Donating camping equipment fosters a sense of community since you are striving to improve the world by supporting a good cause. Your time, money, or goods are donated to help those who are most in need. By urging your friends, family, coworkers, and network to donate as well, you may maximize your influence. Donating is done because it feels nice to help others. Giving to a cause close to your heart not only enables the organization to carry out essential work but also enhances your emotional health.
Where Can You Donate Your Camping Equipment In Chicago?
Where to give your equipment
Night Ministry
1735 North Ashland Avenue, Suite 2000, Chicago
They offer health care, social services, community outreach programs, and spiritual care to anybody in Chicago who faces housing instability, poverty, or homelessness (when requested.)
What they do is The Night Ministry is most noticeable when they travel to communities in need of those services with their mobile service unit—a bus!—and offer food, medical attention, and counseling to individuals who may need it. Since 1976, the North Side congregations that make up the Night Ministry have collaborated to give services to those who are homeless and reside in their communities. Since then, the mission has grown. They currently also oversee a number of shelters, one of which is geared toward young people and does not compel clients to identify by their given name or by the gender they were given at birth. Compared to their cisgender peers, LGBT youth are more likely to face homelessness. Heteronormative or white peers because they are much more likely to experience rejection or harassment from family members due to their sexual orientation or gender identity (and because people of color make up a disproportionately large portion of those LGBT persons who are experiencing homelessness). No matter who you are, the Night Ministry only wishes to offer you food, medicine, shelter, and humanity.
What areas do they cover:
Chicago as a city.
When are donations needed:
All year round, but at this time of year, they embrace winter and cold-weather Gear especially.
What they require today is:
A significant service gap in Chicago is being filled by the Night Ministry. Any time of the year, they will offer direct assistance to anyone who opts to live on the streets or has no other choice; this is where your used camping equipment comes in. The Night Ministry distributes donated equipment directly to the individuals they encounter who are sleeping outside. They most desperately require the following:
- Tents (anything for 2-3+ people is ideal, though four seasons are best.)
- Sleeping bags for a single person (four seasons is best, but three seasons will work too.)
- Pillows and blankets,
- Sleep sacks, camping stove (with spare fuel)
- Equipment for cooking and other things.
- Winter coats are warm and outdoor attire that is not worn next to the skin.
New socks, new underwear, new sweaters, new long underwear, and new thermal attire. These supplies are necessary if they are brand new but are not accepted by the Night Ministry if they are used. (Are you aware of how wearing new socks on the path makes you feel? Okay, now picture that sensation if the trail were constructed of concrete and you were never ever allowed to leave it.
The Night Ministry would take anything that is still in a state that you, dear reader, would still utilize. Donate it if you’re unsure, and their staff will inspect it.
What do they not require or desire?
Items that have been used or worn directly on the skin after their intended use. (No old sweaters, thermal underwear, long johns, socks, or undergarments.)
How can I give?
Contact Miranda Dean, The Night Ministry’s resource coordinator, to arrange your donation in advance. Even though the Night Ministry only has a small amount of space for pickups, with enough notice, they might be able to come to take such objects, especially if they are larger. At their offices, located at 1735 N. Ashland Ave., Suite 2000, drop-off hours are 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, although they can be adjusted as needed.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Union League
Boys & Girls Club of the Union League, 1214 North Washtenaw Avenue
They provide for:
Regardless of their family’s financial situation or zip code, all young people in Chicago need a safe and encouraging location to hang out after school and deserve the chance to experience nature.
What they do is:
More than a dozen distinct after-school clubs are run by this Boys & Girls Club branch in Chicago. The Club has more than 15,000 students as members, the majority of whom are minorities and are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. They discover mentors who support them in the Club, as well as a pleasant and secure environment.
Additionally, the Club oversees the Union League Boys and Girls Club Camp, which provides 1,000 Chicago-area children with the necessary camp experience each year. The camp is situated on Lake Francis in Salem, Wisconsin, just across the Illinois line. The best of what camp has to offer is there, including campfire rituals, storytelling, arts and crafts, boating, music, fishing, hiking, and team building. The usual camp crap. One week of camp is free for campers from low-income families, but a second week could cost up to $50 per youngster each week. No camper is turned away due to financial hardship.
