Maine GearShare began as an idea in 2017 when local outdoor-focused foundations had started recognizing a pattern of requests for gear and equipment to help connect more young people to the outdoors. Upon digging into the need further, many trip leading organizations identified that gear acquisition, inventorying, maintenance, and repair, played a major role in their operational costs and capabilities to extend services to more participants. This begged the question, could we come up with a better solution using the gear library concept?
Maine GearShare gained significant traction as demand for safe outdoor experiences has skyrocketed. With the securing of input from dozens of trip leading organizations in Maine, and funding and resources from the Quimby Family Foundation, the Onion Foundation, the Outdoor Foundation, and Maine Outdoor Brands, Maine GearShare incorporated in 2021, formed a Board of Directors, and hired its first staff members. In 2022, Maine GearShare found a physical space in Brunswick, acquired a gear inventory, and officially launched its gear sharing service in May.
