“Learn something new. Try something different. Convince yourself that you have no limits.” – Brian Tracy
When travelling around the US it can be beneficial to join a tour or take a class to help you meet like-minded people and see the beauty of the place. It gives you an opportunity to see parts of a place that you may not have otherwise.
You might question signing up for some of these activities. I mean let’s face it, sometimes it’s a lot of money to shell out for a trip that might not live up to expectations.
How do you know that the classes or tours they are touting are legit and worth your time? I wasn’t sold on REI’s classes in the beginning either. It took me a while to just suck it up and give it a go but I am glad I did.
REI offers a lot of activities all over the country. From California to New York or Chicago they have a multitude of available classes, tours and events. It is an opportunity to gain insight into a place that you may not have gotten otherwise.
I took two of REI’s classes, both in New Jersey, though these activities are available anywhere that REI has classes.
Wilderness Survival Class
I have this attraction to apocalyptic activities, movies, books, well, you name it. So, a wilderness survival class was high on my list. It is also beneficial to have some survival skills if you spend a lot of time off the grid. I had been looking for the right class for a while and came across REI’s one day, $65 class in my area.
Registering for the class was super easy but the details on what would be involved and what I should bring was not intuitive. I didn’t really put a lot of thought into it as I walked out the door that day, I didn’t bring a pack with any gear wore jeans and a sweater and a rain jacket. Not exactly my typically hiking attire.
I didn’t know what to expect. Oh, and it was pouring rain that day. Six of us showed up that day, in a park in Morristown, NJ. Our guide got us signed in and then we hiked into the woods to a small camp area with a lean-to.
Huddled in the lean-to our guide talked about all the things you should have in your pack in the event that you are lost. She discussed briefly what to do if you get lost and how to put up a tarp tent.
Typically, on a non-rain day, we would have spent much of our time building a debris shelter. But not today. Then we hiked back out and that was it.
It was very underwhelming and not what I had hoped for. I didn’t really learn anything new. I mostly just got wet and cold. Though they did give us a coupon for 23% off to spend on another class or REI gear. I will say, however, that I did meet some really nice people. Other than that, I wouldn’t really recommend this class.
Outdoor Rock-climbing Class for beginners
I have been wanting to try outdoor rock-climbing for a while and armed with my 23% off coupon I decided to go for it. It cost me $99 with my coupon, as I am not an REI member.
This class was also easy to sign up for and was much better at preparing you beforehand. There was a list of things to bring and optional items as well. They also listed the things that were provided by REI.
Nine people signed up for this class and after getting signed in we headed to the wall. Two instructors guided us on how to belay and how to tie appropriate knots and then monitored us as we began the various climbs up the wall.
It was the perfect day; the weather was cool and sunny. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and had 5+ years of experience with climbing. Before I knew it, the day was mostly over. The group couldn’t have been a better mix of people, from ultra-marathoners to complete newbies to climbing to indoor rock-climbing regulars. I left that day with new friends, scraped knees, and adrenaline pumping through my veins.
It was one of the best classes I have ever taken and it gave me a new appreciation for those professional climbers. My first time climbing up the wall I was so nervous, my body was shaking from adrenaline and muscle fatigue but I had never felt so alive. It’s amazing what fear and adrenaline will do for you.
I highly recommend this class and they offer it all over the country. You can also take it a step further and take their more advanced class, depending on your abilities. Armed with another 23% off coupon I may just do that.
Other classes
In talking with others in my group, one guy had taken the bike tour recently. It had been a cloudy day, threatening rain, so the others that had signed up bailed on the tour. He ended up being the only person to show up.
It was just him and the tour guide on a 6-hour bike tour in Morristown, New Jersey. He said he had a blast and that it was totally worth it.
No matter what your interest, if you want the opportunity to meet new people, explore nature in a new state, or learn a new skill, REI has a class for that. And if nothing else, it gives you the opportunity to try something new that you may have been thinking about doing for a while.
For more information on classes available check out https://www.rei.com/events.
