A gear library for 30 can support 1,560 weekend camping trips a year - 7,800 people over the course of five years.

Each young person who encounters outdoor recreation in a positive way through the gear library and programming will have the skills and resources to continue camping and recreating with their family and community. In five years this could be as many as 30,600 people.

OEN gear libraries currently support more than 50,000 youth annually, but many communities, especially communities of color, still lack resources for outdoor recreation. Each year we support local organizations as they build capacity to manage a gear library and run training programs.

Start-up costs for a new library can be prohibitive. Even if a prospective member has access to space and staff, gear acquisition and program development can easily cost $30,000 for enough gear for a class camping trip. OEN provides these resources for qualified members when they join our network. Additionally, OEN provides fundraising support to help communities pay for programs and space.