L.L.Bean’s Bootmobile will embark on a multi-city tour, kicking off in New York City on June 22 with free kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and fly casting instruction as part of the 9th annual Adventures NYC in Central Park.

A survey* conducted by L.L.Bean and the National Park Foundation found that according to 60 percent of parents, their children spend less than one hour a day outdoors.
 
“We’re concerned that people – particularly children – are spending less time outside than ever before and losing out on the physical and mental benefits of the outdoors,” said Chris McCormick, L.L.Bean Chief Executive Officer. “With our 2013 Outdoor Discovery Tour and Outdoor Discovery Schools programming, our goal is to make the outdoors both accessible and fun, hopefully helping to instill a lifelong passion for the outdoors.”
 
After kicking off in New York, the Outdoor Discovery Tour brings outdoor adventure to Pittsburgh (June 29), Philadelphia (July 13) and Chicago (July 20), among other cities, where expert guides will demonstrate outdoor activities, promote local outdoor resources, and share their own experiences to inspire others. In Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, L.L.Bean will host an “Outdoor Discovery Day” – a day where families can try new activities like fly casting, geocaching or learn the basics of camping.
 
This year, L.L.Bean is offering dozens of courses through its popular Outdoor Discovery Schools, ranging from multi-day expeditions to free clinics right in the store. Expert guides provide instruction at all levels, providing an easy and affordable way to learn more about a favorite activity or try something new for the first time. This summer there is something for everyone with activities including kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and much more. Check the calendar for a full monthly schedule at L.L.Bean store locations.
 
Additionally, people can search thousands of national, state and local parks using L.L.Bean’s ParkFinder tool on the company’s website to identify outdoor activities to participate in. The free Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder app, available for iPhone, iPad and Android, makes finding a hiking trail or spot for kayaking easy while on the go.
L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship.
*Survey Methodology:This survey was designed and conducted by KRC Research on behalf of L.L. Bean and the National Park Foundation. Interviews were conducted by telephone between Dec. 21, 2011 and Jan. 3, 2012, using random-digit dial samples, in which all land-line households had an equal probability of being contacted. In all, 1,006 U.S. adults, age 18 and older, were interviewed. Data were weighted slightly by age, gender, ethnicity, and region to align with the distribution of the U.S. population as reported by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The estimated margin of error for the national sample is ±3.1% at the 95% confidence level.