The Outerwear and lifestyle clothing company continues to bring its direct-to-consumer model into the brick-and-mortar reality with the scheduled opening of three new stores in 2023.

The Jackson, Wyoming-based company announced it was launching three new storefronts in California, Montana, and Massachusetts, its first in those states. These new stores will bring Stio���s total retail locations to ten.

���We started in Jackson Hole with a goal to be an authentic mountain lifestyle brand,��� founder and CEO Stephen Sullivan told 窪蹋勛圖厙. ���Our apparel has resonated so far beyond the Tetons, and now we���re excited to offer the brick-and-mortar experience to those across the U.S.that have shopped online with us for so many years.���

The Boston, Massachusetts, store is scheduled to open Jan. 6 in the Seaport neighborhood where it will join Helly Hansen, Everlane, Lululemon, Filson, and Outdoor Voices storefronts. The South Lake Tahoe, California store is expected to open in spring 2023 at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

���What attracted us to South Lake Tahoe is its location,��� said Megan Odom, director of retail at Stio. ���You can access the lake, incredible singletrack trails, resort and backcountry skiing just minutes from our storefront.���

The Bozeman, Montana, store is expected to open in late 2023, the company said.

Called Mountain Studios, these Stio stores are in addition to 58 Stio Outpost kiosks within other outdoor stores and ski shops across the country.Stio was founded in 2011 by Stephen Sullivan as an online direct-to-consumer brand. Sullivan previously founded the brand in 1997 with Brian Cousins, and in 2005. Cloudveil had more than 600 retail stores and $25 million in revenue when it was sold.

���My years with Cloudveil taught me a great deal in growth strategy, which I���ve translated into Stio���s expansion plans slowly and steadily over the years,��� Sullivan said. ���Stio is actually 4 times larger in annual sales than Cloudveil was at its height of sales.���

As for goals of seeing Stio���s pinecone logo as ubiquitous on slopes and trails as other brands such as Patagonia and The North Face, Sullivan said it���s more important to him to keep Stio���s brand ���true to its mountain roots.���

���I���m extremely proud of how successful the brand has been and how much we continue to grow,��� he said. ���We have over 150 employees and are broadening our omni-channel approach by expanding our wholesale base, increasing our owned retail storefronts, and growing our corporate and group business.���

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November���s 窪蹋勛圖厙 Business Journal (OBJ) Outdoor Index closed the month strong in double-digit territory, with only four of the 28 publicly traded companies we track showing a decline from October, which itself showed overall泭 marked gains from a rough summer. The Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all finished in the black as well, although not as robustly as the OBJ Index. Adidas took a hit in October when it lost ���250 million after severing ties with a , but came roaring back in November with a 32.30% climb. Yeti dominated November with a 32.30% finish over last month, perhaps showing its strength as a gift go-to as well as its efforts in foreign markets. With a solid start to the 2022 ski/winter season, the general economy faring well despite some wobbles mid-year and increased interest rates that appear to have taken some of the sting out of inflation (for now, anyway), the holiday season looks bright for the publicly traded outdoor brands泭 we track.

Here���s a look at what happened in November.

OBJ Outdoor Index Compared to Other Indices: November 2022

Of the 28 public companies that OBJ tracks, most saw much better numbers in November. These are the companies that saw the largest leaps in November:

1. Yeti Holdings Inc. (NYSE: YETI): 39.93%
2. ANTA Sports Products Ltd. (OTC: ANPDY): 33.69%
3. Adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY): 32.30%

And here are the companies that saw the biggest declines last month:

1. Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW) -34.62%
2. Clarus Corp. (Nasdaq: CLAR): -31.30%
3. Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI): -8.08

Tracking the Monthly OBJ Outdoor Index

Below is the OBJ Outdoor Index for November 2022. The Index shows how 28 public corporations���mostly parent companies of outdoor brands, with a couple of retailers, a ski resort giant, and a trade show operator included as well���performed in the calendar month.

The chart includes the companies��� share prices at the close of the last business day of the previous month (Oct. 31), their share price at the close of the last business day of the tracked month (Nov. 30), and the percent change during that period.

The OBJ Outdoor Index, unlike other indices such as the Dow, doesn���t use a market-cap weighting system.

Foreign companies��� shares are presented here in U.S. dollars and designated as OTC (over-the-counter) securities since they aren���t listed on U.S. stock exchanges. Two exceptions are Dometic Group AB and Fenix Outdoor International Group, whose share prices can be found only on Nasdaq Stockholm and are represented as U.S. currency converted from the Swedish krona.

