A month ago, outdoor retailer REI announced its campaign to get its employees and customers outside for the day. And a number of states jumped on board.
All 143 REI stores were closed for Black Friday, though its 12,000 employees are still being paid, according to the plan laid out last month. Instead, the retailer encouraged them and its customers to spend the day outside, using a social media campaign — OptOutside — to promote the effort.
Gimmick or not, REI got a lot of credit for spreading the idea. Several government agencies were among the thousands to jump on the social media bandwagon and a number, several in partnership with REI, opened up their parks for free.
Arizona partnered with the retailer, which offered free one-time day passes to any state park at its four stores in the Grand Canyon State. Tennessee also joined with REI to offer free guided hikes at state parks Friday.
Delaware pegged its own decision to waive park fees for the day to the company’s campaign.
In Washington state, Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks both were using REI’s OptOutside hashtag to promote free entry on Friday.
Kansas also named REI in announcing a contest in which park visitors on Friday could win a free night’s stay in a state park cabin. And while it didn’t cite the company by name, Oregon’s Parks and Recreation department said it was “chiming in on one nationwide outdoor retailer’s announcement” by suspending parking fees on Friday.
“Rain or shine, windy or not, we’re thankful Oregon’s outdoors are a constant source of joy,” department director Lisa Sumption in a statement. “Take a break, get out, and enjoy some fresh air.”
Several other states opened their parks, albeit with less direct connection to REI’s campaign. Minnesota suspended entry fees to its 75 parks and recreation areas, while Colorado opened up its 42 parks. Missouri offered free camping on Friday night, too.
