16 Oct Keen’s RV Wraps Summer Tour, Plans for 2016
Keen Inc collected more than 30,000 petition signatures and rallied support from more than 40 local businesses this summer during a 7,500-mile road trip that culminated in a reception on Capitol Hill to rally support for public lands.
Keen’s 1976 GMC Live Monumental RV traveled more than 7,500 miles in nine weeks to rally support for public lands this summer.
At its core, Keen’s Live Monumental campaign was designed to engage people across the U.S. to rally support for public lands, enjoy their natural surroundings, and have lots of fun in the process. One key objective of the tour, which centered around a renovated 1976 GMC RV, was to urge the Obama Administration to designate five national monuments, including:
Mojave Desert, CA,
Owyhee Canyonlands, OR,
Birthplace of Rivers, WV,
Boulder-White Clouds, ID, and
Gold Butte, NV.
A victory during the campaign came on Aug. 7 when Idaho’s majestic Boulder-White Clouds was permanently protected as Wilderness.
From collaborating with local, regional, and national organizations to raising awareness of the value of public lands in communities large and small, to sitting down with government policy makers at the local, state, and federal levels, the Live Monumental tour set a strong foundation for 2016, when Keen will repeat the tour and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park System.
Next year, the campaign will focus on amplifying local outreach and support in and around targeted locations, attracting advocacy from more businesses, and attaining a critical mass of signatures before President Obama leaves office with the hope of having the remaining four areas preserved as national monuments.
“This summer, through the Live Monumental road trip, we had the privilege of experiencing first hand some of the most treasured landscapes in America,” said Linda Balfour, Keen brand marketing manager. “Along the way we connected with thousands of people with a shared passion for our natural playgrounds and preserving the public lands on which we play. We look forward to carrying the momentum and enthusiasm generated by the trip into 2016.”
Inspired by a love of the outdoors, Keen Inc. manufactures hybrid outdoor and casual products, including footwear, clothing, and accessories. Keen products can be found online and through more than 5,000 retail locations in more than 60 countries, as well as in KEEN Garage retail stores in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.