Underneath the stock chart are capsules on each of the 28 companies of the OBJ Outdoor Index, including headquarters location, connections to the outdoor industry (if not immediately obvious), key executives, and recent editorial coverage in OBJ, where applicable.

OBJ Outdoor Index: November 2022

*Currency converted from Swedish krona

OBJ Outdoor Index: Company Guide

Adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY)

• Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany (U.S. operation is based in Portland, Oregon)
• Outdoor connection: While Adidas might be known for its athletic apparel, the company also possesses some core outdoor DNA through its Portland, Oregon-based Adidas Terrex and Five Ten
• Key executives: Kasper Rorsted, CEO; Carla Murphy, GM, Adidas Outdoor

ANTA Sports Products Ltd. (OTC: ANPDY)

• Headquarters: Xiamen, China (subsidiary Amer Sports is based in Helsinki, Finland, and its U.S. operation is based in Ogden, Utah)
• Outdoor connection: ANTA is the owner of Amer Sports and its portfolio of outdoor and snow sports brands ��� Salomon, 插娶釵���t梗娶聆單, Armada Skis, and Atomic.
• Key executives: Jie Zheng, CEO, Amer Sports

Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (NYSE: MODG)

Headquarters: Carlsbad, California

• Outdoor connection: Though primarily a golf manufacturer and now the owner of Topgolf, the company made a big play in the outdoor space in late 2018 with the acquisition of European outdoor brand Jack Wolfskin.
• Key executives: Oliver Brewer, President and CEO, Callaway; Richard Collier, CEO, Jack Wolfskin; Diana Seung, GM, Jack Wolfskin North America

Camping World Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CWH)

• Headquarters: Lincolnshire, Illinois
• Key executives: Marcus Lemonis, CEO

Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GOOS)

• Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection: In addition to its eponymous apparel brand, Canada Goose owns and operates footwear brand Baffin.
• Key executives: Dani Reiss, CEO

Canadian Tire Corp. (OTC: CDNAF)

• Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario
• Outdoor connection: CTC boasts an iconic outdoor brand, Helly Hansen, in its portfolio. (It also operates a chain of sporting goods retail stores throughout Canada.)
• Key executives: Paul Stoneham, CEO, Helly Hansen (departing)

Clarus Corp. (Nasdaq: CLAR)

• Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Outdoor connection: Clarus is a holding company whose flagship outdoor brand is Black Diamond Equipment. Clarus also owns Rhino-Rack, Pieps, SKINourishment plus two bullet manufacturers.
• Key executives: John Walbrecht, President

Columbia Sportswear Co. (Nasdaq: COLM)

• Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
• Outdoor connection: In addition to the Columbia brand, the Portland-based apparel and footwear giant includes Mountain Hardwear, prAna, and SOREL in its portfolio.
• Key executives: Timothy Boyle, CEO

Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI)

• Headquarters: Westport, Connecticut
• Outdoor connection: Long known for its hook-and-bullet assets, CODI added a big outdoor name in the fall of 2020 with the acquisition of BOA Technology Inc.
• Key executives: Shawn Neville, CEO, BOA Technology

Deckers Outdoor Corp. (NYSE: DECK)

• Headquarters: Goleta, California
• Outdoor connection: Deckers is a major player in outdoor and active footwear with such brands as Hoka One One, Teva, Sanuk, and Ugg.
• Key executives: Wendy Yang, President, performance lifestyle brands

Dick���s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS)

• Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Outdoor connection: The sporting goods retail giant recently launched an outdoor store concept called Public Lands, led by industry veteran Todd Spaletto.
• Key executives: Lauren Hobart, President and CEO; Todd Spaletto, President, Public Lands

Dometic Group AB (STO: DOM.ST)

• Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
• Outdoor connection: The Swedish-based company manufactures accessories for mobile-living end markets such as campers and RVs, and it recently acquired Igloo Products Corp.
• Key executives: Juan Vargues, President and CEO

Emerald Holding Inc. (NYSE: EEX)

• Headquarters: San Juan Capistrano, California
• Outdoor connection: Emerald is the owner and operator of the twice-annual Outdoor Retailer and Surf Expo trade shows
• Key executives: Herv矇 Sedky, CEO

Fenix Outdoor International AG (OTC: FNXTF)

• Headquarters: Zug, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Colorado)
• Outdoor connection: The Swiss company���s outdoor brands include Fjallraven, Royal Robbins, and Primus.
• Key executives: Martin Nordin, CEO; Nathan Dopp, CEO Americas

Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN)

