Encouraging Our Young Visitors to Try New Adventures
Let's face it, gear is expensive especially for youth just starting out. We want people to try new sports and activities, but
Many in our community are committed to helping others, especially our youth and our visitors, explore the majesty of the White Mountains. Our guidebooks, trail maps and signage all contribute to a safe and enjoyable experience in the outdoors. But proper preparation and access to the right gear are essential ingredients and may be out of the reach of some. Gear can be expensive. Weekend vacationers may forget to bring what they need for the trail. Visitors and house guests may not have the right equipment. And many of us have outgrown, outdated, or surplus gear, clothing or equipment languishing in attics and closets.
The Gear Library is intended to address this disparity, and to connect what we have with what we need.
Those checking out gear from the Library aren't the only ones who will benefit. Community members will feel great knowing their gear is going to a good home.
Let's face it, gear is expensive especially for youth just starting out. We want people to try new sports and activities, but
Long are the days when Randolph residents would come up for months during the summer. These days, a sizeable portion try their best to even make it for a long weekend and in their hurry to get out of town they might have forgotten their hiking boots. Or maybe they asked some friends up for the weekend who don't own any.
We hate for anything to end up in landfill, though at the same time that pair of gently used boots has been sitting in the attic for years. This is an opportunity for all of us to do some spring cleaning and 're-home' our previously loved gear, clothing, and equipment - and feeling good knowing it's going to be well appreciated and staying in the Randolph 'family'.
We propose a paid annual membership of $25 allowing unlimited access and checking out of gear.
RMC members will receive Gear Library membership as a benefit.
A $30 RMC membership brings Gear Library access for only a $5 premium over Library membership alone; a further inducement to joining the club!
We are looking for both summer and winter gear from the community. If you think you have never- or gently-used gear contact us. Take a look in your attics and basements. We can also arrange pickup.
Hiking boots, hiking poles, backpacks
Adult and kids bikes and helmets
Winter gear, snowshoes, poles, skis
Camping gear, tents, cooking sets, mats
Currently the plan is that this be an independently run operation relying on volunteers. In time, the plan would be for either the Foundation or the RMC to take it under their operations umbrella.
Not quite, but we do need a way to track our inventory. We've identified a few online systems that other gear libraries utilize.
Our vision is to provide a second life for previously loved, used, unwanted equipment that generous Randolphians may care to donate.
Yeah, we struggled with this one too. However, at just $25 for an annual membership (for unlimited use) we are pricing it strategically to entice folks to join the RMC by paying only $5 more - and we'll include the Gear Library membership as a benefit. It's a win-win for the RMC and the member.
We are working to identify potential space in existing facilities in town, and welcome suggestions.
We are speaking with town and construction experts to deliver a detailed startup costs and operating budget.
We encourage prospective gear donors to begin identifying items that you may have, and we can arrange pickup and storage if you’d like to clear out your space! Sharing the plan with your friends is also encouraged.
Your ideas for physical location of the Gear Library are welcome.
Your interest in helping to staff/run the facility would be gladly received.
We’ll be working on assembling the initial inventory and outfitting the physical facility during the 2023 season, with an objective of formal ribbon cutting as part of the Randolph Bicentennial in 2024.
Capital Campaign
01
We need funds to maintain the facility, and provide cleaning and disinfecting supplies.
Gear and Equipment
02
We will need gear to start stocking the library - even before the facility is built.
Location
03
Its been suggested to repurpose the Old Library on Durand Rd which currently houses older and surplus books. We will continue talks with Library stakeholders.
We propose to dedicate the Gear Library to the memory of Burton and Ellen Dempster, residents of Randolph until their passing in the early 2000’s. Recycling, repurposing, and re-using were central tenants of their lives; Ellen was instrumental in the introduction of refuse recycling in the town a generation ago.
We further propose to recognize donor participation both cash and in-kind in the Library via a “wall of support”.
Here's the major points to remember when talking with friends and neighbors about this project.
Everything can have a great second life
Our town is generous
For only $5 more you'll get both RMC membership and access to the Gear Library
Technology and community honor system
"It started with borrowing pickleball racquets"
- Redza Dempster
"It started with borrowing pickleball racquets"
- Redza Dempster
Over the summer, our next door neighbors, the Strayhorns asked us to play pickleball. We had heard of it but never tried before. We were game, but we didn't own racquets and honestly, we didn't really want to buy equipment for a sport we weren't sure we would continue to play past the first game and have it collect dust on the shelf.
Well as it turns out we really loved playing. Before the Strayhorns left for the season, they kindly loaned us their racquets for us to play here in Randolph in the Fall.
We honestly would probably never have started without having access to those racquets.
And that's when the idea for a Gear Library hit us.