The trend continues, as businesses encourage us to #TakeBackBlackFriday by NOT buying stuff, but rather by getting outside to enjoy nature with loved ones in order to create lasting memories.

One of my favorite outdoor tour operators, ROW Adventures, who I will be traveling with in early 2017 to Cuba and Baja, recently announced the return of its Take Back Black Friday campaign, a movement to take back the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Inspired by REI’s announcement and ROW Adventures’ mission of “Sharing Nature – Enriching Lives,” ROW is asking people to share photos, videos, and updates on social media about how they’re spending the day after Thanksgiving – outside, away from the shopping mall – using the hashtag #takebackblackfriday.

ROW sales and marketing director Brad Moss comments: “This Black Friday, we are once more shutting our doors, joining the outdoor community, spending the day celebrating nature, and sharing it with people we care about. We’re suspending business so that our employees and guests can take the day to explore, play outside, or discover nearby trails and parks.”

As an added incentive, ROW will randomly select one person who posts using the hashtags #takebackblackfriday and #rowadventures between Thursday, November 24 and Sunday, November 27to receive a free rafting trip for two in Hells Canyon. I know I’ll be participating, even with my broken leg! I hope you do, too.

To learn more about the 2016 Take Back Black Friday campaign, visit  http://www.rowadventures.com/ takebackblackfriday.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from the extended family at Kristen Gill Media!