Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and L.L.Bean Launch New Program to Help Residents Get Active and Discover the Outdoors

FREEPORT, Maine, April 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and outdoor retailer L.L.Bean will jointly announce Boston's "Summer Kayak Series," which will provide local children and families with the opportunity to get outside and discover a new outdoor activity – and beat the heat – this summer. The announcement will be made in conjunction with the "L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Day" on the Boston Common. Expert guides from L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Schools® will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., leading demonstrations and giving residents the chance to learn about and try new outdoor sports and games.

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As the Mayor stated in his State of the City address in January, 50 percent of adults and one in three school-aged children in Boston are either overweight or obese. Through the Summer Kayak Series and other similar programs, the City of Boston is hoping to encourage local children and their families to get healthy by staying active this summer. To help support these efforts, L.L.Bean will offer free kayaking experiences for Boston residents this summer. Expert guides from L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Schools will teach children and their families the ins and outs of this popular water activity, giving them the opportunity to discover a new way to get active and enjoy the outdoors.

"The City of Boston is rich with parks and other unique destinations that can be explored on foot, by bike or via the water. This summer we hope to encourage residents to lead a healthier lifestyle by providing opportunities for them to get outdoors and experience the best of what Boston has to offer," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. "Through creative partnerships like the one with L.L.Bean, we're bringing Boston residents free access to the expertise and gear needed to try new activities in our city's parks, while offering the opportunity to break down the barriers that often prevent families from participating in outdoor recreation - promoting skills that will last a lifetime."

The 2012 Summer Kayak Series will kick off on Saturday, June 16 in Millennium Park in West Roxbury with three one-hour activity sessions. Subsequent events will take place on June 23, July 14 and July 21 at the same location. Participants will receive an introduction to recreational kayaking and learn basic skills and safety. L.L.Bean's expert guides will then lead groups out onto the Charles River for a paddling adventure, sharing their knowledge of the sport and local waters and wildlife. The kayaking sessions are open to Boston residents ages eight years and older and will be free of charge. Those interested will be able to pre-register through the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

"L.L.Bean is on a mission to get more children outdoors in our 100th Anniversary year, which is why we're excited to partner with Mayor Menino and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to provide new outdoor experiences for City residents this summer," said Steve Fuller, L.L.Bean Chief Marketing Officer. "Our founder Leon Leonwood Bean believed that spending time outdoors was fundamental to happiness in life. As we celebrate our centennial, we look forward to working with similar partners to help inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts to live a healthy lifestyle."

In addition to the upcoming summer kayaking activities in Boston, local families can continue their pursuit of outdoor recreation at local L.L.Bean retail store locations through the company's Outdoor Discovery Schools, which offer children and families the opportunity to participate in a wide range of outdoor recreation. 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.

In its 100th year, L.L.Bean is also looking to inspire a passion for the outdoors in a new generation, encouraging them to visit America's National Parks, as part of the "Million Moment Mission."  For every outdoor moment shared with the company, L.L.Bean will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation, up to $1 million. Boston families can join the Million Moment Mission and help more kids get outdoors by taking part in the Summer Kayaking Series or other outdoor activities and sharing their moments with L.L.Bean.

For more information on ways to get your families outside this spring with L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Schools, as well as ways to get involved in the company's 100th Anniversary initiatives visit www.llbean.com/100.

For more information regarding the Summer Kayak Series or to sign-up Boston residents can visit www.cityofboston.gov/parks. Online pre-registration will begin June 1.

About L.L.Bean, Inc.
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel.  Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. While its business has grown over the past 100 years, L.L.Bean still upholds the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. To celebrate the company's centennial, L.L.Bean is reigniting America's passion for the outdoors, with donations of nearly $3 million to organizations that engage young people and their families in outdoor recreation. Over the past 10 years, L.L.Bean has given nearly $26 million to local, state, regional and national conservation, human service, education and arts organizations.  L.L.Bean products are rigorously tested, guaranteed to last and always shipped free The 200,000 sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at www.llbean.com, Facebook,   Twitter and YouTube.

About Boston Parks & Recreation Department
As caretaker of the city's open space, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department oversees more than 2,200 acres of parkland including 225 parks and playgrounds, 65 squares, urban woodlands, street trees, three active cemeteries, 16 historic burying grounds, and two golf courses.  In addition to maintaining the historic integrity of famous landmarks such as Boston Common, The Public Garden, and other parks comprising Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace, the Department services and upgrades facilities ranging from tot lots to the 500-acre Franklin Park.  The Department programs a wide range of sports, community events, and live entertainment in the parks under its jurisdiction. 

SOURCE L.L.Bean