Gear Lending Library

Our gear library allows teachers and youth and family organizations to borrow jackets, rain pants, layers, hats, boots, and packs.

Backpacks hang on the wall at Seattle Gear Library
Backpacks, hiking poles and snowshoes hang on the wall at Seattle Gear Library ready to be checked out. Photo by Teddy Wingo.

Workshop graduates who attend a gear orientation have access to gear lending libraries in Seattle and Pierce County.

Educators and youth organizations can borrow jackets, rain pants, layers, boots and packs to outfit their outdoor experiences and tents, stoves, sleeping bags and sleeping pads for camping and backpacking.

WTA focuses resources on the priority audience with availability to the gear library. The gear library is first-come first-served for gear requests with the following update, started in the 2019/2020 school year.

We will continue to accept requests several months out for our priority audience who serve youth who attend schools where 40 percent or more of the students qualify for free or reduced price lunch and/or schools that have a student body with at least 40 percent students of color.

If you do not serve this audience, please still submit a gear request when you are ready. Expect a confirmation one month prior to your outing. If you don’t hear from us then or if you have any questions prior, please send us an email for more clarification.

Submit a Gear Request

Submitting an online gear request to either of our libraries is easy.

Review the Gear Catalogs

Learn more about the gear we have currently available to borrow in each location.

Upcoming Gear Orientations

Attend a Gear Orientation and an optional Trip Planning Workshop.

Find out about upcoming workshops and events

Steps to Borrow Free Outdoor Gear for Youth Groups

Register and attend an Outdoor Leadership Training workshop
Register and attend a Gear Library Orientation
Submit a Gear Request (At least two weeks prior to pick up date)
Receive confirmation of Gear Request and pick up and drop off times
At pick up, confirm number of items and sign Gear Borrowing Agreement
Get outside and enjoy a fun and safe activity!
Clean and dry gear (using methods discussed at Gear Library Orientation)
Complete online Youth Outing Report (prior to gear drop off)
Drop off clean gear and identify any damaged or malfunctioning items
The items are ready for next group to use. High fives all around!

Requesting Gear for Your Group

Submit your gear request at least two weeks ahead of your trip. Requests submitted less than two weeks before the trip are less likely to be filled. Requests that are submitted less than 4 days ahead of a pick up time will not be accepted
Major changes to gear request reservations should be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of a pick up time. If items are available, some changes can be made at the time of pick up
All requests must be submitted by a trip leader who has participated in a Gear Orientation
The same WTA-trained trip leader who submits the gear request must be present at both the gear pick up and drop off

Picking Up Gear from the Library

Arrive at your scheduled pick up time.
Review the tallies of items checked out and make sure the final numbers are entered on the request form in the appropriate column
Sign the Request Form confirming the quantity of items received
Sign a Gear Borrowing Agreement form with credit card information
Receive a copy of the gear reimbursement price list
Receive gear repair label bag
You’ll receive an electronic copy of the final, signed gear request with any changes marked

Prepping Items for Return

Clothing: wash and thoroughly dry, but do not use fabric softener and use low temperatures
Boots: clean and dry, then tie pairs together
Packs: clean, dry and empty all compartments
Zippers: zip them up and look for problems
Tents: Look for problems, clean and empty tents, thoroughly dry and ensure all parts are packed together
Sleeping bags & liners: empty and thoroughly dry bags and wash and dry all liners
Kitchen kits, stoves, water bottle & animal proof containers: clean and sanitize surfaces and bottles, thoroughly dry items and enclose wet towels and sponges in the provided Ziploc bag
Use repair tags to note and date problems

Dropping Off Gear at the Library

Submit a Youth Outing Report before drop off or you will have to complete it at that time
Arrive at your scheduled drop off time
If borrowed, set up tents for inspection, then repack
Ensure that everything is clean and dry and report any wet items
Report any problematic equipment so we can fix the issue for the next user
Make sure the quantities dropped off match the quantities picked up
If necessary, receive an invoice for all lost or damaged items