• Headquarters: Schaffhausen, Switzerland (U.S. headquarters in Olathe, Kansas)
• Key executives: Clifton Pemble, President and CEO

GoPro (Nasdaq: GPRO)

• Headquarters: San Mateo, California
• Key executives: Nick Woodman, CEO

Helen of Troy Ltd. (Nasdaq: HELE)

• Headquarters: El Paso, Texas
• Outdoor connection: Among its many consumer brands is Hydro Flask, the maker of insulated and stainless steel drinkware, and Osprey.
• Key executives: Julien Mininberg, CEO

Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUT)

• Headquarters: Racine, Wisconsin
• Outdoor connection: The company owns two outdoor brands (Eureka and Jetboil) and two watercraft brands (Old Town and Ocean Kayak).
• Key executives: Helen P. Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and CEO

On Holding AG (NYSE: ONON)

• Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
• Outdoor connection: The running shoe brand recently went public, pricing its IPO of 31.1 million shares at $24 a share���up from its initial expectations���for an initial raise of $746 million.
• Key executives: Martin Hoffmann, Co-CEO and CFO, Marc Maurer, Co-CEO, and Olivier Bernhard, Co-Founder and Executive Director

Newell Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: NWL)

• Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
• Outdoor connection: The company���s core outdoor brands are Marmot and Coleman (and there is some crossover into outdoor with its other consumer brands Contigo, Ex Officio, and Stearns)
• Key executives: Ravi Saligram, CEO

Samsonite International SA (OTC: SMSEY)

• Headquarters: Hong Kong
• Outdoor connection: The luggage giant owns outdoor pack and bag brands Gregory Mountain Products and High Sierra
• Key executives: John Sears, VP, Gregory

Solo Brands, Inc. (NYSE: DTC)

• Headquarters: Southlake, TX
• Outdoor Connection: The growing specialty company owns Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, Chubbies and water sports company Isle.
• Key Executives: John Merris, CEO; Samuel Simmons, CFO

Thule Group AB (OTC: THUPY)

• Headquarters: Malm繹, Sweden
• Outdoor connection: The Swedish maker of Thule car racks, luggage, and baby strollers recently got into car-top campers with its purchase of Tepui.
• Key executives: Magnus Welander, CEO; Hilary Hartley, President Americas

Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN)

• Headquarters: Broomfield, Colorado
• Outdoor connection: In addition to being the largest ski resort operator in the world, Vail also operates massive lodging and retail operations.
• Key executives: Kirsten Lynch, CEO

VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC)

• Headquarters: Denver, Colorado
• Outdoor connection: One of the biggest, most influential corporations in the outdoor industry, VF Corporation owns and operates an ���outdoor��� portfolio of The North Face, Altra, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Timberland, and an ���active��� portfolio of Eastpak, JanSport, and Vans.
• Key executives: Steve Rendle, CEO

Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO)

• Headquarters: Anoka, Minnesota
• Outdoor connection: Vista did some rightsizing of its portfolio in recent years by shedding its firearms assets and acquiring new brands in the outdoor and shooting sports spaces. Its outdoor portfolio now consists of CamelBak, Camp Chef, Bell, Giro, QuietKat, Stone Glacier, and Venor.
• Key executives: Christopher Metz, CEO
• Recent OBJ coverage:

Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW)

• Headquarters: Rockford, Michigan
• Outdoor connection: Another of the big footwear players, Wolverine owns and operates such outdoor brands as Merrell and Chaco, while other brands include Wolverine, Saucony, and Cat Footwear.
• Key executives: Blake Krueger, CEO

Yeti Holdings Inc. (NYSE: YETI)

• Headquarters: Austin, Texas
• Key executives: Matthew Reintjes, President and CEO

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VF Corp., parent company of the North Face, is looking for a new leader after the sudden retirement of CEO Steve Rendle.

The parent company of the North Face announced Rendle���s retirement this week with Benno Dorer, lead independent director of the VF board of directors, temporarily stepping into the role of VF Corp.���s interim president and chief executive officer.

Rendle has been with VF Corp. for 25 years, serving as CEO for the past five.

���It has been an honor to lead VF as CEO over the last five years,��� Rendle said in a statement. ���I depart with the deepest gratitude for the extremely talented and dedicated global team at VF. I remain as confident as ever in VF���s tremendous potential and look forward to watching the company���s continued success.���

Dorer joined the VF board in 2017 and has served as the lead independent director since 2021. He is a member of the board of directors of Origin Materials, Inc. He served as executive chair of the board of the Clorox Company from September 2020 to February 2021, chief executive officer of Clorox from November 2014 to September 2020, and chairman of the board of Clorox from August 2016 to September 2020. Prior to joining Clorox in 2005, he worked for the Procter & Gamble Company in various marketing and sales roles in the U.S. and Europe since 1990.

