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Leslie Hsu Oh

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REI | Force of Nature Celebration

August 25, 2017

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“My favorite moment at @rei#forceofnature #rooftop #party: meeting complete strangers who say there was a reason they were meant to hear the words I read and wrote. Thank you @ashleywildflowerphotosde for catching this awesome shot.”

REI: Force of Nature Celebration
Keynote Speaker: Leslie Hsu Oh
August 25, 2017

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR AUGUST 25, 2017

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PENNSYLVANIA — August 25, 2017
Celebrating Women in the Outdoors and Empowering Families to Get Outdoors

Enjoy free tacos and beer while learning how women like Leslie Hsu Oh, who writes for magazines like Outside, Backpacker, Alpinist, Conde Nast Traveler, and Travel+Leisure, kayaks, snowboards, snowmobiles, rock climbs, and spelunks into lava caves with her four kids. She will raffle off gear that she tests from brands like Patagonia. REI staff will run campfire sessions on the topics of basic bike maintenance, lightweight backpacking, and more.  We will also be joined by several community partners, including Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia and Ragnar Trail.

“In my stories and photographs, I try to redefine the outdoors through indigenous knowledge and give voice to those who can’t be heard,” Leslie says. “I hope to challenge the misconception that people of color are not participating in outdoor recreational activities and storytelling. My Elders often lament that what’s missing today is an intuitive understanding of our relationship to all of creation. In Navajo, we call it K’é yił yał tx’I’, which means ‘it’s saying something with a kinship feeling.’ Mountains, trees, plants, animals, rivers, lakes, oceans all have a spirit to respect rather than conquest.  I write and publish stories which reveal the secrets of a place, discover the indigenous knowledge bled into stream beds, trapped in rock layers, eroded in the earth.”

From gear to experiences and from nonprofit partnerships to powerful women-first storytelling, REI’s Force of Nature aims to ensure that women are just as inspired and equipped as men to embrace life outside. Force of Nature features four components: a comprehensive effort to change the male-dominated imagery of people in the outdoors; a $1 million commitment in 2017 to support nonprofits that create opportunities for women in the outdoors; a stepped-up effort to develop and offer high-quality technical gear and apparel for women; and the launch of over 1,000 events designed for women. President and CEO Jerry Stritzke says, “It is a disruption of the status quo. It claims the outdoors as a place to opt out of cultural pressures to conform—the “supposed-tos” and “shoulds” that underpin outdated stereotypes—especially for women. To create real change right now we are putting women—of all ages, races, sizes, gender expressions—front and center in all we do.”

REI published a national study commissioned to better understand the role the outdoors plays in women’s lives and how the outdoors is perceived today. The study revealed that 7 out of 10 women believe that women are under more pressure to conform than men, and that they also view the outdoors as an antidote to that pressure. Additionally, the study found that more than 85 percent of women see the outdoors as key to better physical and mental health, and overall well-being, and 73 percent say they would like to spend more time outdoors.

WHO: Registered participants
https://www.rei.com/events/raise-the-rooftop-party-to-celebrate-women-in-the-outdoors/plymouth-meeting/181236
WHAT: Celebrating women in the Outdoors
WHEN: 6:30pm, August 25
WHERE: Rooftop of Whole Foods Market, 500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

###

Known for taking young kids on extreme adventures, Leslie Hsu Oh is an award-winning adventure writer and photographer, whose work has been named among the distinguished stories of the year by Best American Essays. She is a Champion of Change for the White House in Asian American and Pacific Islander Storytelling and Art, a Schweitzer Fellow, and the Outdoor Editor for Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Alpinist, Backpacker Magazine, Bon Appetit, Conde Nast Traveler, Outside Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, Sierra Magazine, Travel + Leisure, Washington Post. She is currently working on a memoir called Fireweed. www.lesliehsuoh.com or @lesliehsuoh or lhsu@post.harvard.edu

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 6 million active members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 149 stores in 36 states. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI-Garage.com or the free REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. You can take the trip of a lifetime with REI Adventures, a global leader in active adventure travel that runs 170 custom-designed itineraries on every continent. REI’s Outdoor School is run by professionally-trained, expert-instructors who teach beginner- to advanced-level courses about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to–and steward–the outdoor places that inspire us.

