University of Oregon Outdoor Program

What University of Oregon Outdoor Program does

The University of Oregon Outdoor Program is a student-powered outdoor recreation department within UO's Physical Education and Recreation division, founded in 1967 and nationally recognized as the birthplace of modern collegiate outdoor programs. It operates from the Erb Memorial Union (Suite 008) and the Rental Barn at East 18th Avenue and University Street in Eugene, Oregon, serving primarily UO students (who receive automatic membership) and secondarily faculty, staff, alumni, and community members via a $10 one-time UO Community Card. Core offerings include staff-led OP Outings, student-led Common Adventure Trips using consensus-based decision making, the Bike Program (DIY workspace, rentals, classes, FTW Bike School), and the Rental Program covering camping, watercraft, snow, and climbing gear at sub-market unit pricing. The program is funded through ASUO student fees, institutional budgets, and earned rental/event revenue, with sustainability infrastructure including an 8.4 kW solar PV system, rainwater catchment, and on-demand water heating at the OP Barn. The Redefining Outdoorsy Initiative and Allard and Casey Memorial Safety Library represent programmatic extensions targeting inclusion and safety respectively.

Name

University of Oregon Outdoor Program

Legal name

University of Oregon Outdoor Program

Website

https://outdoorprogram.uoregon.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The University of Oregon Outdoor Program is a student-powered outdoor recreation department within UO's Physical Education and Recreation division, offering gear rentals, trips, and a bike program to UO students, faculty, staff, and Eugene community members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAAAOAA

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development)

SECONDARYTHAAAOAB

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development)

SECONDARYEDALAKAE

Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Transportation, Parking & Mobility Services

SECONDARYTHAAAOAJ

Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development)

SECONDARYTHAKAGAB

School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Group Travel & Educational Travel Operators

Keywords

• Outdoor recreation programs
• Gear rental services
• Bike repair workspace
• Guided outdoor adventures
• Student cooperative trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Gear and Equipment Rentals: The program generates revenue through rental fees for outdoor gear including camping equipment, water sports equipment, snow gear, climbing gear, and bikes. Student pricing is lower than community member pricing with tiered daily rates.
2. Co-op Membership Fees: UO students receive free access to the Outdoor Program Rental Barn, Bike Program, Outings, and Common Adventure Trips. Faculty, staff, alumni, and community members pay for a UO Community Card ($10 one-time) plus membership fees to access the Rental Barn, Bike Program, and events.
3. Event Participation Fees: Revenue generated from event sign-ups including OP Outings, Common Adventure Trips, and specialty events. Redefining Outdoorsy outings offered at highly reduced cost ($5-10 per participant) to promote accessibility.
4. Bike Rentals: Bike rental program offering City, Touring, and Mountain Bikes for daily to multi-week rentals. Rates vary by bike type and rental duration, with separate pricing for students and community members. Accessories including helmets, lights, locks, panniers, and trailers available for rent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of Oregon Outdoor Program is a student-powered outdoor adventure program that facilitates local and expedition-style trips, rents outdoor gear and bikes, and runs a Bike Program with a DIY maintenance workspace. All UO students receive automatic membership with low or no-cost access, while faculty, staff, alumni, and community members purchase a $10 UO Community Card to access rentals, the Bike Program, and events.

Product overview

The University of Oregon Outdoor Program is a student-powered outdoor adventure program offering a comprehensive suite of interconnected services. The core program includes OP Outings (staff-led group activities) and Common Adventure Trips (student-led consensus-based trips). The Bike Program provides DIY maintenance workspace, bike rentals, and classes including the FTW Bike School. The Rental Program (Rental Barn) offers affordable gear rentals for camping, water sports, snow sports, and climbing. Additional offerings include the Redefining Outdoorsy Initiative for inclusive outdoor access, the Allard and Casey Memorial Safety Library (free safety equipment loans), the Trip Initiator Program for leadership training, and the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival. The program operates as a cooperative model established in 1967 and serves UO students, faculty, staff, and community members through the UO Community Card.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Redefining Outdoorsy: An initiative aimed at making outdoor adventures accessible and inclusive for all, with outings for historically underrepresented communities including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and Indigenous students. Offers FTW Bike School and the No Man's Land Film Festival.
• FTW Bike School
• Allard and Casey Memorial Safety Library
• Common Adventure

Quantifiable outcome

• UO has Gold Rating from League of American Bicyclists - nationally recognized as bicycle friendly campus
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Backcountry AccessminorOthersBackcountry Access has graciously assisted the Allard and Casey Memorial Safety Library through discounts and donations on wilderness safety and rescue equipment.
• Lane Community College Energy Management ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Solar Project to reduce OP Barn energy consumption. Lane Community College's Energy Management program collaborated with OP and Advance Energy System on the $26,000 photovoltaic installation.
• Advance Energy SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with OP and Lane Community College on Solar Project installation and design. Advance Energy System contributed to the $26,000 photovoltaic system at OP Barn.
• Circuit Bouldering Gym EugeneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Outdoor Program to present the No Man's Land Film Festival, the first all-woman and genderqueer adventure film festival.
• Elevation (Climbing Gym)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for BIPOC Climb Nights organized through the Redefining Outdoorsy Initiative, creating welcoming spaces for underrepresented groups in outdoor activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Eugene Bike Share: Local bike share program serving the same Eugene geography. Adjacent to UO OP's Bike Program as a complementary campus and community mobility resource.
• Backcountry Access: Avalanche safety and outdoor equipment manufacturer that supplies and supports the OP's Allard and Casey Memorial Safety Library. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School): Premier outdoor education provider offering wilderness expeditions and courses. Compared to UO OP, operates at far larger scale and geographic scope but shares emphasis on outdoor skill instruction and trip leadership.
• Outward Bound USA: National provider of outdoor adventure-based education and expeditions. Similar mission emphasis on experiential outdoor learning, though operates as a national nonprofit rather than a campus-anchored program.
• MEC (Mountain Equipment Company): Canada's largest outdoor co-op retailer with a gear rental and education program. Comparable to UO OP on co-op DNA and rental offerings, though regionally focused on Canada.
• REI Co-op: Nationwide co-op retailer and rental operator for outdoor gear. Comparable to UO OP's rental model and co-op ethos, but at much larger commercial scale with broader product selection and rental locations.

Emerging players

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Membership-based outdoor recreation organization offering trips, education, and outdoor experiences in the Northeast. Comparable cooperative membership model and emphasis on skill-based outdoor programming.

Direct peers

• Stanford Outdoor Center: Stanford University's outdoor program offering gear rentals, trips, and outdoor education to students and community. Closely comparable as a peer university outdoor program with similar membership-style access and trip offerings.
• Cornell Outdoor Education: Cornell's outdoor education unit offering trips, rentals, and classes. Mirrors UO OP's mix of instruction, gear rental, and inclusive programming across a similar university audience.
• Williams College Outing Club: Long-running collegiate outing club providing trips, gear access, and outdoor education to students. Comparable cooperative model and student-led trip structure to UO's Outdoor Program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/uobikeprogram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-oregon-outdoor-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Oregon Outdoor Program