Photo credit: Ashley Scheider
Freeport, ME, May 31, 2018
L.L.Bean Partners with Hike it Baby to Bring Families Together to Share the Joy of the Outdoors in Celebration of National Trails Day
Internationally recognized outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its Bean Boot and legendary customer service, has entered into a three-year partnership with the nationally recognized non-profit organization Hike it Baby. Hike it Baby’s purpose is to provide support and resources to build communities that help get families outside with children from birth to school age, in hopes of raising a new generation with an appreciation, respect and love of the outdoors. L.L.Bean will be the Presenting and Founding Partner of the Trail Network, a section on their web site where family and friends can conveniently find hikes in their area that are family friendly and connect with local like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. The tool will be made available to the public in the fall of 2018.
"Partnering with Hike it Baby was a natural choice, as our two organizations share many of the same values—a passion for the outdoors, a respect for nature and the environment, a strong sense of community, and especially their desire, like ours, to ensure we instill a love of the outdoors into the next generation," said Christina Semanyshyn, strategic partnerships manager at L.L.Bean. "We’re eager to work closely with them to remove barriers to participation and make it as easy as possible for friends and families to explore the outdoors in their own communities and beyond."
Today, Hike it Baby has over 300 branches and close to 180,000 active families who regularly engage in over 2,500 hikes monthly across North America. L.L.Bean and Hike it Baby are announcing their three-year partnership in celebration of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, which is Saturday, June 2.
"We are incredibly excited to be partnering with L.L.Bean in a multi-year relationship. Like L.L.Bean we are focused on getting families out into nature, so we couldn't imagine a better fit. L.L.Bean has the long history of supporting families and we have strong activation with families connecting across the country on a daily basis, so together we are going to work toward raising a nature loving generation. This will include making trail access easier for families with young children nationwide," said Shanti Hodges, founder of Hike it Baby.
About L.L.Bean, Inc.
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. Still family owned, Shawn Gorman, great grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2013. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean continues to uphold the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. L.L.Bean currently operates 40 stores in 17 states across the United States, along with 27 stores in Japan. The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at www.llbean.com, Facebook,Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.
About Hike it Baby
Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting new families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. by hosting hikes and walks in nearly 300 branches across the U.S. Since being founded by Shanti Hodges from Portland, OR in 2013, the organization has logged over 60,000 community hikes. There are over 600 volunteer branch ambassadors who help manage community activation across the country on a daily basis. More information can be found at www.hikeitbaby.com.