���The board thanks Steve for his many contributions and leadership during his nearly six years as CEO and nearly 25 years with VF,��� said Dorer. ���Steve���s commitment to the business, passion for building strong brands and focus on culture have helped VF evolve our portfolio of strong active-lifestyle brands and establish VF as a purpose-led company. We wish Steve well in his future endeavors.���

The move and search for a permanent CEO comes as VF Corp. tempers its fiscal year 2023 outlook.

���VF is revising its FY23 outlook largely to reflect the impact of weaker than anticipated consumer demand across its categories, primarily in North America, which is resulting in a more elevated than expected promotional environment as well as order cancellations in the wholesale channel to manage trade inventories,��� the company said in a release. ���Also impacting the outlook, but to a lesser degree, are the higher than expected impacts from inflation on consumer discretionary spending in Europe and ongoing COVID-19 related disruption in China.���

VF said it expects total revenue growth in the second half of FY23 to be lower than previously outlined, with revenue for the full year expected to increase 3 percent to 4 percent, compared to the previous guidance of up 5 percent to 6 percent.

In October VF Corp. announced the opening of 300 new stores and outlets worldwide over the next five years, including 70 new stores in North America, and in August announced the layoffs of 600 positions at the company.

VF stock fell 11 percent to $29.51 at market close December 5, the day of the announcement of Rendle���s leaving. It finished November up 16.18 percent above the end of October, from $28.25 at the October 31 close to $32.82 at the November 30 close. VF stock closed at $28.67 December 8, 2022, compared to a $77.12 close on December 8, 2021.

In addition to the North Face VF Corp. brands include Vans, Timberland, and Dickies.

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Park City Mountain lift mechanics and engineers have joined their ski patroller counterparts in unionizing, the first lift professionals in the United States to do so.

In a 35 to 6 vote conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, lift mechanics and electricians decided to collectively bargain with owners Vail Resorts under the newly formed Park City Lift Maintenance Professional Union. The union joins the United Professional Ski Patrols of America, Local 7781 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA

Park City Mountain ski patrollers made news last year after unionizing and negotiating for increased pay and better scheduling with the resort���s owner, Vail Resorts.

Park City Mountain lift mechanic and union organizer Liesl Jenkins said the move to unionize will result in more equitable pay and improve employee retention, resulting in better and safer service that will ultimately benefit the resort.

���We joke that Park City is the best lift maintenance training school in the country,��� Jenkins said. ���People would get excellent training here, but then move on to other ski resorts that pay better or have better schedules. This is a way to ensure that pay here is commensurate with other resorts and have people wanting to stay here, which results in better scheduling and safer conditions for everyone.���

Jenkins, who said she has been with Park City for a year and a half, said that individual attempts to negotiate with resort leadership were largely unsatisfactory.

���We do have some newer people who didn���t want to rock the boat and said they���d prefer to negotiate pay on their own, and the old-timers basically said ���we can tell you how that goes,��� which wasn���t great,��� she said. ���It���s easy to ignore one person, but not an organized group.���

Jenkins said there are 17 electricians and mechanics on the Park City side of Park City Mountain and 24 on the Canyons side responsible for keeping all 43 lifts safely operating, adding that many lifts operate in the summer as well. She said these numbers are too low and that more help is needed to avoid employee burnout from long hours and covering shifts of those who call in.

Park City Mountain leadership said they would respect the decision to unionize.

“We believe a direct relationship with our team works best rather than through a third party, but we respect the decision of our teammates to choose,��� Park City Mountain Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Deirdra Walsh said in a statement. “We���re committed to constant improvement of our employee experience, which includes our significant investment in employee wages and affordable housing for this season, among other steps.���

Negotiations are expected to begin in the next few weeks, Jenkins said.

Jenkins said that life operators from other ski resorts have contacted her about unionizing at their properties as well.

���We���re proud of our work and safety record, and believe that by unionizing we can further strengthen that,��� she said. ���We���re happy to help improve safety and professionalism throughout the industry.���

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skiers and boarders have long-known that more than a few of its black diamond runs warranted another diamond due to cliffs and other hazards. The resort finally agreed this year.

Palisades Tahoe upgraded nearly 40 of its 245 Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley runs to double black diamond status���on paper anyway���including Granite Chief Peak, Funnel, Kathmandu, Idiot���s Delight, Tom���s Tumble and Chimney. The extra diamond can be seen on the resort���s 2022/23 map available on its .

