Last Saturday 75+ people attended the REI Greenville Service Project with Upstate SORBA and Paris Mt. Friends.  What a great day of dirt, rocks, roots, sunshine, laughs and meeting new people......oh and sore bodies.   The trail Project is the New Sulphur Springs Trail re-route.  In four hours nearly 200 yards of new singletrack trail was hand cut from the road at the new upper parking lot nearly to the top of the pinacle of where the Downhill Course starts.  The remainder of the reroute will be in work mid-November early December.  We will be sponsoring several more volunteer work days after the Paris Mt. Downhill Race on Nov 13th.

REI is helping to build a lasting legacy of trails, rivers, and wild lands for generations to come, supporting programs to help people of all ages and experiences participate. REI's involvement and impact in local communities reached new heights in 2009. Investing $2 million in outdoor recreation programs and stewardship projects, REI helped care for areas of recreation, introduce people to the outdoors and leverage additional dollars for great programs. Sally Jewell, REI's president and CEO stated, "REI recognizes that today's youth will be tomorrow's stewards of the environment. REI is committed to providing opportunities for young people to experience the joys of outdoor recreation and learn how to care for open spaces and our shared public lands."

Grants: Annually, REI dedicates a portion of its operating profits to help protect and restore the environment, increase access to outdoor activities, and encourage involvement in responsible outdoor recreation. REI employees nominate organizations, projects, and programs in which they are personally involved to receive funding or gear donations. During 2011, REI granted $2 million to more than 250 of our community partners.

Service Projects: We care for recreational places by participating in and coordinating hands-on service projects. Each store organizes local volunteer stewardship projects dedicated to restoring and improving areas in which we enjoy outdoor recreation. 

Local Volunteer Opportunities: REI partners with VolunteerMatch to make it easy to do right by your neighbors and community. Get involved and make a difference! Learn more about volunteer opportunities near you.

Join us in our efforts to protect and restore our recreation areas and enhance access to outdoor recreation activities. To find out about volunteer opportunities in your community, go to your local REI store and check out the Outdoor Resource Center for local volunteer opportunities.

Join us November 4-6 for The REI Greenville Grand Opening celebration! Here are just a few of the many events happening all weekend long:

• Free Continental Breakfast

Get fueled up before the activities begin! A light breakfast will be available each day, starting one hour before the store opens.

• Shop Early, Get a Gift!

The first 200 people (age 12 and older) through the door on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will receive a limited-edition CamelBak water bottle with a $5, $10, $25, $50 or $100 REI gift card inside. (Doors open at 10am Friday and Saturday, 11am Sunday.)

• Enter to Win Great Prizes!

Enter our gear package sweepstakes November 4-6, 2011, at the Greenville store only.

• Free Limited-Edition Member T-Shirt

Get a free limited-edition REI OXT® Tech T-Shirt when you purchase an REI membership on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Offer good while supplies last. Not yet a member? Join today for a one-time $20 fee, and share the benefits such as the yearly member refund, member-only sales and more!

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