Subaru and outdoors brand REI are partnering to get people outside and in search of adventure. In an expansive campaign, the automaker will trek to multiple REI Outessa experiential events across the United States including festivals and campouts.
Outessa events are primarily designed to grow and strengthen the community of women who love the outdoors and is part of REI’s “Force of Nature” campaign. Subaru will have a presence at all Outessa three-day retreats this summer, with locations in Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire and Squaw Valley Resort, California.
The carmaker will also be present at Outessafest, which is comprised of two day-long outdoors-themed music festivals in Maryland and North Carolina. In addition to having prominent female speakers and performers, attendees may join activities such as yoga, rock climbing, paddling and running led by REI Outdoor School instructors. Subaru-sponsored activities include aura photography, keychain making using branded key tags and trivia-style scavenger hunts inside 2019 Ascent SUVs. Subaru owners also receive VIP parking at these events.
Additionally, Subaru will be at curated REI campout locations across the country, where it will offer guests food and beverages, activities, car camping tips and evening entertainment. The carmaker is also planning a cross-country road trip to 12 REI retail stores, where customers can explore the Ascent and other vehicles first-hand and receive camping-themed giveaways. Current Subaru owners may receive a “special” gift, according to the announcement. Those who visit the select campout sites and participating REI stores on scheduled days may enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win an Ascent, loaded up with REI gear.
The Outessa campaign is the latest in an ongoing partnership between the two companies, with the automaker having previously joined REI’s ongoing #OptOutside campaign. With it, the outdoors company closes its stores and pays its employees to take the day off on Black Friday to go outside, inviting potential shoppers to do the same.
“At Subaru, we are constantly inspired by our drivers’ appetite for exploration and honored to be part of the adventure,” Alan Bethke, Subaru of America’s SVP of marketing said in a statement. “We are proud to continue our relationship with REI to help encourage people from all walks of life to bond with fellow outdoor enthusiasts and create lasting memories in the great outdoors.”