Eagles Nest Outfitters is going back to its roots and glory days and has begun its relaunch of the ENO college ambassadors program.
Peter and Paul Pinholster started Eagles Nest Outfitters in 1999. What began out of a van has since expanded to over 1,500 stores worldwide, as well as online outlets. ENO says it creates the highest quality relaxation products for adventure travelers and outdoors lovers everywhere.
Although a large population of BYU students has already joined the movement, Eagles Nest Outfitters is looking to spread the joy that hammocks are bringing to college campuses all over the world. The program was originally launched in 2012 and started with small group of ambassadors in campuses like Arizona State and the University of Alabama.
“I love hammocking because it brings people together,” said Nathan Jensen, a BYU student and avid hammocker. “Hammocking in a big group makes all the stress go away. BYU needs an ambassador because we’ve already got a great community of hammockers here.”
That community includes energetic students such as Rachel Hiltscher, who is part of the extreme hammocking club on BYU campus. The club members set up their hammocks in spots that are dangerous or considered extreme.
“Organizing hammock camping trips, hanging out, doing homework outside, or just talking about gear together are a few ideas for this,” Hiltscher said. “I would be psyched to be a part of this group (college ambassadors program) because I love meeting other outdoor enthusiasts and sharing what I do.”
In a recent study at Lyon College that examined students’ moods and emotions in and out of hammocks while studying, faculty discovered that students who studied in a hammock instead of an office chair exhibited improved moods and levels of relaxation.
“I like to go hike up into the canyon and just relax where it’s quiet,” said Chandler Stone, a BYU student from Sacramento, California, studying global studies. Stone said that after a long day even just setting his hammock up outside his apartment for a quick nap is one of his favorite ways to relax and unwind.
Surrounded by mountains, BYU is an outdoor-centered university with activities throughout the year, whether those are mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding or hiking just to name some. Hiltscher and Jensen both believe that having a BYU ambassador and working with other clubs on campus would lead to people getting outside and meeting others with the same interests.
“Aside from creating the best hammocks on the market, ENO likes to have a good time and we wanted our college ambassadors program to reflect that,” said Amy Allison, Event Coordinator for ENO in a press release.
