As folks tire of their screens and seek out natural environments to explore, the number of Americans who have been recreating outdoors continues to grow.
With that positive trend comes a renewed pressure on our public lands. With roughly 640 million acres of publicly accessible land in the United States, there’s lots of open space to enjoy. But as more people seek the freedom and health benefits of the outdoors, these wild places face challenges, such as pollution, overcrowding, lack of facilities, and much more.
To meet that need, new outdoor retailer Public Lands has made supporting the health and responsible use of our public lands its ongoing mission. The company is a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of all sales to environmental organizations across North America. So, with every purchase, you’re supporting donations to the places, activities, and access that you hold dear.
Who Is Public Lands?
Above all else, Public Lands strives to protect our wild places. “Whether it’s the iconic, rugged landscapes that we all aspire to explore one day, our local city parks or state parks or conservation lands, we dedicate ourselves to making a difference through action and education,” a brand rep explained.
In addition to its advocacy and conservation efforts, the company is also passionate about inviting a new generation and demographic of people outside. From hosting classes and workshops to offering a comprehensive archive of beginner-friendly how-to articles, Public Lands is committed to making the outdoors accessible, inclusive, and welcoming.
“We are dedicated to sharing in the soulful experiences that have shaped us,” the brand continues. “From our in-store guides serving as educators to our partnerships with local and national nonprofits, we are working at every level to ensure the right we all have to explore our public lands.”
Making a Difference With the Public Lands Fund
As a foundation of its environmental advocacy, Public Lands is a member of 1% for the Planet, a global network of businesses donating 1% of all sales to environmental organizations. Public Lands donates 1% of its sales annually to The Public Lands Fund (PLF). This investment is allocated to local and national groups across the country that are working to form new public lands, improving existing lands, and furthering access and equity in the outdoors.
The PLF mainly focuses on supporting hyper-local organizations at the intersection of public lands conservation and increasing access and equity in the outdoors while also supporting some national organizations in the same vein of work. Since launching in 2021, the Public Lands Fund has donated more than $1,250,000 to 56+ organizations across the country.
On the local side, the PLF has supported organizations like Allegheny CleanWays in Pittsburgh and Rogue River Watershed Council in Medford, Ore., that are mobilizing volunteers to clean waterways and surrounding lands from pollution and illegal trash dumping. In Columbus, Ohio, PLF investments in a more inclusive outdoor community include grants to Adaptive Sports Connection, Project Healing Waters, and Queer Climbing Columbus.
At the national scale, the PLF contributes to Alaska Wilderness League and the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, which are focused on specific landscapes and the Indigenous peoples working to protect them.
Outdoor Afro’s Making Waves program provides swim lesson scholarships to Black youth and their caregivers, and Trust for Public Land’s Community Schoolyard program transforms asphalt playgrounds into community green spaces, both of which are among the Fund’s grantees.
And those are just a few examples of the investments being made by the Public Lands Fund. As the footprint of Public Lands grows, so too will its investments in America’s people and landscapes with The Public Lands Fund.
Need Help? Public Lands Has Your Back
If you can’t make it into a store to ask a question or take a class, you can still check out Public Lands’ Field Guide Blog. With over 1,000 articles, the Field Guide is your go-to source for expert advice, how-to tutorials, gear/product breakdowns, and more. You can also source the Field Guide Blog for the latest in the company’s environmental advocacy — and even learn how you can get involved and support one of Public Lands’ ongoing initiatives.
The Backpack Finder is a virtual assistant that helps you choose the right backpack for your next adventure. After you find the perfect kit, you can buy online and pick up in-store for select items at Public Lands and DICK’S Sporting Goods locations.
The Public Lands HUB lets you earn one point for every dollar spent on gear and services. Public Lands HUB Members receive access to rewards, exclusive offers, classes, events, and more.
All Your Favorite Gear & Brands
Helping to support the Public Lands mission doesn’t have to come at the expense of your preferences. Sure, it’s the new kid on the block, but Public Lands still has all of your favorite gear and equipment brands on tap.
Whether you’re after The North Face, YETI, Patagonia — or anything else — Public Lands is a sure bet for finding the choicest kit, and doing good at the same time.
That said, Public Lands’ newest brand is here! For those that refuse to be defined by convention, Ugg is ready to provide serious cozy comfort. Bold, provocative, free-spirited, optimistic, and real, the brand has always celebrated unapologetic individuality.
It’s just one of the countless options you can find at the Public Lands online shipping center or at one of its eight (and counting) retail locations.
Fall Season Is Sale Season
Now that you’ve met Public Lands, it’s time to make it official. And with multiple fall sales in the works, there’s never been a better time to stock up on your cool-weather kit.
Snowsports enthusiasts — get up to 50% off ski and snow gear from Salomon, HEAD, Rossignol, and more for a limited time.
And while the leaves are still falling, you can save on fleece, hoodies, pants, footwear, and more! Get up to 40% off select styles from Patagonia, The North Face, Kühl, plus many of your other go-to outdoor brands.
But no matter what time of year it is, Public Lands’ Sale page lets you find amazing deals on a wide variety of gear and apparel. So stock up, save — and help give a little back to the places and causes that matter most.
This post is sponsored by Public Lands. Learn more at publiclands.com.
