Joy and Nick plan on starting a rigorous 4-month backpacking and wilderness navigation course this next year, culminating in a week-long “honeymoon” paddling through the boundary waters in Minnesota/Canada next summer. Instead of putting a bunch of REI gear that they will need for the wilderness course and trek throughout the Boundary Waters, they have decided to wait until the official Sierra Club course begins so they know the exact items they will need. They have created an “REI Fund” that will help them purchase things like packs, sleeping bags, hiking boots, kitchen items, tent, etc. that they plan to thoroughly wear out together throughout their marriage. These items will become part of the journey that Joy and Nick hope to create together.