The Nest Gear Shop

View our Nest Outdoor Gear Shop policy document for a complete list of policies related to outdoor gear rentals or look below for the answers to our most commonly asked questions!

Comprehensive list of gear available to check out is listed at the bottom of this page.

Spring 2025 Gear Shop Hours:

• Monday: Rental returns by appointment ONLY (book an appointment here)
• Tuesday: Rental returns by appointment ONLY (book an appointment here)
• Wednesday: 10:00am-5:00pm
• Thursday: 10:00am-5:00pm
• Friday: 11:00am-3:00pm
• Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Nest Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is The Nest located?

The Nest is located in the Lower Level of the Activities and Recreation Center near the Fitness Studio. Check in at the fitness center front desk and walk toward the fitness studio, when you see the orange desk we are located around that corner. If you are having a hard time finding us, ask the front desk for support.

Can I come into The Nest?

Please do! However, we ask you stop by during hours of operation (see above). Not sure where we are? Just check in with the staff at the Fitness Front Desk and they can assist you connect you with an Outdoor Wellness Leader or let you know when we will be open next.

Can I rent from the Nest?

The Nest Gear Shop is funded entirely by UW Bothell and Cascadia College student fees and is therefore, only available to UWB and CC students. You may also gain access to the Nest’s resources if you are a UWB or CC staff or faculty member and pay for an ARC membership. All of our campus friends, partners and community members are welcome to visit at any time and chat about outdoor opportunities in the area!

How much does it cost?

Gear rentals are free to all current UWB and CC students. We do have fees for late returns and gear replacement/repair.

How MUCH gear can I rent?

As much as you want, within reason. Students can rent gear for friends and family, but students are financially responsible for all of the gear they check out. Priority is always given to Outdoor Wellness programs who may be utilizing the gear for trips. We strongly recommend calling ahead during breaks and peak recreation times guarantee gear availability.

How LONG can I rent gear out for?

You can rent most of our gear out for two weeks (14 days), unless otherwise specified.

Our paddle boards are the exception – they can only be rented for up to one week (7 days)

Can I renew my rentals?

Yes! But, as of now you must visit the Nest Gear Shop in person to do so prior to your rental due date. You can renew your rentals up to three times within the quarter and you must return your equipment by our last date of operation for the quarter (check our announcements page to see when this is). PLEASE NOTE: We do not extend any rentals made over breaks.

What if I return my gear past the due date?

Individuals who rent equipment from the Nest Gear Shop must return their rentals within two (2) weeks of the original date of rental. If individuals do not return their rental equipment by the date it is due, they will be charged an overdue fee of $1.00 per piece of equipment, each day overdue, for a total of 30 days.
During this time, the renter will also be unable to rent additional equipment from the Nest Gear Shop until the gear is returned. After 30 days, of equipment being overdue, the renter will then be required to pay the entire replacement cost of all overdue gear in their account. If the equipment is returned after the 30-day mark, the individual will be responsible for paying only the amount accrued on their account from overdue fees.
The renter will have two weeks from the day they are invoiced to pay the charge on their account in full, regardless of the amount. If they have still not reimbursed the Outdoor Wellness program after two weeks, the individual will have a partial hold placed on their account and will be unable to rent out equipment or register for Outdoor Wellness Programs. If the balance is left unpaid for 30 days after issuance, a full hold will be placed on the individual’s account and they will be unable to utilize any of the ARC services or attend any ARC programs until their balance is paid.

Can I return gear outside of gear shop business hours?

We do offer rental return appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays when the gear shop is typically closed. You can make a rental return appointment by using this link. However, unless otherwise announced, we do not accept gear outside of business hours. However, unless we have posted an announcement stating that we are offering appointments, you must return equipment during our business hours.

How will I know when my equipment is due?

Unless otherwise specified, all rentals from our gear shop have a rental period of two weeks (14 days), not counting the day that you reserved the equipment. For example, if you rented gear out on Thursday July 1, your due date will be Thursday July 15. While we typically send out courtesy notices two days prior to gear being due and one day after gear is overdue, this is not a guarantee if the Gear Shop is low staffed, such as over breaks. As such, it is up to the renter to return their equipment on time.

Do I clean my equipment before I return it?

For most of our equipment items we actually ask that you DON’T clean it before returning it to us. Sounds strange, we know! However, we clean our equipment in specific ways to prolong their life and durability. Regular cleaning materials you may use has the potential to damage our gear. However, there are some exceptions.

You are required to clean the following before returning them:

• Cookware (Pots/Pans)
• Dishware (Eating utensils, bowls, plates)
• Gas stoves (please clean any spills made during the cooking process)

Additionally, if your equipment gets wet during your use of it, please allow it to air dry immediately after use. Mildew is especially difficult to get rid of on our waterproof items and can cause potential degradation of the waterproofing.

How Do I Reserve Gear?

At this point in time, gear is only available on a first-come first-served basis except for some UW Bothell and Cascadia College organizations. If you have a big trip coming up, please feel free to make an appointment to get a sense of what equipment might be available. To make an appointment email us at outdoor@uw.edu and provide the day and time you would like, we will reply with confirmation of the appointment.

If you are a part of a UWB or CC organization/club and want to rent out equipment for an event on behalf of your organization or club, please contact outdoor@uw.edu or call the Nest Gear Shop at 425-352-3982 in advance to specify your gear needs so we can assess if we can accommodate your request.

What gear does the Nest Gear Shop rent out?