Skills & Learning: guides, shops and venues

Guide services, gear shops and venues in every region, A to Z. Listed from their public websites; they don't pay to be here and are never mixed into the communities.

All regions · just Western Carolinas · all of the Southeast

Alaska Pacific University Outdoor Programsvenue · Beginners welcome · Anchorage, AK · not in an area yet
University outdoor program with trips and public gear rentals for skis and bikes.
Ashland Parks and Recreation and North Mountain Park Nature Centervenue · Beginners welcome · Ashland, OR · not in an area yet
City parks department running North Mountain Park Nature Center programs, adapted programs and outdoor classes.
Auburn Recreation Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Auburn CA
Auburn park district with parks, trails and recreation programs.
Base Camp Cullowheevenue · Beginners welcome · Sylva, NC
Western Carolina University outdoor program running hiking, paddling and climbing trips and skills clinics near Sylva.
Basin Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Park City UT
Snyderville Basin recreation district with trails and outdoor programs around Park City.
Boise Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Boise, ID
City parks department with seasonal activities, camps and classes and the Foothills Learning Center.
Bowling Green Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Bowling Green, KY · not in an area yet
City parks department with outdoor programs and parks in Bowling Green.
Carbondale Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Carbondale, CO · not in an area yet
Town recreation and community center with adult, youth and older adult programs and special events.
Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co.shop · Beginners welcome · Hampton, NH · not in an area yet
Hampton Beach surf shop with group and private surf lessons, surf camps and paddleboard sessions.
City of Aspen Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Aspen, CO · not in an area yet
City recreation department running sports, outdoor activities and programs for Aspen residents and visitors.
City of Spokane Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Spokane, WA · not in an area yet
City parks department with outdoor recreation programs, classes and river and trail access.
Cody Recreation Centervenue · Beginners welcome · Cody, WY
City of Cody recreation center offering fitness and recreation programs.
Cornell Outdoor Educationguide service · Beginners welcome · Ithaca, NY · not in an area yet
Cornell's outdoor program teaching climbing, paddling, backpacking and other skills through courses and trips.
Crook County Parks & Recreation Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Prineville, OR
Prineville park district offering classes, activities and community events.
Durham Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Durham, NC
City of Durham parks programs, including nature outings, birding walks and outdoor activities.
Dutchess County Parksvenue · Beginners welcome · Poughkeepsie, NY · not in an area yet
County parks department running naturalist programs, youth adventure camps and archery at Bowdoin Park.
E Street Surf Schoolguide service · Beginners welcome · Hampton, NH · not in an area yet
Surf school giving lessons and kids surf camps at Rye and Hampton beaches.
East Bay Regional Park Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Oakland, CA
Regional park district with naturalist-led walks, outdoor recreation classes and volunteer days across 70+ East Bay parks.
Estes Valley Recreation and Park Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Estes Park CO
Local park district running trails, campgrounds, a marina and activity programs around Estes Park.
Farmdog Surfguide service · Beginners welcome · Nags Head, NC
Nags Head surf school offering beginner surf lessons, camps and board rentals.
Glenwood Springs Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Glenwood Springs, CO · not in an area yet
City recreation department with the community center, parks, trails and public programs.
Great Glen Trails Outdoor Centervenue · Beginners welcome · Gorham, NH
Outdoor center at the base of Mount Washington offering nordic skiing, biking, paddling clinics and events.
Great Outdoor Provision Co.shop · Beginners welcome · Raleigh
North Carolina outdoor gear store with a Raleigh shop and occasional in-store clinics and events.
Half-Moon Outfittersshop · Beginners welcome · Charleston, SC
Charleston-based outdoor shop that hosts community events and outdoor programs.
Hood River Valley Parks + Recreation Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Hood River, OR
Hood River park district offering seasonal youth and adult recreation activities.
Hudson River Maritime Museum Rowingvenue · Beginners welcome · Kingston, NY · not in an area yet
Kingston maritime museum rowing school teaching traditional boat rowing on Rondout Creek to beginners.
Landmark Learningshop · Wilderness first aid · Cullowhee
Wilderness medicine training provider based in Cullowhee, offering Wilderness First Aid, First Responder and related outdoor courses in Jackson County and elsewhere.
Lexington Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Lexington, KY
City parks department running outdoor programs, nature sanctuaries and community events.
Missoula Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Missoula, MT
City parks department with outdoor recreation programs, inclusive programs and park events.
Montana Outdoor Science Schoolvenue · Beginners welcome · Bozeman, MTYouth
Bozeman nature school with outdoor science programs, family events and kids' ski programs.
Mount Washington Valley Ice Festevent company · Beginners welcome · North Conway, NH
Annual ice climbing festival in North Conway with clinics for beginners through advanced climbers.
NYC Parks Urban Park Rangersvenue · Beginners welcome · New York, NY · not in an area yet
City park rangers leading free nature walks, canoeing, birding and outdoor skills programs across the boroughs.
Outdoor Chattanoogavenue · Beginners welcome · Chattanooga
City outdoor recreation center by Coolidge Park running guided paddles, hikes, beginner bike classes and history tours.
Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE)shop · Beginners welcome · 37 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401
Retail & Outfitter: Independent Retail, Consignment, Core Gear.
Pack Rat Outdoor Centershop · Beginners welcome · Fayetteville, AR · not in an area yet
Fayetteville outdoor shop hosting clinics, classes and events such as wilderness first aid.
Peace Outfittersshop · Beginners welcome · Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff outdoor gear store (formerly Peace Surplus) that posts community outdoor events.
Placer Nature Centervenue · Beginners welcome · Auburn CA
Auburn nature center offering family nature programs, walks and environmental education.
Puget Sound Estuariumvenue · Beginners welcome · Olympia WA
Olympia estuary education center with beach walks, field trips and public events.
Seacoast Science Centervenue · Beginners welcome · Portsmouth, NH · not in an area yet
Marine science center at Odiorne Point in Rye with tide pool programs, kayak tours, BioBlitz and public programs.
Sisters Park & Recreation Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Sisters, OR
Sisters park district running youth and adult recreation, clubs and special events.
Sonoma County Regional Parksvenue · Beginners welcome · Santa Rosa, CA
County park system with naturalist walks, bike rides and outdoor programs, mostly free.
Spartanburg County Parks Outdoor Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Spartanburg, SC
County parks department running outdoor recreation programs and events in parks around Spartanburg.
Sunrift Adventuresshop · Beginners welcome · Travelers Rest, SC
Outdoor gear shop on the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest, with hiking, camping, paddling and climbing gear and rentals.
Sunset Empire Park & Recreation Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Seaside, OR
North coast park district with community programs and events around Seaside.
Teton County / Jackson Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Jackson, WY
Town and county recreation department with pathways, groomed winter trails, a rec center climbing wall and community events.
Teton Science Schoolsvenue · Beginners welcome · Jackson, WYYouth
Jackson nature education organization with field courses, youth programs and wildlife expeditions.
Town of Mammoth Lakes Parks and Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Mammoth Lakes, CA · not in an area yet
Town recreation department with a community calendar, summer recreation map and weekly recreation newsletter.
Truckee Donner Recreation & Park Districtvenue · Beginners welcome · Truckee CA
Truckee park district with outdoor programs, trails and recreation classes.
Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Centervenue · Beginners welcome · Lake George NY
Bolton Landing nature center with trails and public nature programs.
Utah Division of Outdoor Recreationvenue · Beginners welcome · Utah (statewide)
The State of Utah's outdoor recreation office: star parties, skills courses, trail days and community outdoor events.