What areas do they cover:
In Chicago, the Union League Boys and Girls Club oversees more than a dozen after-school programs. These clubs can be found all throughout the city, from Bucktown in the north to Auburn Gresham in the south and Archer Heights in the east. These clubs offer children a secure environment where they may develop, study, get help with their homework, try something new, and end up as leaders in their neighborhoods.
When are donations needed:
The moment is now, especially if you want to get rid of your used winter hiking and camping equipment. All year long, they will collect donations. Even though the majority of their campers come during the summer, they do have outside activities during the winter, so coats, gloves, hats, boots, and other winter gear are appreciated.
How can I give?
The Club requests that gear givers plan ahead and arrange their donations. To arrange that drop-off, get in touch with the administrative office in advance at 65 West Jackson Boulevard.
What do they require at this time?
Sleeping supplies
The Union League Boys and Girls Club Camp provides live-in cabins for campers. Thus they require bedding for those who are unable to do so themselves.
The essential sleeping equipment is:
- Single-person, three- or four-season sleeping bags in fair condition.
- In good, clean condition, twin bedding.
- Pillows – For you and I, a stuffed sack full of clothes might work, but not for everyone.
Clothing
Numerous children who come from low-income homes, where expensive winter clothing might not be at the top of the family budget, are served by the year-round program. The Union League Boys and Girls Club will give participants the necessary outdoor Gear if they don’t already have it if they arrive at camp without it. (At the conclusion of their visit, the youngsters are not required to return that equipment.)
Donations of clean, well-maintained, high-quality outdoor attire are welcome at the Union League Boys & Girls Club. Coats, snow pants, scarves, boots, caps, gloves, new wool socks, new long underwear, and new thermal shirts are the items they most need. The fact that they cater to children as young as six and as elderly as 18 means that nearly every size is required.
What do they not require or desire?
Anything other than clothing or sleeping equipment. They don’t need any more goods right now.
Chicago Voyagers, 534 Pratt Avenue North, Schaumburg
They provide for:
As a local affiliate of the first Midwestern chapter of Trips for Kids (TFK), which has been taking underprivileged children on outdoor experiences since 1986, Chicago Voyagers was established in 2008. 8–10 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 are included in each adventure group, along with two chaperones. Rain or shine programs go on as scheduled, but they do make schedule adjustments as necessary. The majority of program participants are low-income people of color from Chicago, and Voyagers will also accommodate LGBTQ+ campers or religious campers who need special accommodations in order to participate in these experiences.
What they do is
Children from Chicago are taken on canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, river trips, and camping adventures by Chicago Voyagers. More than 400 teenagers from the Chicagoland region go on outdoor activities every year during all four seasons. Participants in these expeditions express increased self-assurance, communication abilities, teamwork, and personal responsibility.
What areas do they cover:
While the majority of the campers they host come from Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, the adventures these youngsters have taken place all around the Midwest. Adventures on the water include sailing on Lake Michigan, canoeing in the Boundary Waters, hiking in Busse Woods and Starved Rock, backpacking through Wisconsin and Michigan, paddling the Mississippi, and indoor and outdoor climbing.
When are donations needed:
Chicago Voyagers takes children outdoors all year long. Therefore donations are accepted at any time. The majority of the journeys take place in the spring, summer, and fall. Chicago Voyagers like to receive high-quality gear donations from brands like The North Face, Marmot, Granite Gear, and Arc’Teryx, but they don’t care too much about branding if the equipment is extremely good. They accept donations of things that are in excellent or like-new condition.
What they require today is:
- Various-sized wool caps and socks (especially larger hats that will more easily accommodate textured hair.)
- Base layers and jackets made of fleece.
- Superior rain gear.
- Helmets used for climbing that are less than five years old and have not been damaged in any way.
- 4-6 person tents in good condition; past repairs are acceptable if done properly.
- For paddling programs, Keen sandals or something comparable.
- Dromedaries that swim
- Dragonfly or Whisperlite stoves, kickstands for bikes, large screen cabins for camping
- Thermacell merchandise
What do they not require or desire?
Heavily used, worn-out, or poorly repaired equipment Chicago Larger equipment like tents or sleeping bags can be repaired by voyagers when necessary, but they do
prefer lightly worn items from reputable companies because that is in keeping with the experience they want to give their adventurers.
