Summit Hut Implements Eco-Friendly Initiatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8th, 2011
Summit Hut Wins Retailer of the Year Award
Tucson, AZ – Local outdoor outfitter, Summit Hut, was recently recognized as the Retailer of the Year in the Conservation category by SNEWS – the leader in outdoor industry news – and Backpacker Magazine. The award is the result of an open call by SNEWS and Backpacker magazine for nominations, followed by a final vote from a panel of judges.
Summit Hut was recognized for their efforts in sustaining the outdoors here in Tucson through programs such as their “100 Days of Service” and their “Decline-A-Bag” program. “100 Days of Service” is a program through which Summit Hut has donated 100 days of our staff’s time to volunteer with local non-profit organizations. Summit Hut is currently working with organizations such as the Sky Island Alliance, the Pima Trails Association and the Tucson Audubon Society. Through this program, staff members are able to take a paid day off to volunteer with these organizations doing everything from trail maintenance and wildlife surveys to office work. Over the last year, staff members have been out in the community counting bullfrogs, leading youth birding trips, doing a saguaro census, building trails, pulling invasive grass and teaching Girl Scouts outdoor skills at the Summit Hut Outdoor Adventure Camp.
The “Decline-A-Bag” program allows Summit Hut customers to be a part of the community efforts. Any time a purchase is made, the customer is given the option to take a bag for their items or decline that bag and instead Summit Hut will donate the cost of the bag to an outdoor-oriented charity. Since this program went into effect about two years ago, Summit Hut has saved over 70,000 bags and donated over $3500 to local charities including the local chapter of Inner City Outings, Sky Island Alliance, the Pima Trails Association and more.
About Summit Hut
Summit Hut is a locally owned hiking, camping and travel store based in Tucson, Arizona. Dave Baker, founder of Summit Hut, opened the first location as a senior at Catalina High School in 1969, after he and a friend sold backpacking and mountaineering equipment out if his home. Summit Hut has been locally owned and operated for over 43 years, now with two Tucson locations, Speedway at Rosemont and Wetmore Rd. at 1st Ave.
Media Contact:
Frank Camp
Marketing Manager
Phone: 520.325-1554
Email: [email protected]