Rebecca Bear

Rebecca (she/her) joined the Foundation as the President and CEO in November of 2020. Rebecca is a leader in expanding access to outdoor recreation, parks, and open spaces. She has over 25 years of experience building and scaling organizations and community programs nationwide. She’s a passionate fundraiser, partnership builder and has experience encouraging diverse communities to engage with the outdoors. Formerly the Director of REI Outdoor Programs and Local Community Engagement, Rebecca brings expertise in public/private partnerships, local advocacy, and community engagement. She co-led REI’s local community diversity initiatives, including a groundbreaking gender equity program. Prior to her tenure at REI, Rebecca was Board Chair of Passages Northwest, now YMCA BOLD & GOLD, where she founded Girls Rock!, an outdoor mentorship program for adolescent girls. Rebecca was also the founder of an Outward Bound School in Monterrey, Mexico and worked around the world expanding schools for Outward Bound International. Rebecca co-founded the Coalition for Outdoor Access, a national advocacy group focused on facilitated access to public lands. She has received numerous awards for her service with public lands agencies, including the Wilderness Legacy Award from the US Forest Service and the National Recreation Resource Leadership Award. She has a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University and a Certificate in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School.