Contact Information:

Todd Elsworth
Executive Director
Recreation Northwest
360-739-8458

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Recreation Northwest Expands Popular EXPO to Include Outdoor Recreation Summit, Excursions

Events centered on outdoor recreation range from a half-day conference for businesses and organizations, to the EXPO and Excursions, open to the public.

BELLINGHAM, Wash., January 13, 2016—Recreation Northwest is expanding its successful Recreation Northwest EXPO event to a full weekend of outdoor recreation-related activities. The events, which take place February 25 – 27, 2016 at downtown Bellingham venues, are designed to showcase Bellingham as the recreation capital of the Northwest, as well as build community and connection among recreation businesses and the public.

New this year is the Outdoor Recreation Summit, to be held Friday, February 26 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Majestic on North Forest in Bellingham. This exclusive half-day conference brings together outdoor recreation manufacturers, retailers and organizations, as well as state- and local-level policy makers, for networking, learning and sharing ideas on how to grow Washington’s recreation economy.

Jon Snyder, Washington State’s first Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Maker, will report on the state of Washington’s Recreation Economy, while Tim Niemier, Founder of Ocean Kayak, will deliver the keynote address.

Also on Friday, the 3rd Annual Recreation Northwest EXPO runs from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave. in downtown Bellingham. The EXPO offers outdoor recreation-related exhibitors the opportunity to provide information to the public about their products, services and causes. A partial list of exhibitors and door prizes includes:

• REI Bellingham -Traverse 28 pack
• McNett Corporation – Waterproofing Bundle for Outerwear
• American Alpine Institute – Course ($350 value)
• Mount Baker Mountain Guides – Intro to Mountaineering Course
• Bellingham Traverse & KIDS Traverse –  Team Entries
• March Northwest – Mountain bike clinic for you and a friend including free rental full suspension bike and gear.
• SMC – Seattle Manufacturing Corporation – Climbing Equipment
• Bellingham Bay Marathon – Full Entry
• Whatcom YMCA – 3 Month Membership
• Chuckanut 50K – Entry
• Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures – Half-Day guided sea kayaking adventure

EXPO admission is free to the public. Sign up to win Door Prizes online and onsite. Open registration continues through February 25th, though booths are expected to sell-out fast.

Summit participants and EXPO exhibitors are invited to Basecamp Bellingham, an exclusive networking and gathering event on Thursday, February 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Boundary Bay Brewery’s Mountain Room at 1103 Railroad Ave, Bellingham.

The weekend wraps up with Excursions, including trail runs, mountain bike rides,  and other activities. Excursions are intended to show off Bellingham’s outdoor recreation opportunities and connect businesses with the public. The Excursions are open to EXPO exhibitors, Summit attendees and the public.

“Outdoor recreation’s value to Washington State’s economy continues to grow, right along with Bellingham’s reputation as the Northwest’s premier destination for outdoor recreation,” said Todd Elsworth, Executive Director of Recreation Northwest. “We saw a need to help create community and connection within the outdoor recreation industry, so we expanded our EXPO weekend to bring together smart people with innovative ideas, and facilitate conversation, information sharing and fun excursions into Bellingham’s beautiful surroundings.”

Learn more about the 2016 Recreation Northwest EXPO by visiting www.RecreationNorthwest.org.

About Recreation Northwest

Recreation Northwest is a Bellingham, Washington–based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation, and bringing people together to enjoy, preserve and improve the places where we play. Through partnerships with local businesses and organizations, we work to raise awareness of our public green spaces and their inhabitants, including one of the Northwest’s most revered symbols—the salmon. Recreation Northwest produces the Bellingham Traverse, Bellingham KIDS Traverse; the Quest Adventure Races; the Race Director Roundtable; and the Recreation Northwest EXPO. Learn more at RecreationNorthwest.org.

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