Cold Weather Camping & Backpacking: Sun. Afternoon Free Class at REI

OVERVIEW:  Many of our AOC members may be unaware that our four Metro Atlanta REI stores offer a wide variety of FREE tutorial classes.  Topics range from backpacking, camping, and hiking to bicycling, paddling, climbing, skiing, favorite wilderness destinations, etc.  The presentations are hosted in conference rooms at the REI stores by employee specialists who are authorities in the featured topics - also sometimes are presented by invited guest speakers. 

WINTERTIME CAMPING and BACKPACKING have become increasingly popular as advances in technology have made it possible and economical for outdoor enthusiasts to be comfortable in the cold with highly weather-resistant and warm clothing, tents and sleep systems.  New techniques and high-tech gear for backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing and wilderness survival have also spurred this higher-than-ever interest in winter camping.
  Since winter is fast approaching, the REI Atlanta store is appropriately offering the following FREE class on Sun Dec 4th, as advertised on REI.com:
  "COLD WEATHER CAMPING:"  Be safe, stay warm and have a wonderful time even in the Winter. Beat the winter blahs and explore the outdoors at what may be the very best time of the year to camp. We'll cover preparation, secrets to staying warm, necessary and not so necessary gear, where to go, a few risks and how to stay safe. We'll answer all your questions and get you excited to get out this winter!

EVENT PLAN & SCHEDULE:  Our local  REI "Outreach" manager, Nicole Warren-Smith, has kindly invited an AOC group of up to sixteen  to attend this free indoor class on Sunday afternoon, Dec 4th at the REI Atlanta store (see detailed directions below).  Our members who become confirmed by the AOC for the event will first gather at 1:40 PM just inside the store entrance where Kristi Eide will greet our AOC group and facilitate introductions.  Then at about 1:50 PM we'll join the featured speaker and other class attendees in the "presentation room"—usually the large storage room on your right after you enter the store.  The class will begin at 2:00 and end by about 3:30.  After the class, if there's enough interest we'll take a group stroll around the store to take a better look at the various types of gear that were discussed in the class. 

BY THE WAY:  If you'd like to make PERSONAL RESERVATIONS for yourself and friends at OTHER FUTURE FREE REI CLASSES,  you can go online as follows to REI.com, check their upcoming schedule of in-store events and availability, and reserve your own personal spot(s):
1) Go to REI.com
2) Click on "Store Locator" at the top of the home page and choose your Store of interest from the pop-up menus that appear.
3) Click on the free Class or Presentation of interest,
4) Fill in the online Reservation form and submit. (May require your REI member number—costs just $20 for a lifetime membership.)
5) If you fail to successfully make a formal reservation, it's still usually acceptable to "walk in" to attend these in-store events on a space-available or standing-room basis.