OUTDOOR RETAILER TO PROVIDE FREE

FAMILY SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Springfield, Missouri—(May 18, 2010)

 Remember the first time you made s’mores or slept under the stars or when everyone was entertained watching dad and mom set up the family tent?  This summer, Bass Pro Shops offers you the chance to get back to those good ole’ days.  And, you’ll get to spend more time in the outdoors and less time on the couch.

During the Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp, families can spend time together at a very affordable price—absolutely FREE.  Plus, with all the free activities and workshops being offered they can learn the skills they need to make great outdoor adventures to last a lifetime.

The Family Summer Camp event begins Saturday, June 5th and continues through Sunday, July 11th at 54 Bass Pro Shops across the United States, including two stores in Canada. (Store locations in Foxborough, MA in the U.S. and Rocky View, Alberta and Vaughan, Ontario in Canada will run June 5th through July 18th).  Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 2pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5pm, kids will get to enjoy free crafts like coloring their own backpack, painting a wiggle fish, designing their own birdhouse, making a camping photo frame, creating plaster animal tracks and making a leather key chain for Dad (while supplies last).

Free Family Summer Camp Workshops will occur 12noon to 4pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning June 5th.  The whole family will enjoy learning the basics of hiking, camping and fishing.  Other workshops include bird watching, archery, animal identification and plants & insects.  New this year, families can learn important summer safety travel tips for their pets.  Kids will earn a collectable pin for every workshop completed (while supplies last).

Plus, throughout the event, families will love the time-honored tradition of making campfire s’mores Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 5-6pm (while supplies last).
(NOTE:  There will not be a s’more activity at the Branson, MO store location.)

Store activities will vary (visit www.basspro.com/summercamp and click on individual store site for events and times) but could include, casting pond targets, archery and BB gun range. You can even have a souvenir photo made! (Not all activities are available at all stores.  No souvenir photos available at the Branson, MO and Miami, FL store locations.)

“This is our way of helping families enjoy affordable, fun activities together and create lifelong memories,” stated Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagale. “Bass Pro Shops is committed to helping adults and children put away their laptops, video games, and cell phones this summer and head outdoors.” 

Customers may also help continue the tradition of Scouting by donating at Bass Pro Shops in June.  And, Scouts may fulfill a requirement for a fishing or rifle shooting merit badge by attending a Family Summer Camp workshop on Thursdays and Saturdays, June 5 - July 11 at 7pm.  Space is limited so please call your local store for registration details.

Also available at the Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp is a FREE Summer Guide booklet full of different outdoor activities and tips, ideas and product checklists to help you make the most of your summer outdoor adventure.

While attending the Family Summer Camp events at your local store, don’t forget to check out the exciting “Ultimate Outdoor Giveaway” with more than $74,500 in prizes!  Five winners drawn nationally will receive one of these outstanding packages:  a Bass Pro Shops Camping Package, a Fishing Package, Hunting Clothing Package, NIKE® Golf Package, and a Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge Vacation Package.  Plus, one lucky GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a complete outdoor package worth more than $60,000!  It includes all five of the packages listed above as well as a Barna Log Cabin, an Arctic Cat® Prowler™ UTV, Tracker® Pro Team™ 175TXW fishing boat and an ASCEND™ kayak.  (See store for more details or visit ESPNradio.com for more information and to register)

About Bass Pro Shops Group:
Bass Pro Shops -56 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 100 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations.  For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.

Tracker Marine Group – Manufactures and sells Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Tahoe, Grizzly, and Mako boats through Bass Pro Shops retail stores and dealers worldwide. For more information go to www.trackermarine.com.

Resort Group – Big Cedar Lodge and other resort properties including restaurants and golf course. For more information go to www.big-cedar.com, www.bigcedarwildernessclub.com, or www.dogwoodcanyon.com

Contact:         Katie Mitchell,  Bass Pro Shops Communications 417-873-5618
                        Larry Whiteley, Bass Pro Shops Communications 417-873-5022