Chicago YMCA
YMCA Metro Chicago, Headquarters 1030 West Van Buren Street, Chicago
They provide for:
Children of all ages and socioeconomic levels are served by the YMCA of Metro Chicago. Five camps are run by YMCA Metro Chicago outside of the city so that city kids can still have the traditional camp experiences.
What they do is
The YMCA offers workout centers to the general public at reasonable prices, but its day camps, after-school classes, and community events are what actually turn the Y into a valuable resource for the neighborhood.
The YMCA’s BOLD GOLD Program (Boys Outdoor Leadership Development, Girls Outdoor Leadership Development) challenges children aged 14 and up to venture even farther into the backcountry than they might have at other YMCA camps. In Chicago, this initiative is currently in its inaugural year. Adventures like backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, rafting, or canoeing are all possibilities for Bold Gold vacations (just to start.) More than 75% of the programs in this program will be supported by a group of peers and last at least four nights in the backcountry. Kids from any zip code or income level have access to these opportunities since groups are formed with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Campers who are unable to afford pricey vacations or equipment may be eligible for a full or partial grant. The first excursions under this initiative are anticipated to leave in the summer of 2022.
What areas do they cover:
The YMCA is most likely in your neighborhood or very nearby. YMCA Metro Chicago operates low-income, affordable housing for individuals who really don’t have many options for a place to live, in addition to its several facilities for community-focused recreation and fitness. Through the five camps they run, Chicagoans have the chance to travel to some of the most picturesque locations in the Midwest. Additionally, they provide year-round camping, family camping getaways, and camps that cater to campers with special needs, such as those who struggle with spina bifida or other developmental or mobility issues.
When are donations needed:
Although winter is a fantastic time to donate Gear, spring, summer, and fall are the best times to use backpacking Gear. Although the Bold Gold program is still in its infancy, the goal is to give children who have attended YMCA summer camps but are now of school age a chance to continue engaged and become even more immersed in the outdoors.
What they require today is:
They require almost everything, according to Bobby Thomas, Executive Director of YMCA Camp Duncan and Camp Independence for YMCA Metro Chicago. There are now only a few tents, backpacks, and other pieces of basic equipment in the program, but there will be a huge need for additional items once it is up and running. Thomas is seeking to secure funding that would enable the Y to buy new equipment as well as items like socks and long johns that shouldn’t be offered as old. They are currently accepting donations of sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking equipment, tents, boots, and backpacks. In particular, rain gear for bodies or bags would be greatly appreciated.
The YMCA could make good use of your equipment as long as it is still in good enough condition for you to use it yourself.
What do they not require or desire?
Knives, skis, snowshoes, trekking poles, and other bulky winter equipment. It seems that young people don’t use trekking poles as adults do.
Once more, do not donate equipment to the YMCA if it is in a state that you would not use or that cannot be easily fixed.
How can I give?
In Metro Chicago, get in touch with your local YMCA and request to “Donate to Camp Duncan.” You should be able to leave your donated equipment at the YMCA at your neighborhood’s main desk. The suburban YMCAs may not be aware of the Bold Gold Program because this advice is intended for the Metro Chicago YMCA, but any city-based YMCA should be able to move your equipment to the proper location. Ask the front desk staff to follow up with Bobby Thomas if they are particularly perplexed. Anytime the YMCA is open, they will accept contributions of equipment, but it never hurts to get in touch if you’re planning to give away a lot of goods.
Although Camp Echo is technically a distinct camp system, Evanston locals can donate their equipment to the Evanston YMCA, and it will benefit campers there.
How To Donate Camping Equipment
Gather your equipment.
Gather any outdoor or camping equipment that you no longer need by taking a look through your garage. Do you possess a tent that hasn’t been used in five years? Your children may have outgrown their hiking boots. Are there raincoats in your closet that you never wear? Although you may no longer need these items, their organization and the people they serve place a high value on them.
Examine your possessions.
They accept used equipment, but if it is beyond repair, smells, is missing parts or is an item they don’t currently have in stock, they might not be able to accept your contribution. Please review their list of approved vs. nonacceptable items and our FAQ section. They would be delighted to welcome your donation if the items are on their list and in good to excellent condition.
Visit Bawt Oakland
To donate your items, stop by the Oakland Gear Library at 1050 E. 8th Street, Oakland 94606. To arrange a time to drop off your donation, email gear@bawt.org. If they accept your equipment, a member of their staff will do so and give you an itemized receipt for tax deductions.
