Membership

Out There Membership

“Out There Outdoors” will celebrate its 20^th year of publication with the upcoming September-October 2024 print edition, and one of the ways the publication is celebrating this landmark is by launching an Out There Membership option for readers, businesses, and organizations. Membership will provide perks for members and help make the print publication more resilient for years to come.

membership
has benefits!

What Are the Perks of Becoming an Out There Member?

In addition to making Out There less dependent on advertising, an annual Out There Membership comes with some pretty sweet benefits.

Come Party with Us! Out There members get an invite to an annual members party, with the first one happening as part of our 20^th Anniversary celebration September 2024. Join Out There staff, writers, photographers, artists, advertisers, and other members for a fun evening with beverages, food, giveaways, and more. Stay tuned for details!
Provide Input on the Types of Content You Want to See More Of! Out There Members will have the chance to vote for more of their favorite content in an annual member survey. Do you want to see more of a specific type of stories in Out There, from conservation and sustainability, arts and culture, or adventure sports topics? How about more content for families and to engage future generations to get outside more? Or longer journalist stories that take a deeper dive into the many challenges face as an outdoors community as our region grows?
Score Valuable Deals and Discounts from Our Advertisers! We are excited to roll out some great Out There Member benefits, including discounts and deals from many of our advertisers, including:

Savings and other special offers from outdoor retailers like Solnix, Spokane Alpine Haus, North Division Bicycle Shop, and others
Discounts on rock climbing passes, lift ticket perks, and whitewater rafting trip discounts.
We’ll be adding many more membership benefits with details throughout July and August!

why start a
membership campaign?

Out There was first published in an era when quality online information about the outdoors was scant, and smart phones and social media were not widely used. Out There weathered many challenges, from the Great Recession to the rise of the digital revolution and the COVID-19 pandemic. While many other print publications have struggled or disappeared, niche publications like Out There with a hyper-local focus on outdoor recreation, nature, and meaningful storytelling have seen a rise in popularity.

“We hope to continue to publish Out There in print for another 20 years,” noted Out There owners Derrick and Shallan Knowles. Out There’s readership and advertising base has grown over the last decade, with an estimated 100,000 readers mostly in Spokane and North Idaho picking up 30,000-35,000 free copies of each edition (published six times per year).

“Our advertisers and readers make publishing Out There in print possible, and we are grateful for the opportunity to create each issue and contribute to the local outdoors community,” says Shallan. But with the costs of putting together a print publication growing every year, combined with the Knowles’ desire to keep advertising costs affordable for many small business and non-profit advertisers, the new membership campaign will give loyal readers the opportunity to contribute toward continued ad-free, reader-supported stories and articles.