Outdoor School to Host More than 400 Sports Events in One Weekend

As summer heats up everywhere, REI is holding is first-ever national free weekend of Outdoor School on July 30-31 to bring people together outside. Beginner to seasoned adventurers can rekindle their connections to nature by choosing from more than 400 classes and events nationwide at no cost.

Many of Outdoor School’s most popular paid classes will be free for the weekend, including How to Ride a Bike, Learn to Stand-Up Paddleboard and Introduction to Outdoor Rock Climbing. The co-op’s most iconic guided hikes at local destinations will also be free.

During July 30 and 31, REI Outdoor School will host more than 400 classes and events—from urban locations such as the HighLine in Manhattan to Devil’s Kitchen Trail at the Colorado National Monument—where thousands are expected to participate by brushing up on their skills, munching on free snacks, and playing outside for the weekend.

“At REI we believe in the transformative power of spending time outdoors with others, and we’re excited to offer a free national weekend of classes. REI Outdoor School makes it easy for people to get outside and have a fun, immersive experience on the water, in the forest, in the mountains or in their favorite park. I look forward to seeing our members and their friends outside this weekend,” said Tim Spangler, REI’s senior vice president of Retail.

REI Outdoor School is the co-op’s signature outdoor education programming available in the company’s 145 stores in 35 states. Last year, more than 254,000 people learned a new activity or advanced their skills through free and low-cost in-store classes, field programs and day outings for cycling, paddling, fitness, hiking, camping, climbing, snow sports, photography and wilderness medicine.

The national REI Outdoor School free weekend builds on a campaign REI launched earlier this summer called “United Outside,” which focuses on getting people together in the outdoors in Washington, D.C. Throughout summer and into fall, REI is holding 100 days of outdoor events across the nation’s capital. United Outside precedes the opening of REI’s fifth flagship store in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, D.C. this fall.

Registration is open at www.REI.com/freeweekend