KEEN Inc. announced its sponsorship of the River of Action which will take place in Portland, Oregon, on October 24, 2009. River of Action is part of the International Day of Climate Change, an initiative of the nonprofit 350.org, which aims to bring attention and action to the global warming crisis.
National Geographic Young Explorer and KEEN Ambassador Andy Maser will lead the Portland event which will bring together paddlers of all kinds kayakers, stand up paddle boarders, canoeists, etc. to the Willamette River to form the image of the number 350. After the event, a photograph will be posted to the 350.org website.
As a national sponsor, KEEN is providing the space for the pre-event activities and funding to help promote national River of Action Day. KEEN employees will also participate in the River of Action event.
“River of Action Day appeals to all aspects of KEEN’s HybridLife credo: creating new ways to deal with existing issues, reimaging engagement with the outdoors, and raising awareness for a huge environmental issue,” said Linda Tom, Marketing Manager for KEEN.
The event is open to all paddlers. To join in, participants should meet at the Portland Boathouse (1515 SE Water Avenue; just north of OMSI) at 11:00 AM. The organizers encourage people to bring their own boats and equipment but there will be a limited number kayaks and gear available on a first come, first serve basis for those who don't have their own.
KEEN is also hosting a public pre-event party on October 15 from 7 to 10 PM at their headquarters (926 NW 13th Avenue, Portland). Featuring live music, free beer and a film about climate change and exploratory kayaking, it is intended to generate excitement about and awareness of River of Action and the International Day of Climate Action.
The Portland River of Action is one of many similar gatherings taking place on local waterways across North America on October 24. For additional information about River of Action, visit http://riverofaction.com/.