Traveling Sustainably: Donating Camping Equipment
Being sustainable in this sector is challenging because travel generates a lot of garbage. How to dispose of all of our gently used (and occasionally more than lightly worn) equipment is one of the biggest problems they encounter as a green company. There are a lot of sleeping bags, tents, sleeping pads, and other camping supplies left over at the end of the season when offering camping vacations in Yosemite (and adventurous adventures all across the United States). A lot of the time, our visitors buy equipment specifically for our excursions and leave it with us instead of bringing it all home afterward since they don’t want to. All of this soon adds up.
They have a strong commitment to sustainable travel and responsible tourism. Incredible Adventures has a number of methods they reuse and give these things to help our community and reduce waste:
- Fix it
In order to reduce waste and get the most use out of our equipment, they order replacement components rather than brand-new sets. If they end up with equipment that is too damaged to give away or sell, they’ll remove any salvageable components so that they may fix it ourselves.
- Reuse
Then, they make every effort to recycle. They’re thrilled to have new choices for safely and sustainably recycling these products when they’re too worn to use or give since San Francisco’s zero-waste initiative now includes textiles!
- Give.
There are numerous initiatives in San Francisco aimed at giving the city’s low-income and homeless residents food, shelter, and protection. They give Project Homeless Connect all of our usable blankets and sleeping bags so they can be distributed to those in need. To spare them from having to buy new printer paper all the time, the PHC office also saves all of their single-sided printed paper for them to reuse for our own internal printing needs.
Additionally, this week Incredible Adventures provided the fifth-grade camping trip at SFUSD Starr King Elementary School with about 30 sleeping bags and a few tents. This school serves a sizable number of low-income families, and outings like this one can give inner-city children a connection to nature and a greater understanding of the environment.
Can Old Outdoor Camping Equipment Be Donated?
With every possession they have, there comes a time when it’s time to upgrade to something new. In that instance, it might be possible to recycle the materials or repurpose them if they are no longer usable. In the worst instance, they then throw the object in the garbage.
However, there are occasions when they outgrow a piece of equipment or when our interest in a certain sport or activity changes. You can either give it to a buddy who will use it, sell it, or donate it in those circumstances.
There are intricacies to donating used outdoor Gear, and not everything should go to charity shops. Whatever you decide, donating used equipment keeps more materials out of landfills and gives the device a new life with a user. To provide you with suggestions on where to mail, sell, or donate used equipment, they have prepared a guide on how to donate outdoor equipment.
5 Ways to Donate Camping Gear Outdoor Equipment
- See if your friends and relatives are interested in using your old equipment.
Giving outdated outdoor Gear to a friend is one of the simplest ways to purge clutter and find a new home. Ask a buddy who wants to start a new outdoor sport if they could use an old backpack you no longer require. People frequently put off participating in new outdoor sports or activities due to the financial barrier that comes with buying new equipment. Furthermore, you never know; by gifting them an old rucksack, a fishing rod, or even a good set of hiking boots, you can help them discover their new favorite sport.
- Deliver to a nearby charity, secondhand shop, or thrift store.
Most of them reside in an area with one or more thrift shops. Shopping at thrift stores is a wonderful way to uncover a few hidden gems or useful goods. However, not all secondhand shops are created equal. Pick those that promote ethical business conduct, fair pay, and community giving. Never trust a thrift shop to clean your equipment for you when you donate it to them. When you donate soiled items, they typically throw them away.
So, if you decide to choose this way, make sure it is tidy and fully operational. In comparison to reselling to local clients, larger chain thrift stores send a bigger proportion of their inventory to landfills or abroad destinations. To ensure that an item is used and reused, donate it directly to a small charity or engage with locally owned consignment stores.
- Speak with the local scouts or outdoor education organizations.
Look into local scouting clubs or other outdoor learning organizations that may have kids in need if you want to contribute to initiatives that encourage the next generation to spend time outside. While many groups provide participants with equipment, some may insist that each person provide their own. Lower-income students and scouts are put at a disadvantage in those situations and may lose out on important chances for outdoor learning. Contact a scout leader if they don’t have a special donation program. They’ll be aware of any group members who require help or could benefit from the old equipment.
If you can’t find a place for your Gear in your neighborhood, you might want to look into the Gear Forward program. Their donation program revitalizes your used outdoor Gear by donating it to charities that specialize in providing equipment to underprivileged youngsters.
