Along with the rest of the nation, the UO Outdoor Program is giving thanks next week.
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, the program will rent out any of its equipment to members for free between Monday, Nov. 23, and Monday, Nov. 30, for a weeklong event dubbed Barnsgiving (after the Outdoor Program Barn on campus).
“This is the first year we've offered Barnsgiving; we're always trying to be creative in getting people outside,” said Dave Villalobos, an operations coordinator for the Outdoor Program. “We want to be more thoughtful in recognizing the community that has been so supportive of our program over the years, and this is a way of saying thank you.”
The Outdoor Program Barn and UO Bike Program bike shop will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, but gear reservation and rental equipment pickup can be done until 5 p.m. Nov. 25. Reservations for the week of Nov. 23 to Nov. 30 made before Monday, Nov. 23, will still require a 50 percent deposit fee as usual, but the remaining cost will be waived when the gear is picked up.
The Outdoor Program Barn is located at the corner of East 18th Street and University Avenue. Rentals include bikes, trailers, whitewater rafts, snowboard gear, four-season tents and a wide range of other equipment.
“Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on earth, whether it's a simple hike up Spencer Butte or rafting the Rogue River,” Villalobos said. “Maybe folks will focus more on the idea of getting outside and just being together, rather than consuming products and getting caught in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.”
The program’s standard rental policies still apply: No more than two like items per order and gear must be returned during rental hours in the condition it was rented out in.
Only Outdoor Program members can participate in Barnsgiving. However, students are automatically members, while faculty and staff can pay $20 a year for a membership and members of the Eugene community can pay $25 a year to participate.
Call the Outdoor Program office at 541-346-4371 with any questions. For upcoming trips with the program, click here.
— By Nathaniel Brown, Public Affairs Communications