COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY
Travel & Nature: Committed to Community
BY ANDREW SCHUYLER // DECEMBER 17, 2025
EXETER, NH: Outdoor clothing and gear shop Travel & Nature is helping to build a stronger, more vibrant downtown Exeter. As the company celebrates the one year anniversary of its re-opening, it is finding that community engagement is sustaining more than just sales and brand awareness.
“Our goal was to create a welcoming space, not just for gear, but as a community resource for education and for people who love to travel and explore the outdoors on any level,” says Laurie Smith who, with her husband and fellow UNH alum Ian, bought the outfitter in late 2024.
“Travel & Nature first opened on Earth Day in 1990, and has played a big role in the downtown. We wanted to continue that,” says Smith, adding that maintaining a continuity of staff from the previous ownership was critical for both a seamless transition and customer experience.
The shop supplies travelers and outdoor enthusiasts with products ranging from backpacks and baselayers to snowshoes and sleeping bags. It offers travel accessories like guide books and also provides insights into equipment needs.
Smith, who has a background in education, says Travel & Nature has partnered with established local organizations because they have readily accessible networks that are oriented to positive outdoor experiences and healthy lifestyles.
Through funding, store discounts, and educational opportunities, the company supports groups like the Exeter Running Club, Hike Exeter Challenge, and Trout Unlimited.
For instance, Travel & Nature promotes, sponsors, and participates in the Southern District YMCA’s hiking program, which meets every Wednesday for a 90-minute hike at various locations.
“We’re working with these groups because we hopefully can help build and grow the programming. We’re also helping to let people know about things like safety and what to pack if you’re going for an extended hike,” Smith says.
Travel & Nature is also aware of the environmental impact of the products it sells. As such, it works to educate customers about local suppliers and those that are committed to sustainability and transparency.
“We really try to promote gear that’s quality. And, we look for companies, local when possible, that have sustainability built into their mission,”
“We really try to promote gear that’s quality. And, we look for companies, local when possible, that have sustainability built into their mission,” Smith says. Some local and regional companies featured at the shop include NEMO Equipment from Dover, Well Told from Exeter, and Darn Tough from Vermont. On the larger scale, Travel & Nature works with sustainability leaders like Patagonia, Cotopaxi, and Smartwool.
Ultimately, Travel & Nature’s approach to community and sustainability is actively strengthening the state’s outdoor economy, all the while directly impacting resident and visitor experiences in Exeter.
“We have so many great resources in and around our town, and we want to continue working to build on those with our community,” Smith says.
Insight of the Month
Mark Twain’s purported quote that “The report of my death was greatly exaggerated” could be applied to the current state of sustainability. While the federal government has taken a hostile approach to renewable energy and a range of other important sustainability policies and regulations, corporate America is doubling down on its approach to reducing emissions, all the while using innovation to capture additional market share.
Without a doubt, some companies have responded to the administration’s rhetoric by tempering their sustainability storytelling and diversity efforts. However, business leaders are bullish on the prospects for deploying sustainability strategies, with 83% reporting increased sustainability investments in the past year, according to Deloitte’s Global 2025 Survey of more than 2,000 C-suite executives. Similarly, 90% of executives surveyed by Bain & Company expect sustainability-related actions to have a positive impact on their business over the next three years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Schuyler splits his time between Conway, NH and Melrose, MA. He serves on the Board of the White Mountains Interpretive Association and has a background in sustainability, journalism, government affairs, and parenting. Having lived in UT, CO, and MT, and originally from WI, Andrew is a tad sensitive to the term “flyover zone.” Reach him at andrewschuyler@hotmail.com.