 

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Filed Under: Iceland, Outdoor Adventures, Parenting, Speaker

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At @hardrockcafe in #southlaketahoe you can enjoy At @hardrockcafe in #southlaketahoe you can enjoy the first and only #seafoodbar in the area. We loved sitting at the bar and watching the chefs make our  #seafoodboil and #clamlinguini in their #openkitchen. Because it’s first come first serve, we walked around admiring the #musicmemorabilia #rihanna @jamesbrown @elvis @madonna
Watching your child race #sbx always gives me ulce Watching your child race #sbx always gives me ulcers. Broken arms. Concussions. Prayers for our teammates who endured injuries. This season my son joins his big sister @ko_snowboarder and the @squawalpine @svam_snowboardteam #snowboardcross #skicross team who earned 20 Medals on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. 
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Gratitude to Coach Mort, @nateholland and Mike for the confidence & courage you’ve instilled in our kids. I am blown away by how much they learned since December. I’m also thoroughly impressed as always by @usasasouthtahoe @actionjet who runs incredibly organized races and goes out of her way to find the best #swag ! My son is enjoying his @blackstrap beanie. #kosnowboarder makes breakfast for us before she starts school with her waffle maker and she even made her younger sisters happy by gifting them the #blackstrap pink goggle socks and buff.
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1st photo: @ko_snowboarder winning bronze in #giant slalom or #slalom earlier this month
2nd photo: shot of my son by Bernard @browngalinthesnow 
4th: video from one of six races this past weekend #where @ko_snowboarder earns 2 silvers @alex.bumann05 earns two golds. Her proud dad captured this video @playamedic1 
5th: love this video by @ko_snowboarder cheering for her brother
6th photo: thanks to Duane for capturing how our boys prep for their race
A Singaporean university student was walking down A Singaporean university student was walking down a London street when he heard someone shout, “I don’t want your coronavirus in my country.” When the student turned, he said four men attacked him, giving him a bloody nose and a broken bone near his right eye.

A similar story played out in Madrid, where a Chinese-American expat was so violently beaten that he woke up two days later in the hospital. He told police that all he remembers was hearing someone say “something about the coronavirus” before everything went black.

Incidents like these occurred a few months after the novel coronavirus—the virus that causes COVID-19—was first reported in a market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As infection rates once again rise around the world, spurred by new, more contagious “super strains,” these attacks aren’t going away. From the United States to the United Kingdom, people who look Chinese are being targeted for racially motivated assaults, fueled by fear of a virus that knows no race, country of origin, political affiliation, or economic status.

