WHy is camping so expensive?

Have you ever wanted to go camping in the Shenandoah but can’t afford expensive camping gear? Why purchase a bunch of camping gear to use for just one weekend and probably forget you have it stored in your attic as your tent is collecting dust? Have you heard of Community Gear Library? This library is especially unique because this organization provides free outdoor gear for residents to rent for a week. Such items are tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, hiking poles, and child carrier backpacks. Another unique factor is that CGL (Community Gear Library) offers outdoor equipment to diverse Harrisonburg/Rockingham area groups, such as the Hispanic/Latino community, the LBGTQ+ community, and the disabled community!

Founding of CGL
The Community Gear Library (CGL) was established in Fall 2022 by Harriet Flynn and Matt Little. CGL is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it’s a new organization that strives to make outdoor activities and supplies available to everyone, especially those who struggle with costs and lack experience with the outdoors. The organization opened in August 2023, starting small but with a strong vision, and within a year, they had loaned outdoor gear to 63 people. They guided many group hikes, showing the need for this organization that they are investing in. CGL can buy equipment, translate materials, and increase the extent of their educational programs through tax-deductible donations

About the Founder – Harriet Flynn
The Community Gear Library is affiliated with the Massanutten Regional Library, and its staff supports its mission by helping check-in guests. Harriet Flynn works as a program supervisor at Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation during the day. She has always loved the outdoors, so she started the Community Gear Library. Harriet’s job made her more aware of the institutional barriers prohibiting BIPOC and low-income community members from accessing outdoor places (Virginia Organization, 2023). By offering her knowledge about the outdoors and supplying outdoor gear, Harriet hoped to enhance outdoor access for everyone living in the Shenandoah Valley region by helping with costs and access. 

The Mission – “Increase access to the outdoors for all members of our diverse community by providing information and gear” (Community Gear Library, 2023).
The idea that the outdoors is an all-white environment worries Harriet because it has traditionally been dangerous for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community members, and it is also a location that they find challenging to afford (Virginia Organizing, 2023). The library offers family-friendly walks and hiking groups for women, the BIPOC community, and the LGBTQ+ community. Harriet is particularly interested in getting the low-income families and the Hispanic community outdoors since Harrisonburg has such a large Spanish-speaking population. For that reason, the website and tour guides are also available in Spanish. Going camping seems unattainable to many individuals due to the cost of expensive equipment and the lack of knowledge of outdoor gear and activities. 

How to Rent Outdoor Gear
Interested individuals must first go to the library in person during business hours and attend an information session before requesting to rent hiking equipment from the library. A Massanutten Regional Library card, which is only $30, is required to borrow outdoor gear. The library will set up an in-person or Zoom session to help individuals borrow the necessary gear. Harriet will also provide hike/camping site recommendations and show you how to use the outdoor gear properly, such as putting up a tent if you ask her!

In summary, the Community Gear Library has received much support and attention from its intended audience in the past year. With services such as the James Madison University Recreation Center nearby to college students, CGL can differentiate itself by showing students that there is a cheaper and more efficient way to rent out hiking equipment. So, with this helpful information, set up your tent, roast marshmallows, and take in the crisp October air in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley cost-free!