Resort leadership told 窪蹋勛圖厙 it was a matter of safety and customer experience to be more detailed about identifying Palisades Tahoe’s more extreme runs. The resort expects increased visitation and improved mountain access this season with the opening of a gondola connecting the 6,000-acre resorts to previously unconnected base areas.

���We felt like there was an opportunity to provide our guests a better indication of the difficulty of the advanced terrain so we added double black trail designation to our trail rating system,��� said Michael Gross, Vice President of Mountain Operations, ���Now at first glance, you���ll know the Palisades (run) is steeper than Siberia Bowl.���

Some Alpine Meadows runs were designated as double black until 2012, the year formerly named Squaw Valley purchased Alpine Meadows and combined the two areas. The former name was changed last year as ���There is now insurmountable evidence, dating back to the early 1800s, that the word ���squaw��� has long been used as a derogatory and dehumanizing reference to a Native American woman,��� the company announced.

The new 2.4-mile base-to-base gondola will connect the two separate Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows areas, making Palisades Tahoe North America���s third-largest ski resort when the gondola begins operating Dec. 17. The $65 million gondola will travel between the Village at Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Lodge, with two additional unloading points in between that access expert terrain. A one-way trip will take about 16 minutes, and is expected to decrease the vehicle traffic between Palisades Tahoe���s two bases while letting skiers spread out more.

The gondola was not without controversy. Palisades Tahoe settled a lawsuit initiated by the that said the gondola would destroy critical wildlife habitat near the Granite Chief Wilderness. Palisades Tahoe agreed to preserve other lands for wildlife conservation and donate money to the for the purchase of private land bordering the Granite Chief Wilderness.

This season is already shaping up to be a good one for Palisades Tahoe with an early storm dumping three feet of snow on the resort’s upper runs, allowing the resort to open four days early on Nov. 18.

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In a move the company says is an industry first, UK-based has announced that beginning next fall its jacket and sleeping bag labels will begin detailing the exact amount of recycled and fluorocarbon-free materials being used in its products��� construction.

Called Material Facts, Rab products will have QR codes that open online labels resembling nutritional information found on packaged food items. The labels will give the percentage of recycled material used in all of the components used in the construction of the piece. The new system will launch with labels listing the percent of recycled materials of泭 insulation used in Rab jackets and sleeping bags, and will expand to include all of the materials used in every product.

���It���s easy to put a little green leaf icon on your products to make the customers feel better about them, but that doesn���t give any real information,��� said Debbie Read, Rab���s head of Corporate Social Responsibility. ���Is it 10 percent or 100 percent recycled material, and what parts? We���re taking on greenwashing and being as transparent as possible about just how green our products are.���

The new recycling accountability is part of Rab���s initiative. Read said that the company is deconstructing its products to understand more fully and accurately the percentage of recycled and fluorocarbon-free content, including complex areas like trims and zippers. This scrutiny is also being applied to Rab���s supply chain partners to ensure that Rab knows fully what is in the materials it uses.

Zipper pulls, shock cord outers, care labels, fabrics and other material Rab has ordered for its fall/winter 2023 production are made from recycled materials, Read said, Also, by doing away with jacket stuff sacks, Rab estimates it is saving 101,500 square meters of fabric and 300,000 meters of cord and tape. Sleeping bag storage sacks are moving from virgin cotton to recycled polyester, and sewing thread used in the fall line will be fluorocarbon-free, she said.

���Things like zipper pulls seem so little, but multiplying that by our usage it becomes significant,��� Read said. ���We hope that as many brands, retailers and other stakeholders as possible will join us so end consumers get a more transparent and comprehensive picture of what sustainable outdoor product design means.���

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Cotopaxi CEO Davis Smith announced today that the company���s San Francisco Hayes Valley store has reopened after closing down three weeks ago due to theft, vandalism, and fear for employee safety.

On October 18, Smith posted a blunt and alarming message on LinkedIn: the brand���s San Francisco location would shutter indefinitely due to repeated break-ins and looting. Employees received pay during the shutdown, which lasted for 24 days.

This morning, Smith on the platform, writing, ���Cotopaxi is pleased to announce that after productive and positive meetings with Hayes Valley Merchants Association, the Board of Supervisors, and SFPD [the San Francisco Police Department], measures have been put in place to allow us to reopen our storefront once again. We have also hired full-time private security.���

Smith told 窪蹋勛圖厙 that his original post���which used some stark language about San Francisco, including that it had ���descended into a city of chaos������wasn’t meant to ���tear down��� the area. Instead, he hoped for a response from city leaders regarding crime in the Hayes Valley retail district. Less than a month later, he got it.

