Getting Outside and Giving Back
This January, around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we took a moment to think about how we can enjoy the outdoors responsibly. It’s not always about big actions—sometimes it’s the small, thoughtful things that make a difference. Picking up trash, caring for campsites, or simply being mindful of the places we visit all help give back to the outdoors.
We teamed up with Leave No Trace for our Gear Up & Give Back Giveaway to encourage these kinds of actions while spending time outside. Giving back doesn’t have to be complicated to make a real impact.
Stories from the Trail: Seeing the Community Show Up
What stood out most during the campaign was the many ways people chose to give back. Some cleaned lakes and hauled out trash. Others spent weekends maintaining trails, restoring tree canopies, or volunteering with local and national organizations to protect public lands. Some got their kids involved, turning simple outdoor days into lessons about care and respect for nature.
Here are our Gear Up & Give Back giveaway winners:
Natalie Muscat
Teamed up with TreadLightly for cleanups at events like Overland Expo WEST and King of the Hammers.
Steve Domagala
After Hurricane Helene, Steve joined the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club to help maintain 174 miles of the Appalachian Trail in northeast Tennessee. In the following year, he volunteered 400+ hours with the USFS and 150 hours with TEHCC. He also maintains a 2.5-mile section of trail himself and plans to volunteer on the Pinhoti and Florida Trails. As a certified USFS and AT Sawyer, his experience can support trails anywhere, especially on USFS lands.
Brian Henries
Founded PNW Pack Out in Washington, a local nonprofit team that cleans trails and dispersed camps while offering educational opportunities. Local small businesses have been a big part of their support.
Protecting the Outdoors Together
During our MLK Day Sale, every order helped make a bigger impact. We donated 5% of sales to Leave No Trace to support the outdoors we all enjoy.
Taking care of the places we explore is something we can all do together. Whether it’s picking up trash, respecting trails, or supporting organizations like Leave No Trace, every small action helps keep campsites, trails, and wild spaces healthy and ready for everyone.
