By College students can rent outdoor recreation equipment year-round through the Carroll Adventure and Mountaineering Program (C.A.M.P.), which operates out of the Hunthausen Activity Center.
The program provides affordable access to outdoor gear for students who want to explore recreation opportunities in and around Helena without purchasing expensive equipment.
In addition to fall and spring offerings, the program expands its inventory during the winter months to include snowshoes, skis, and ice-fishing sleds. Staff members say the availability of winter gear allows students to stay active outdoors even during Montana’s colder months.
Kelly Gregor, a freshman volleyball player majoring in civil engineering from Fairbanks, Alaska, regularly rents mountain bikes through the program.
“The gear is actually super nice, and it’s a pretty cheap price to rent gear,” Gregor said. “I would rather rent gear from here than anywhere else as a Carroll student.”
Cole Andres, a C.A.M.P. staff member who manages gear rentals, said the quality and affordability of the equipment are priorities for the program.
“Our goal is to make outdoor recreation easy and affordable for students,” Andres said. “We want students to try new activities and enjoy what Montana has to offer.”
Andres added that the equipment is “super nice and pretty affordable.”
To make rentals even more accessible, the program provides a QR code at the HAC that links students directly to Great Divide gear rental information and reservation options.
College officials say the program encourages students to take advantage of Helena’s outdoor recreation opportunities while removing financial obstacles that might otherwise limit participation.