He also got widespread response from the community. Smith said his first post drew a lot more attention than he expected���not all of it positive. Some accused Cotopaxi, and Smith, of unfairly villainizing an entire metropolitan area and focusing too heavily on the need for more policing in certain neighborhoods.

���Sure we have our fair share of crime, but every city does. It’s unfortunate what happened to your store, it could happen anywhere, and again, the blanket generalization seems unfair and not accurate, from a local���s perspective,��� one LinkedIn user wrote.

Smith himself replied to this and many other commenters, engaging in an open dialogue about their concerns. He also had conversations with city officials, which he said have led to more focus on neighborhood safety. In the three weeks since Smith���s original post, the San Francisco Police Department has increased foot patrols in the neighborhood around the Cotopaxi store.

���Fortunately, the City of San Francisco, the police department, and the Merchant Association of Haynes Valley all reached out,��� Smith told 窪蹋勛圖厙. ���I told [our San Francisco Board of Supervisors representative] we didn���t have any response to our previous reports about these issues and he was super responsive. It feels like the city is listening now and really interested in fixing these issues for Haynes Valley.���

What a complete fix looks like, however, is unclear at this point. Smith acknowledged that it necessarily has to involve a lot more than increased policing.

To help support the community through its own initiatives, Cotopaxi has partnered with , a nonprofit that supports housing, early childhood development, and employment opportunities for those in need in the Bay Area.

���Tipping Point has a great history of working in the city for 17 years,��� Smith said. ���They���ve helped deploy $350 million into the Bay Area focusing on things we care about.���

Smith said he never intended to give up on San Francisco; he just wanted his employees there to feel safe: ���Some of our earliest customers and earliest believers in our brand were in the Bay Area��匈���ve always loved the city. It���s a place I care about. We���re hopeful that together as a community, as a city, we���ll resolve this. We didn���t want to complain, we wanted to be part of the solution.���

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Thinking about entering the booming outdoor-recreation industry? If you���re a student (or working on a career switch), there���s no better time to jump in. A growing number of colleges across the U.S. are now offering programs for future adventure-industry workers, with the aim of better equipping tomorrow���s gear makers, retailers, and business owners for success. The latest school to join the list: the University of Denver.

DU���s new program offers two post-grad certificates���one in Outdoor Recreation Industry Business (ORIB) and another in Outdoor Recreation Industry Leadership (ORIL). The ORIB certificate focuses on core business skills like accounting, finance, and marketing, and is geared toward recent grads with no or limited business experience. The more advanced ORIL is designed for middle managers who already have some business savvy (in outdoor rec or elsewhere). Coursework for the ORIL involves more advanced subjects, like financial models, supply chain challenges, human resources, and growth management.

Both programs begin in the spring, and virtual attendance is an option for those who don���t live in the Mile High City.

���We���re creating specialized, easy-to-access programming that will prepare students for outdoor industry jobs that are available now, and future careers that will change the field,��� said DU chancellor Jeremy Haefner.

The new program is funded in part through a $3 million grant from the VF Foundation, the charitable arm of Denver-based , parent company of The North Face and Smartwool.

���Denver is an important center for the outdoor industry, making DU the perfect home for such a program,��� said Steve Rendle, CEO of VF Corporation and board chairman of The VF Foundation. ���Through the Foundation���s targeted support of scholarships for underrepresented individuals, combined with DU���s expansive offering of business and industry-relevant coursework, we hope to spark the next generation of diverse leadership in the outdoor industry.���

With the outdoor economy generating a whopping of annual consumer spending in the U.S., it���s no surprise that academic offerings like this one are popping up at colleges and universities nationwide. Below is a list of other notable programs catering to the business of getting people outside.

Arkansas

Want to start your own business in the outdoor industry? The University of Arkansas��� (GORP) helps would-be entrepreneurs understand the nuances of starting a business through workshops, mentorships, classes, and trainings in the university���s new 泭in Bentonville, a destination with a growing outdoor reputation. Content is crafted for the unique challenges of operating outdoor businesses and bringing gear concepts to life���and much of the consulting and networking services are free. Already have an outdoor company? GORP���s 12-week Cohort Program also helps owners expand their concepts through year-round workshops, networking, and funding.

Arizona

Prescott College has two degree programs for those who want to making a living teaching���but who want to do it outside. The offers bachelor���s and master���s degrees in outdoor ed with coursework in program administration and leadership, wilderness therapy, and more.

