Last weekend on a sweltering Saturday morning, hundreds of people gathered outside of REI Boca Park in Las Vegas for a morning of shopping. The occasion was the seasonal REI Garage Sale, an REI Co-Op member sales event where pre-owned clothing and equipment can be purchased at lower prices. With crowds arriving two hours before doors open and customers entering the building in numbered groups, this was a great opportunity for Friends of Nevada Wilderness and other non-profit organizations to engage wilderness and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. 

AmeriCorps Service Members, Kelly and Ethan, getting set up at the Friends of Nevada Wilderness' table - 6/17/17

Program Coordinator, Shi-Lynn Campbell, and AmeriCorps summer interns, Ethan Crisp and Kelly Sheehan, represented Friends of Nevada Wilderness with an information table. The morning was spent educating new and old Friends' supporters on past accomplishments like the passing of Nevada State Legislature Senate Bill 413, that established “Public Lands Day” for Nevada, and current campaigns like protecting the Desert National Wildlife Refuge from further encroachment by the Nellis Test and Training Range or defending Gold Butte National Monument from a recent Executive Order. These topics were great fuel for the many fiery and passionate conversations that took place. 

Customers talk to Friends' staff members (left) as the crowd outside of REI Boca Park's Garage Sale waits for entry. 

The name Friends of Nevada Wilderness begins with Friends for a good reason. All achievements we’ve tallied are directly attributed to our wonderful volunteers, supporters, and members. Without this strong community, our promises would be hard met and our voices reduced to a whisper. Our partnerships, like the one we have with REI, are integral in helping us reconnect with our old “Friends” and make many new friendships along the way. Together, we will win the battle to keep Nevada wild and free.