A few weeks ago, we told our 12,139 employees we’d be closing this Black Friday and paying them to do what they love most—spend time outside. We also invited our members and community partners to #OptOutside. The response has been bigger and broader than we ever could have imagined.
Nearly a million people have raised their hands to join us, and more are signing on every day, along with many organizations, park systems and outdoor companies. Your support is truly humbling and inspiring.
#OptOutside is more than a day—it’s been our way of life as a co-op since 1938. REI is committed to helping people tap into the joy, renewal and connection that come from spending time outside with friends and family, and we see Black Friday as a perfect time to do this.
While the rest of the world is navigating crowded shopping malls, we hope to see you in the great outdoors. We also invite you to share your outdoor experiences by using the hashtag #OptOutside on social media, and to show your support for the movement at REI.com/opt-outside if you haven’t already.
Please join us in celebrating the partners on the list below that have chosen to #OptOutside.
State and National Parks
Alaska State Parks
Arizona State Parks
Bureau of Land Management
California State Parks (Redwoods)
Colorado State Parks
Delaware State Parks
Georgia State Parks
Kansas State Parks
Massachusetts State Parks
Minnesota State Parks
Missouri State Parks
National Forest Foundation
National Park Foundation
National Park Service
Oregon State Parks
Tennessee State Parks
Vermont State Parks
Washington National Parks
Organizations and Regional Parks
52 Hike Challenge
Access Fund
Alyeska Resort
Audubon Arizona
American Alpine Club
American Rivers
American Trails
American Whitewater
Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy
Atlanta Audubon Society
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Bicycle Club of Millidgeville
Bike Iowa
Bike Virginia
Black Girls Run
Blue Ridge Parkway
Chicago Park District-Northerly Island
Children and Nature Natural Leaders
Cincinnati Nature Center
City Parks Alliance
The Conservation Alliance
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Dakota County Parks
Dishman Hills Conservancy
East Bay Regional Parks
East Coast Greenway
Florida Hikes
Friends of Columbia Gorge
Friends of Los Angeles River
Friends of Princeton Open Space
Friends of Trees
Geoteaming
Georgia Conservancy
Great Parks of Hamilton County
Groton Conservation Trust
Hike Georgia
Hike It Baby
Hills Country Conservancy
IMBA
Islandwood
James River Outdoor Coalition
James River Park Outdoor Education
Land Trust of the Treasure Valley
Latino Outdoors
Legacy Parks Foundation
Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area
Madison Area Outdoor Group
Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations
Meetup (Join more than 400 Meetups across the U.S.)
Methow Trails
Mid-Atlantic Climbers
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
National Outdoor Leadership School
NatureBridge
Northern Forest Canoe Trail
National Recreation and Park Association
National Religious Partnership for the Environment
Nature Conservancy
Open Space Council
Oregon Natural Desert Association
Outdoor Afro
Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition
Pacific Crest Trail Association
Paddle Adventures Unlimited
Park Pride
PeopleForBikes
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Rails to Trails Conservancy
Riverside State Park
ROW Adventures
RVA More
San Bruno Mountain Watch
Save The Redwoods
San Diego Canyonlands
San Diego Mountain Biking Association
Shoal Creek Conservancy
Sierra Club
SnowSports Industries America
St. Louis Audubon Society
Superior Hiking Trail Association
Tapteal Greenway
Team Green Adventures
Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Timucuan Parks Foundation
Tracy Aviary
Travelers’ Rest State Park
Triangle Land Conservancy
Trust for Public Land
Upper Sugar River Watershed Association
U.S. Education Department (Green Strides Initiative)
U.S National Whitewater Center
Vashon Maury Island Land Trust
Ventana Wilderness Alliance
Venture Outdoors
Virginia Commonwealth University Outdoor Adventure Program
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Walk Bike Nashville
Washington Bikes
Washington Trails Association
Weber Pathways
Wild South
Wilderness Inquiry
The Wilderness Society
Companies
Arc’teryx
ASDA
Atomic
Avate Apparel
Backpacker’s Pantry
Bearded Bros
The Bike Rack
BikeWorks
Biolite
Blizzard Ski
Bounce Energy Balls
Brooks
Burlap and Lace BTQ
Clif Bar
Conejo365
Covenant Gear
Deuter
Fort Collins Brewery
Genesis Bicycles
Giro
Gregory Packs
Habitat for Humanity GSF ReStore
Hops & Grain Brewing
Joe’s Bike Shop
Kuhl
La Sportiva
Mavic
Northwest River Supply
Nuun
Outdoor Research
Park & Vine
PartyLand Utah
Pike and Western Wine
Po Campo Bags
Pyramid Analytics
Royal Robbins
Salomon
Sanuk
Saris
Serenbe
Sole
Stohlquist
Stone’s Office Equipment
Suunto
Tecnica Skiboots
Tenkara
Terry Bicycles
The Atom Dog Co.
The Bikers Edge
True Heights Equipment Outfitter
Vasque
Yonder
Join the nearly 1 million people choosing to #OptOutside this Black Friday.
Photo by REI employee James Harnois.