Colorado

Dream of becoming a mountaineering guide or ski-area operator? The major at Fort Lewis College helps undergrads泭become wilderness therapists, guides, experiential educators, and public-lands employees. After completing 33 credit hours in math, history, and science, students finish out the 57-credit-hour degree with courses like Wilderness Expedition, Foundations of 窪蹋勛圖厙 Education, Wilderness First Responder, and Teaching Methods for 窪蹋勛圖厙 Education. Electives include climbing Fundamentals, Swiftwater Rescue, and Advanced Winter Backcountry Travel. For those students泭focused on the ski industry, the teaches the ins and outs of on-mountain and corporate ski resort management.

Earn your MBA with an outdoor emphasis at Western Colorado University in Gunnison. The 泭is a two-year program that includes an MBA core as well as specialized tracks for either the product or service side of the outdoor industry. The product concentration has specialized courses in sustainable gear development and material sourcing; supply chain and logistics; and sustainable finance. The service concentration has specialized courses in resort and hospitality management, natural resource regulation, and sales. (Plus, you can explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison when you���re not studying.)

In Fort Collins, Colorado State University offers a pair of graduate certificates specifically tailored to the outdoor industry���one in , the other in . The six-course, 12-credit programs require a bachelor���s degree to apply, but they���re open to established professionals and recent grads alike. At less than $1,000 each, the certificates are an affordable way to dip your toe into the industry and come out with marketable knowledge and skills in less than a year.

Not to be outdone, the University of Colorado Boulder���s includes an MS in Outdoor Recreation Economy, with supplemental graduate-level泭certificates in topics like natural-resource policy and economic development. The program is completely online, so you can take it from anywhere, although Boulder offers awesome access to the outdoors.

Massachusetts

For those who want to lead outdoor-adventure programs, like those offered through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound, Greenfield Community College���s might provide the perfect training. The program focuses on the development of critical, philosophical, and technical skills in adventure education. Backcountry travel, rock climbing, paddle sports, and Nordic skiing are all areas of focus, and the program���s certification competencies comply with national standards in the adventure industry.

Michigan

Go pro in the snow sports industry at Gogebic Community College���s , where classwork and practical experience at the school���s own Mt. Zion ski area prepare students for technical and administrative positions. Local training is followed by internships at ski resorts across the country. Courses include Ski Area Layout, Fundamentals of Ski Instruction, and Ski Area Operation/Cost Analysis.

If you���re interested in working in public land management���whether at the municipal, state, or federal level���the at Northern Michigan University in Marquette is worth a look. The baccalaureate degree program teaches students professional skills in a variety of outdoor-recreation specialties. The program also makes sure students meet the entry-level requirements of the (NRPA).

Montana

Want to become a professional snow goat? Montana State University���s in the school���s acclaimed Department of Earth Sciences teaches all things snow safety for undergrads泭seeking careers in the ski industry, search and rescue, guiding, and other fields. The intensive coursework involves several disciplines, including physics, engineering, hydrology, and statistics, calculus, chemistry, and geomorphology. For graduate students, the combines study and research to help learners better understand and predict snow events.

North Carolina

The 泭硃喧 Brevard College is a bachelor of arts degree concentrating on marketable skills in professional guiding, rock-climbing instruction, and other adventure careers. From keeping customers happy to balancing company budgets, courses prepare students for both the business and adventure aspects of making a living in the outdoor industry.

The at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, is designed for students who want to work as teachers泭硃喧 expeditionary learning schools, charter schools, community colleges, camps, and beyond. The two-year program involves both online classwork during the week and in-person weekend classes, making it easier for working students to earn their degree.

Oregon

In Corvallis, Oregon State University���s has a range of certificate and degree programs focused on all aspects of the industry, from learning how to operate a ski lift to designing environmentally responsible products. For those curious about entering the outdoor space, the is a $400 single course, open to anyone,泭that gives an overview of the economic, environmental, and societal impacts of outdoor business. Check out the school���s free for an overview of what to expect.

For those already working in outdoor rec, the泭 at the University of Oregon泭Lundquist College of Business teaches students how to bring gear to market, from concept to promotion. Onsite and online programs are available to accommodate full-time and working students.

Utah

For many, the ultimate outdoor career dream is bringing product ideas to life and getting paid for it. The at Utah State University in Logan is a bachelor of science degree that prepares students for entering the world of gear design and manufacturing. Students can choose to specialize in design, development, or product-line management after two years of foundational courses.

