Rebecca Bear

Rebecca co-founded the Coalition for Outdoor Access while leading REI’s Experiences division. In 2013, She identified a pressing need within the outdoor education and guiding industry to work as a coalition of organizations to make change in the permitting process. Improvements in the permit system can and will increase access to the public, who often prefer to go with a guide for their first time outside. She continues to build coalitions around equitable access to parks and open space through her work as the President and CEO of the Seattle Parks Foundation. Rebecca served as Chair of COA for its first 4 years. She now serves in an ex-officio capacity.