Outpost Brings Access to Outdoors
Duke students and employees can rent camping and other outdoor equipment
Faculty, staff and students are now able to enjoy an outdoor vacation with easy access to tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment and more at an affordable price.
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars to stock up on supplies, Duke community members have access to “The Outpost,” a rental service managed by Outdoor Adventures, a program under Duke Recreation and Physical Education, that offers a variety of outdoor equipment ranging from $3 for a sleeping bag up to $45 for a three-seat canoe that can be used for a week.
“Outdoor Adventures provides faculty, staff and students with an opportunity of exposure to outdoor activities,” said Chris Hendricks, outdoor adventures program coordinator with Duke Recreation & Physical Education. “From rentals to skill clinics on outdoor cooking and mountain biking, we want to make it easy to learn new ways to enjoy nature.”
To rent equipment, Duke community members must make a request online, where a full list of equipment is available. Camping gear can be rented for up to two weeks, but can also be borrowed for longer timeframes upon request.
The Outpost, which is located in the Card Gym, also offers customized adventures in which they help Duke community members plan outdoor activities.
The International House received help in the spring from The Outpost to plan a customized adventure with hiking, canoeing and a cookout, at Lake Crabtree in Morrisville.
“It was a nice little get away that we were all able to enjoy for a couple of hours,” said Annette Moore, program coordinator with the International House.
Duke faculty, staff and students can come to The Outpost with an idea of a trip, outing or event that they may be interested in having. The Outpost will then provide the proper equipment to coordinate a requested event such as weekend camping trip or a mountain biking outing.
Hendricks, the outdoor adventures program coordinator, said once people have become aware of the benefits of The Outpost, they became more engaged in a variety of outdoor adventure activities.
“The excitement comes from people having an easy opportunity to spend time with their families renting tents, going out and enjoying a staycation for a day or two.” Hendricks said.
Duke graduate Felipe Magofke Rodriguez recently utilized rentals from The Outpost to take sleeping bags, a tent and canoe for a family getaway to Jordan Lake. Rodriguez noted Outpost staff helped to encourage him to get outside for a nature-filled vacation.
“I have always been involved with the outdoors and I was really impressed with having the chance to rent outs equipment such as tents and sleeping bags at an affordable price,” said Rodriguez.