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Opt to Act with Explore Austin & REI

Homepage Uncategorized Opt to Act with Explore Austin & REI

Opt to Act with Explore Austin & REI

ExploreAustinAdmin
November 25, 2019
Uncategorized

For the 5th year in a row, REI is closing its doors on the biggest shopping day of the year and challenging people to #OptOutside this Black Friday. For the 3rd year in a row, Explore Austin is answering the call. #OptOutside is a movement to remind people of the incredible benefits of nature and outdoor activity. Through Saturday Challenges and Summer Wilderness Trips, Explore Austin creates space for the youth of our program to truly encompass the positive impact of the outdoors on their well-being. This year, REI has taken the #OptOutside campaign a step further and is asking participants to leave the world better than they found it. The Opt to Act Plan gives 52 simple weekly challenges to encourage personal-life changes to reduce one’s negative impact on the Earth. 

 

This year’s campaign closely aligns with Explore Austin’s values and specifically our ACES leadership curriculum. ACES stands for Action-Oriented, Courageous, Excellent Teammate and Strong Communicator. The Opt to Act emphasis displays REI’s Action-Oriented leadership within the outdoor community. In light of the current climate of our Earth, REI is leading by example and challenging the world to take action. 

 

Explore Austin practices and teaches Leave No Trace Principles to all its participants. As stated on the Leave No Trace website, “The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors.” Leave No Trace is particularly important during Summer Wilderness Trips when Explorers are cooking, cleaning, eating and living in the outdoors for a week. Mentors and Trip Leaders ensure Explorers leave grounds cleaner than when they arrived. Any location temporarily inhabited must be left indistinguishable from the rest of the park, forest or mountain. This means not only picking up any tiny pieces of trash, but also food scraps that should not be left out for critters. 

 

Over the years, REI has provided Explore Austin with continuous support: from monetary donations to brand new hiking backpacks, tents, rain gear, etc. Explore Austin is especially grateful to have been a recipient of the REI Force of Nature Grant. Force of Nature is REI’s award-winning, social change initiative that supports outdoor adventure for women and girls and aims to make the outdoors the largest level playing field for all. 

 

After all REI has done for Explore Austin, the #OptOutside campaign gives Explore Austin a chance to reciprocate the support of REI and elevate a common goal of getting people outside. Join the Explore Austin community and #OptOutside this Friday. Remember to follow Leave No Trace Principles and make the conscious choice to Opt to Act in order to leave your mark and maintain the beauty and power the world has to offer. 

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    Mentors are those who tell you where to look, but Mentors are those who tell you where to look, but will never tell you what to see!  #mentor #explorer #outdoors #nature
    “We really do love those boys. It's just one of “We really do love those boys. It's just one of those things that you just build, and every year it's built on each other." - Steve DePizzo (one of our Alumni Mentors pictured middle blue shirt, sunglasses).  Steve believes the level of trust shared amongst his team is credited to Explore Austin's model around the significant amount of time teams spend together on Saturday Challenges and Summer Wilderness Trips and outside the program too.  This December give the gift of community. Let's continue building connection and community. Click on the link in our Bio to make a tax-deductible gift today! 🙏  #giving #mentor #explorer #community
    Leah Yanez a mentor with the 2022 #GirlsRule team, Leah Yanez a mentor with the 2022 #GirlsRule team, gives us an inside peek during a December volunteer activity!  "Our December Saturday challenges for @explore_austin are always unique because we get to volunteer at a local nonprofit of our choosing. It's usually a learning experience, but this year was even more special because one of our explorers planned it at Restoration Ranch. Sharon gave us a wonderful tour and introduce us to all the horses. What magical creatures."  Giving back to your community is a magical experience, help us continue to teach explorers what it means. Click on the link in our Bio to give a gift today! 🙏  #explore #austin #communityservice
    Shout out to the 2022 Boys Wolfpack! 👏👊 Las Shout out to the 2022 Boys Wolfpack! 👏👊  Last Saturday teams were doing community service by picking up trash at Walnut Creek. They discussed the importance of being stewards of our community and what that means for each of us as individuals, and how to pay it forward.  #explore #austin #communityservice
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    Friday, 20, Nov
    Explore Austin Empowers Youth Through Mentorship and Outdoor Adventure By: Korrin Bishop
    Wednesday, 3, Jun
    A Message from the Explore Austin Board and CEO
    Thursday, 26, Mar
    The Bear That Turned Out To Be A Moose
    Monday, 25, Nov
    Opt to Act with Explore Austin & REI
    Wednesday, 14, Aug
    Like, Why Do We Even Do This?
    Tuesday, 18, Jun
    Up Mt. Baldy and Along the Continental Divide Trail – One Explore Austin Alumni Mentor’s Journey to Self-Discovery

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