Washington

Want to work with the public in the outdoors? Bellingham���s Western Washington University offers a泭���a bachelor of arts degree applicable to careers in sustainable tourism and community recreation. Guiding, camp counseling, wilderness therapy, and park management are just a few of the paths students pursue after graduating.

West Virginia

West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley undergraduate prepares students for careers in outdoor enterprises. Guide and instructor certifications in at least one discipline such as rock climbing or paddlesports are included, and coursework centers on the fundamentals of operating a business. Internships and a final project ensure students get plenty of real-world experience under their belts before they graduate.

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Starting in 2023, REI is set to sharply expand its employee medical coverage. The co-op announced today that, beginning January 1, every REI employee���barring those who have existing coverage through other employers���will be eligible for health care under the new which provides comprehensive insurance through Aetna.

The coverage will be available even to part-time staffers, no matter how many hours they work per week. At national companies with workforces in the thousands, that kind of offering is exceedingly rare. (REI employs about 15,000 people across the U.S.) Enrollment will be available after just three months of employment, where previously the company required staff to work at least 20 hours a week over a 12-month evaluation period to qualify for any kind of coverage.

���Basically, we just believe that everyone should have access to health care and this is something we can offer to every REI employee,��� Halley Knigge, REI���s director of communications, told 窪蹋勛圖厙.

Knigge said that, earlier this year, feedback from an employee pay and benefits survey included a call for access to health care enrollment sooner after the date of hire, and with fewer restrictions. In July, REI CEO Eric Artz sent an internal letter to all REI employees, stating, ���Your feedback on our benefits program was clear���you highly value our medical benefits but want access to them faster and with fewer restrictions. We agree.���

Knigge said that while many of REI���s employees build long-term careers at the retailer, others���including students and retirees���want to work limited hours but still need health coverage as part of their employment.

���We have a lot of employees who want to work at REI but who want to work fewer hours than the previous 20 hours needed to qualify for health care,��� Knigge said. ���Now, no matter how few hours people work, they have access to coverage.���

The REI Access Plan offers comprehensive medical coverage, including free preventive care with in-network providers and access to a Health Savings Account (HSA). The new plan is extended only to employees, not their dependents. Employees must work 20 hours or more per week to qualify for health care plans that extend to dependents.

Employees enrolled in the REI Access Plan can expect to pay around $700 a year in premiums, with REI paying about $6,800, according to the . The in-network individual deductible for the plan is $1,800, including prescription drug costs. Once the deductible is met, employees pay 20 percent of the cost of physician visits, emergency room visits, and other medical services, with REI covering the other 80 percent. The in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $3,600, though there is no out-of-pocket maximum for out-of-network services.

The health care offering is part of a $50 million expenditure REI has made this year to bring across-the-board pay raises and healthcare coverage to employees, Knigge said.

���Our employees are REI, so anything we can do to increase benefits and opportunities is in line with what we���re about,��� Knigge added. ���It���s about people, not hours.���

Enrollment for the new program begins this month.

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The Seattle-based gear retailer Evo is expanding its growing travel business with a loyalty-points program, the company announced today. Customers can now earn points through a free-to-join , and use them for purchasing gear or booking adventure trips with the retailer.

���We���ve been building an entire ecosystem designed for the adventure-minded who love to get outside,��� Rebecca Heard, Evo���s chief marketing officer, told 窪蹋勛圖厙. ���We want to reward customers who shop, stay, or travel with us, and in doing so, we want to encourage more loyalty to Evo.���

Customers will be able to use membership points to book stays at Evo���s growing collection of properties, including the new in Salt Lake City, the Journeyman Lodge in Whistler, and Campus Tahoe City, a new property expected to open soon in North Lake Tahoe. Customers will also be able to use points to support Evo���s charitable arm, through which the company plans to commit a ���$10 million investment in community organizations over the next ten years.���

The loyalty program rewards members through gear and travel purchases made online at evo.com and at the retailer���s seven U.S. retail locations. One dollar earns customers one point, and new members receive a 20 percent discount code for most full-priced items. Points are also awarded for birthdays and social media postings.

Evo Membership benefits will be broken out into three levels based on dollars spent���Green, Blue, and Black���with benefits increasing for each category, Evo said. The more customers spend, the more benefits they unlock, include discounts on gear services and rentals, exclusive member-only events, and with the company, which offers itineraries throughout North and South America, Europe, and Japan.

Membership points only remain active if there is activity on the member account within a calendar year

���It���s so exciting that now our customers, by doing what they love, can turn a new ski or snowboard purchase into helping fund backcountry laps in Whistler or Japan, or a new mountain bike,��� said Bryce Phillips, founder and CEO of the company.

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