REI Co-op is celebrating continued progress towards its efforts to get every person in America outside in five minutes or less, no matter where they live. Through its Outside in 5 initiative, REI supports local projects and nationwide legislation to improve access to nearby nature. This includes support for the REI Cooperative Action fund, which last fall provided $6.1 million in funding for more than 260 local, regional and national nonprofits that lead efforts to create improved access to the outdoors for everyone.
“Every person deserves the opportunity to get outside in their neighborhood, but for far too long and for far too many, this has not been a reality,” said Roma McCaig, REI VP of public affairs and impact. “With the efforts of our employees, members and the broader co-op community – all united together with Outside in 5 – we have made tremendous progress toward our goal of enabling time outside for everyone.”
Based on data from Trust for Public Land, 100 million U.S. citizens lack access to outdoor spaces close to home, many representing communities that have been historically and systemically disenfranchised. To help close this gap, REI is donating $5 from every co-op membership to the REI Cooperative Action Fund. In addition, REI employees in local stores across the country are building partnerships with organizations that are advancing Outside in 5 within their local communities. These efforts include:
- Partnering with Greening Youth Foundation to connect youth and young adults to the outdoors in Atlanta.
- Advocating for $1 billion in funding for Texas State Parks.
- Supporting Trust for Public Land’s green schoolyard efforts.
- Supporting the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund.
As the co-op continues to advance its Outside in 5 initiative, REI is asking its growing 23 million-member community to raise its collective voice to support legislation that will help everyone access and enjoy time outside. With the REI Cooperative Action Network, anyone can help urge Congress to pass:
- The TREES Act, which would create a grant program for states, local governments, tribes and other entities to facilitate tree planting projects that reduce residential energy consumption.
- The Living Schoolyards Act, which would provide grants to schools and districts to transform their schoolyards into dynamic outdoor learning environments.
- The Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment program to expand active transportation opportunities to connect people from their homes to work and play without ever getting in a car.
- The Outdoors for All Act, which would fund parks, trails, green spaces, playgrounds, cultural gathering spaces and more in underserved communities.
Additionally, the co-op published a playbook for Outside in 5 that details how individuals and organizations can engage in these efforts in their local community.
“While we are inspired by the progress we have made together as a co-op community, we know there is still so much left to do,” said McCaig. “This is a broad call to action. Anyone can join in Outside in 5 efforts by advocating for policy, supporting nonprofits, and engaging their community.”
Outside in 5 was launched in 2023, based on Trust for Public Land data that indicated that the U.S. is rich in enthusiasm for the outdoors, but has inconsistent access and infrastructure for people to access it. With Outside in 5, REI aims to harness the collective power of the co-op community to bring nature closer to home for millions of people in America.
