WLC welcomed more than two dozen outdoor enthusiasts, social media content creators and writers to Sloan Gorge and Israel Wittman Sanctuary (IWS) yesterday and today as part of a multi-day event organized by REI, the large consumer co-operative with the slogan “opt outside.”

Indeed, the REI guests spent their days outside in the Hudson Valley. They stayed at Autocamp in Saugerties and spent hours yesterday at Sloan Gorge with WLC staffers and special guest Dr. Robert Titus, who gave them a geological tour. Today, the visitors are at our largest preserve, IWS, with WLC staff and special guest Chris Baker of Chicory Naturalist on a mushroom identification tour. WLC Executive Director Andy Mossey and staffer Miranda Javid then led the group in a discussion of Leave No Trace concepts that are central to outdoor exploration.

While it is rare for WLC to host large groups at our preserves, we were excited to share two of our cherished places with communication professionals from across the country.