Transforming Outdoor Gear Access

Maine GearShare is a nonprofit outdoor gear lending library and repair shop.

In Maine, hundreds of schools, nonprofits, land trusts and more, work to connect people with our natural resources.

For many of these organizations—and the people they work with—barriers to explore the outdoors continue to exist. It can be a struggle to provide participants with the right clothing and equipment necessary to ensure a safe and positive outdoor experience.

By providing the right gear to get out safely and comfortably, Maine GearShare is increasing access to the outdoors.

Meet Our Members

  • Rippleffect

    Portland, Maine

  • Kindling Collective

    Portland, Maine

  • Casco Bay High School

    Portland, Maine

  • Trekkers

    Rockland, Maine

  • The Summer Camp

    Readfield, Maine

  • Teens to Trails

    Brunswick, Maine

  • Maine Environmental Education Association

    Brunswick, Maine

  • Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

    Augusta, Maine

  • Ecology Learning Center

    Unity, Maine

  • Somali Bantu Community Association

    Lewiston, ME

  • Maranacook Community Middle School

    Readfield, Maine

  • Queerly ME

    Portland, Maine

  • Sailing Ships Maine

    Portland, Maine

  • Maine Afro Yoga Project

    South Portland, Maine

  • Augusta Parks and Recreation

    Augusta, Maine

  • Nature Based Education Consortium

    Statewide

  • The Third Place

    Portland, Maine

  • Bowdoin Upward Bound

    Brunswick, Maine

  • Maine Association of New Americans

    Portland, Maine

  • Midcoast Youth Center

    Bath, Maine

  • Campfire Institute, Inc.

    Westbrook, Maine

  • Baxter Academy for Technology and Science

    Portland, Maine

  • Khmer Maine

    Portland, Maine

  • North Haven Community School

    North Haven, Maine

  • Maine Department of Corrections

    Augusta, Maine

  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences

    Hinckley, Maine

  • South Portland Middle School

    South Portland, Maine

  • Juneteenth Downeast

    Lamoine, Maine

  • Morse High School

    Bath, Maine

  • Wild North Counseling

    Bridgton, Maine

  • Apogee Adventures

    Brunswick, Maine

  • Adaptive Outdoor Education Center

    Carrabassett Valley, Maine

  • Brunswick Junior High School

    Brunswick, Maine

  • Mountain Valley High School

    Rumford, Maine

Mission

To provide access to outdoor gear and know-how through a collaborative, equity-centered approach.

Vision

All people in Maine have access to the gear they need to enjoy time in nature.

Connection to nature is fundamental to individual health and resilient communities. Access to gear makes this connection possible.

  • “Easy access to gear is a critical part of offering safe and comfortable outdoor experiences for youth who are just getting acquainted with the outdoors as well as those who are deepening their connection. Maine GearShare is one of the keys that unlocks the door to the outdoors for Maine youth.”

    Alicia Heyburn, Teens to Trails

  • "I appreciated the ability to borrow trekking poles and a sleeping pad from you. It helped me to be able to feel confident that I had all the gear I needed on this trip."

    She Summits Co. Participant

  • "The idea of telling the student 'you just need to pack your own personal belongings and show up for our trip, and we can guarantee that you’re going to have the gear that you need to keep you warm and safe and comfortable in the outdoors,' that idea is going to lower that barrier to participation, which is so exciting.”

    Amie Hutchison, Trekkers

  • "For a middle schooler sleeping under the stars for the first time, having a rain jacket instead of a hoodie will make all the difference in getting them to return to the woods again and again. We see GearShare as a capacity-building resource that will allow Maine trip leading organizations to do more of their work and do it better."

    Adam Shepherd, Rippleffect

  • “I appreciated access to quality gear that I know will serve other organizations when we are done with it.”

    Rippleffect Participant

  • "The Onion Foundation sees the efficiency and promise in aggregating apparel and gear and making it available for our partner organizations as they explore Maine's great outdoors. We know these nonprofits are working hard to create cherished and impactful trips, and Maine GearShare is allowing them to devote more of their resources to curating those experiences."

    Tyler Kidder, Onion Foundation

  • “GearShare was great. I don’t go camping a lot so I’m happy I didn’t have to spend money on something I would only use once.”

    Trekkers Participant

  • "I really appreciated being able to borrow a pack, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. My parents were stressed out about how much it would cost us to buy and so being able to get that for me was amazing. I can’t wait to come back."

    She Summits Co. Participant

  • “Maine GearShare was great, it provided us with tons of essentials that made life easier in the wilderness.”

    MountainSea Expeditions Participant

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