Main Street Skowhegan opens gear lending library
SKOWHEGAN, Maine — Main Street Skowhegan has officially opened its Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp. The newly renovated space, located riverside at 65 Water Street, is home to a more-than-200-item gear library that offers free lending to Somerset County residents.
With the addition of the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp in downtown Skowhegan, the community now boasts an easily accessible and visible outdoor recreation hub for gear lending, outdoor clinics, skill workshops, and fee-for-service bike repair and ski waxing. Available outdoor equipment includes cross-country skis, snowshoes, bikes, SUPs, camping gear, and more. Main Street Skowhegan is also laying the foundation or the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp to serve as a third space for local youth, having hired a high school intern and implemented targeted youth programming.
“We are thrilled to finally open the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp after several years of collecting gear and planning,” said Kristina Cannon, Main Street Skowhegan President & CEO. “The basecamp will provide walk-in gear lending and a home base for outdoor recreation in Somerset County, complementing our free guided programming. Through our Skowhegan Outdoors initiative, we are reducing barriers for all Somerset County residents and helping people get outside on their own to realize the benefits of outdoor activity and connection with nature.”
The Skowhegan Outdoors initiative is one element of a comprehensive outdoor recreation-focused community and economic development strategy. With infrastructure development in the works—including construction on the anticipated Skowhegan River Park expected to start this summer and a newly finalized Skowhegan Trail Master Plan—free programming, trainings, and gear lending opportunities will help local residents take advantage of current and future outdoor recreation facilities.
Non-Somerset County residents may borrow gear too, with the purchase of a one-year membership, which is $50 for individuals and $75 for families.
Basecamp is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sign up to become a Basecamp member, request gear, and view the Skowhegan Outdoors program calendar online at https://skowheganoutdoors.com/.
For more information, please contact Kristina Cannon at 207-614-4078 or kristina@mainstreetskowhegan.org.
About Main Street Skowhegan
One of Maine’s 10 nationally accredited Main Street programs, Main Street Skowhegan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on the ongoing revitalization of historic Skowhegan, Maine. Founded in 2005 by a group of citizens, Main Street is now driven by three full-time staff members, five AmeriCorps members, a passionate and engaged board of directors, and more than a hundred volunteers. Our mission is to celebrate Skowhegan’s rich heritage while achieving our brightest future as a thriving economic, cultural, and recreational community where residents enjoy a high quality of life.