This is how @qinxiesays begins her article in #nationalgeographic about #antiasianracism and how it impacts #travel . She quotes me as a source. Read the full article in my profile and my article for #natgeokids about how to talk to kids about #stopaapihate #stopasianhatecrimes #stopasianhate #protectourelders #asiandiaspora #racismishate #virusofhate #racism #racisminamerica @admerasia #racismisavirus #racismiscontagious @aajaofficial @ocanational @nextshark @aapaonline @a3pcon @caamedia @caasanfrancisco @satsukiina @ibramxk @prof_erikalee @gracehwanglynch @littlegraythread @clairemccarthymd @haneeter @bashandjules @stopaapihate @stopaapihateyc @rwong800 @rtajimapena @sanfranciscostate @washthehate @asianamericanlife
During my stay @renrenodowntown when I needed to t During my stay @renrenodowntown when I needed to take a break and get some inspiration, I would walk through their #artgallery. This one is called #poplar crowd acrylic n canvas. Artist #davidmccamant ! You can rent out bottom floor which has bar and dining space. There is an artist installation there (2nd photo). The hotel invites #artists to paint their walls!
What’s happening on ur #valentines ? @ko_snowboa What’s happening on ur #valentines ? @ko_snowboarder (my daughter who never wins any #swag at @usasasnow #races) won this #wafflemaker last weekend from @usasasouthtahoe @actionjet @sierra_at_tahoe and bronze medals in #giantslalom and #slalom . The first #waffles she made were for her little sister who is allergic to eggs, dairy, shellfish and nuts. Then she made a batch for the rest of the family. 
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(Swipe right) Congratulations to her teammates @alex.bumann05 @ourpuravidaadventures and @hannasnowboards @kimpercy for their silvers and golds. Gratitude to Coach @nateholland and Mike @svam_snowboardteam for his special wax and tune.
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(Swipe right) Slo-mo of @ko_snowboarder courtesy of @playamedic1
Found an amazing #working #writing space @renrenod Found an amazing #working #writing space @renrenodowntown @renotahoe ! I’m told this is the #bestroom #renaissancereno which can function as #flexcation #artstudio overlooking Truckee River. I’m working on my memoir here but the hotel also offers blank canvas, acrylic paints, vision-boards, spray paint or any other mediums upon request. There’s a separate bedroom with King size bed with a window to the river and a living room area that’s three times the size of the bedroom and includes a large kitchen counter which I used to spread out all my drafts. #writinginspiration #workspace #nevada #renotahoe #renotahoeusa @renotahoe @deckerroyal #hotellife #hotelroomview #hotelroom #hotelgram
This is the “Smoke on the Water” #cocktail ... This is the “Smoke on the Water” #cocktail ... the waiter is using a #bubblegun filled with bubblegum flavor to create a #vaporfilled #bubble ! The rest of this cocktail includes #empressgin #coconut #nigari #sake with #italicus #bergamotto #rosalio and #canton #ginger #liqueur and #lemon #juice and #xocolatl #mole #bitters . At the #redbloom in @atlantiscasino you can taste this unique cocktail with #pekingduck #ramen #dandannoodles and #baobuns (choose between roasted duck, crispy pork belly, fried tofu, soft shell crab or braised short rib) #atlantiscasino
Had a chance to give you a tour of one of the few Had a chance to give you a tour of one of the few #spas open since June in #reno #nevada. Check out why #spaatlantis is one of the #topten spas in the world and the only @forbestravelguide #fourstar #spa in the area. 
-while u wait for ur appointmt, relax in their Aqua Spa Lounge which has jetted #pools of varying temperatures to invigorate ur body and strengthen ur immune system and four shower experiences: ice fog, tropical rain, thunderstorm & waterfall (closed at the moment)
-That’s the cold plunge pool
-Laconium Relaxation Lounge: dry heat to purify and detox body (closed at the moment)
-Brine Inhalation Light Therapy Lounge: not pictured because it was closed but I wanted to mention it because it’s the only brine wall in northern Nevada. The salt aerosols expand ur lungs and relaxes u!
-The two videos walk you through their tea lounge (which normally has refreshments) and steam room and cedar #sauna (all closed at the moment)
-The Rasul Ceremonial Chamber: I’ll be returning to try this out w/my husband. It’s modeled after an ancient #arabian royalty cleansing ritual. You sit on a throne and apply six healing muds or fruits/oils while the chamber fills w/rain or aromatic infused steam!
-There are 16 treatment rooms, 30 massage therapists and 5 aestheticians. 
-I’m trying the Rejuvenating #microcurrent #facial. For 90 minutes, my aesthetician cleansed my pores, extracted 7 #milia, layered mask after mask on my face made of plants like #stonecrop . I also experienced a #cbd #massage and #pedicure ! One way to get the writing muse inspired. @atlantiscasino #atlantiscasino #atlantiscasinoresort #atlantiscasinoresort
The #strawberry #basil #caipiroska with #vodka and The #strawberry #basil #caipiroska with #vodka and lime plus their melt in the mouth #chileanseabass with a sautéed prawn and crab mashed potatoes (bite-sized chunks of crab meat) from #bistronapa @atlantiscasino was well worth the drive to #reno. Upon entering the #resort you stand in front of an automated temperature screening kiosk, masks are required and occupancy reduced to 50% in #casino and #restaurants. Room service was all served in disposable paper containers or plates.

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