Columbia and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance are proud to recognize 20 dynamic local projects designed to get kids outside and conserve wilderness areas through the Columbia/Grassroots Belay Program. Columbia will provide a total of $100,000 in cash and products to ensure that each of these projects impacts the lives of children and their local wilderness areas.
“This program is a particularly powerful example of what comes about when great outdoor brands like Columbia and specialty outdoor stores form true partnerships.” said Wes Allen, President of Grassroots. “As a group, we’re both proud and humbled that Columbia gives our members this opportunity. Grassroots retailers across the country are constantly engaged in supporting their local communities in meaningful ways. This ongoing partnership with Columbia gives Grassroots stores unbelievable resources to truly drive efforts to get more youth involved in the outdoors and protect our natural world.”
“It’s always amazing to see how much can be accomplished when Grassroots Outdoor Alliance members, nonprofit partners, and community volunteers combine forces to accomplish local projects,” said Russ Hopcus, Senior VP of North American Sales at Columbia. “We are extremely proud to support these efforts to conserve wilderness areas and get more kids outside.”
The Belay Program was established in 2012 with 10 recipients and has now grown to 20 grant recipients. The following projects were selected by Grassroots members and each will receive $5,000 in the form of cash, product, or both from Columbia to incorporate into their programs:
2015 Awards (Project name, grant recipient/Grassroots partner):
Lander Youth Climbing Camp,　Wild Iris Mountain Sports
Jackson Hole Trails Stewardship Program,　Skinny Skis
Eastern Sierra Youth Outdoors 2015,　Eastside Sports
NC Youth Conservation Corps Shiloh Landing Project,　Great Outdoor Provision Co.
River Rangers,　River Sports Outfitters
Camp Freedom,　Summit Canyon Mountaineering
Native Wilderness Leadership and Stewardship Camp,　Pack Rat Outdoor Center
Dano Youth Camps,　Sunlight Sports
Denali Foundation- Getting Kids Outdoors,　Denali/Trailblazer
Camp Colton Environmental Education Program,　Peace Surplus
Tallgrass Prairie Preservation and Restoration,　Champaign Surplus
Cranbrook Schools Horizons- Upward Bound Wilderness Adventure,　Backcountry North
Black Forest Fire Restoration,　Mountain Chalet
Barren River Outdoors Center Youth Boulder,　Nat’s Outdoor Sports
Citico Creek Stewardship,　Rock/Creek
Enabling Tomorrow’s Environmental and Community Leaders,　Summit Hut
Kids in Kayaks,　Outside Hilton Head
Wear Your Soul Project,　The Outside World
Hope for Opelousas Adventure Crew,　Pack and Paddle
Get MAD about Marine Debris,　Wild River Outfitters