There are also schemes for general equipment transfer to encourage underrepresented groups to go outside. Examples include HBCUs Outside and Colour the Trails.
- Donate tents, sleeping bags, and outdoor clothes to nearby charities or shelters.
Although it doesn’t address the housing crisis, many shelters and charities do give individuals in need clothing and other goods. For those who live in colder climates, outdoor equipment like coats, tents, and sleeping bags are very helpful. It is advised that you find organizations that can organize those gifts for you.
- Make use of the GiveBackBox program to donate usable REI equipment to a person in need.
In addition to accepting contributions of various used household items, the GiveBackBox initiative works with REI to give outdoor Gear a fresh start. Through this program, donations are quick and simple. Simply visit their website, enter your zip code, and they’ll send a label to the closest charity that participates. Be aware that each box needs a label if you have numerous items.
Outside of REI, GiveBackBox works with a wide range of partners, and each of them pays for delivery.
How To Donate Used Outdoor Camping Equipment
You might be unpacking and organizing the future season’s Gear as summer draws to a close and the hints of fall begin to float through the air in preparation for the oncoming chilly months. After perusing the tents, down jackets, hiking boots, and headlamps, you might learn that you already own a similar item from last fall or discover a more advanced model that you’d want to use this year. Whatever the cause of your extra outdoor equipment, there is a practical and beneficial way to get rid of it while also helping someone else: donate your gently used outdoor equipment.
Do I need to give my used camping equipment?
Donating your lightly used outdoor Gear is an easy, sustainable way to give unwanted or unneeded items a new life as long as it’s still in useable condition. Sure, you can sell your outdoor Gear, but giving to children and adults in need and removing the cost as an obstacle to getting outside will inspire more people to do so.
Reusing versus donating old outdoor equipment
Donating outdoor Gear is different from recycling it since it gives your discarded products a second life by being given to someone else or an organization that will use it. Giving equipment to a licensed facility that converts used things into raw materials so they can be reincorporated into the life cycle of the product is what is meant by recycling it.
Some outdated outdoor equipment shouldn’t be donated, such as old climbing ropes, should instead be delivered to a recycling facility because it presents a safety risk. However, there is a lot of outdoor equipment that can be recycled, thanks to initiatives like Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe and Nike Grind Programs, Earth911 Recycling Search, and Green Guru’s Recycling Program, among many others. These initiatives aim to recycle trail running shoes, wetsuits, tents, outdoor apparel, and footwear for reuse.
Outdoors for All was established in 1979 with the mission to “increase the quality of life for children and people with disabilities via outdoor activities.” By taking part in the Gear Up, Give Back program, which is backed by Outside Online and Gear Fix, you can contribute to that mission. This is how it goes:
Check out the Outside website to print a free shipping label. Send your products to Gear Fix, who will clean them up, do any necessary repairs, and then deliver them to someone who will give them a second chance at life. To better serve the outdoor community, Cairn, and Gear Fix both match the net revenues and give the money to Outdoors for All.
F.A.Q.
What kind of outdoor equipment shouldn’t be consigned or donated?
Donating, consigning, or purchasing any used type of safety or life-saving equipment is never a good idea. These things need to have a certain level of structural integrity. Donating defective or inoperable items is another thing you should avoid doing. Instead of discarding an object because it can no longer be utilized for what it was intended for, consider recycling or reusing it. Donating weapons is also never a good idea.
What can be done with used camping equipment?
Old camping equipment can be recycled, given away, sold, or used again. Throwing out used camping equipment, even though it may be the quickest and simplest answer, adds to the waste of valuable resources. Numerous textiles can be recycled or transformed into new materials. You are probably assisting someone else in participating in outdoor activities they might not otherwise be able to afford by reselling or donating that equipment.
Can you give me some old tents?
Old tents can be donated to thrift shops, charities, and a number of charity organizations. Verify the tent’s cleanliness and functionality. Tents that require repairs should get them done before being donated so they can be put to use instead of being thrown away.
Can you recycle backpacks and tents?
The answer is yes. Specialized gear recycling programs, the original manufacturer, or textile recycling factories can recycle some tents and backpacks. Never place tents or bags in the standard recycling bins at the curb. These common industrial recycling facilities are ill-equipped to deal with textiles or mixed-material objects.
Leave a Reply