New facility allows students to rent outdoor gear

UF RecSports is opening a new on-campus outdoor sports equipment rental center today.

The 6,000 square-foot Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education will be located right behind Southwest Recreation Center. It will be open seven days a week, allowing students to rent paddleboards, shoes, dry bags, life jackets, lanterns, kayaks and camping gear.

Students can rent equipment for up to one week, said Jackie Matthews, the coordinator for CORE. Prices will range between $1 for a paddling map and $60 for an inflatable paddle board for about a week’s worth of use.

CORE is still working on confirming prices and rental time, she said. Rentals can only be made with a credit card, so students can be charged late fees if necessary.

“There is an opportunity for students to explore their local area and to experience new things together as a community,” Matthews said.

Those interested can also sign up for one- to three-day weekend trips across the east coast, she said. Trips are led by CORE’s trained Travel and Recreation Program leaders, who have their Wilderness First Responder certifications. This teaches survival skills and emergency management.

Gracie Minton, a UF exploratory engineering freshman, said she’s interested in renting equipment to use in her hometown of Tampa.

“The new CORE facility will make beach trips so much more fun,” the 18-year-old said.

CORE’s grand opening will be Sept. 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.