Ryan Reynolds is a lot of things—an outdoorsman among them.
The 39-year-old Deadpool actor has partnered with Eddie Bauer and American Forests for the One Tree Initiative, which launched its #Hug2Give social media campaign Wednesday. E! News spoke to Reynolds in New York City Tuesday night, where he explained why he became invested in their cause. "I grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, and at the time I took for granted this incredible natural playground I had in my backyard," said Ryan, who now resides in upstate New York with his 29-year-old wife, actress Blake Lively, and their 20-month-old daughter, James Reynolds. "As I've gotten older, I watched it slowly and surely disappear."
So, it's no surprise that Ryan would want to do something about it. Through Sept. 15, each time someone hugs a tree and tags #OneTree, #Hug2Give, @EddieBauer and @AmericanForests on any social media platform, Eddie Bauer will donate $50 to American Forests, up to $25,000.
When he's not shooting away from home, Ryan spends his downtime exploring the natural world. "I live in the woods. It's great. I'm able to get out there quite a bit—almost every day that I'm home. And when I go home to Vancouver, I spend a ton of time in the outdoors, 'cause it's just these mountains, the ocean, the streams, the lakes and everything you'd ever want," Ryan said. "It plays a huge part in my daily routine. Hiking is like a part of my workout. I love it."
Blake will sometimes join Ryan on his outdoor adventures. But lately, the dad-to-be has been flying solo. "My wife is just extraordinarily pregnant right now, so there's not a lot of hiking in her immediate future—nor do I think it's going to happen the second she gives birth, either," the actor with a slight smirk. "I'm told there's some recuperation that's needed." Ryan added that with its excessive heat and humidity, August is "the worst month on earth to be pregnant."
Perhaps Ryan and Blake will resume their family hikes sometime next spring, when James and her younger sibling are ready to hit the trails. "There's nothing on earth more grounding than having a baby," the actor told E! News. "It's the best thing that could ever happen to someone."