REI Co-op Invests in All-Women Fire Crews in National Parks

Retailer REI Co-op is investing more than $250,000 in the National Park Foundation this year to support all-women fire crews in America’s national parks. This year, the donation will help fund women’s fire corps crews as part of a concentrated effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the National Park Service’s wildland fire program while combating the effects of climate change on public lands.

The support builds on the co-op’s longstanding partnership with the National Park Foundation. Each year, the co-op donates 10 percent of the profits from the America the Beautiful passes it sells to the National Park Foundation.

The co-op’s investment will support two women’s fire corps crews in Yosemite and Grand Teton National Parks. Participants will receive firefighting experience and training, while building leadership and teamwork skills. The women’s fire corps is one of several single-identity crews that create pathways to public land management careers.

Concurrently, the U.S. had record high temperatures and prolonged drought last year. These conditions contributed to one of the most devastating wildfire seasons along the West Coast, burning more than 10.2 million acres and causing more than $16.6 billion in damage.

“Protecting public lands has become ever more important as climate change continues to bring extreme conditions and worsening wildfires,” said Marc Berejka, REI director of community advocacy and impact. “Supporting all-women fire crews will build capacity for overall firefighting efforts, while creating more opportunities for women in the field.”