdoors as a family. Local hike and trail recommendations from expert employees on REI.com offer trail descriptions, difficulty ratings, directions and more. Beginning June 1, free children’s adventure journals, filled with games, activities and tips, are available at REI stores and REI.com. More than 180,000 children nationwide explored the outdoors with their adventure journals in 2010.

To help prepare for upcoming adventures, REI stores offer educational classes, presentations and events throughout the year on a variety of outdoor topics. Each store across the nation is hosting a free “camping basics” class in June and “camp cooking basics” class in July. Families looking for fun and learning in the outdoors can also sign up for one-day, entry- or advanced-level classes with REI Outdoor School. Participants can learn how to kayak, ride a bike or navigate with a GPS device. Summer class event information and registration is available online at http://www.rei.com/stores.

Join REI for American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® on June 4 to help maintain and restore local trails. On June 25, National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Backyard Campout® offers another opportunity to get outdoors by encouraging families to open the door and sleep under the stars in their backyards or a local park. As a national sponsor for both events, REI stores across the country are partnering to host or promote events for local members and customers.

REI offers many products to keep families organized and comfortable for their summer camping trips. The new REI Hobitat tents (available for four or six people) are wide enough to host a family for the night, tall enough to stand-up in, and easily expandable for storage by zipping on an optional REI Hobitat Garage Accessory Vestibule to the door (accessories sold separately). New REI Siesta sleeping bags are available in single and double options, and can outfit the entire family at a great value (pricing starts at $69.50).

Through REI Adventures, families can explore national or international destinations together and participate on trips that are created with children and parents in mind. REI Adventures offers 12 different family adventures. The Tahoe Family Adventure is a great way to introduce children to the fun of overnight camping and exploring nature, while the new Thailand Family Adventure allows families to take part in multisport activities and learn about Thailand’s fascinating culture, architecture and ancient cities.

Additional information about these programs, classes and events is available at one of REI’s 117 stores nationwide or REI.com, which includes a wealth of online Expert Advice for families.

About REI
REI is a national outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting its members and the community for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI is committed to promoting environmental stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation through volunteerism, gear donations and financial contributions.