The BIPOC Outdoor Collective is building something special.
Two new projects — The Gear Bank and The Retreat House — are on the horizon. Both are designed to expand access, education, and community in the outdoors.
Read on for a glimpse of what’s to come, and how you can get involved.
The Gear Bank: Community Outdoor Co-Op
Imagine walking into a space filled with bikes, kayaks, fishing gear, and hiking packs — a place that invites you to explore without intimidation or financial barriers. That’s the vision behind The Gear Bank, a community outdoor co-op designed to make getting outside easier, more affordable, and more welcoming for everyone.
Housed in the historic Oak Grove Junction Convenience Store, one of Georgia’s oldest surviving commercial buildings, The Gear Bank will become a vibrant community hub for exploration, education, and connection.
Visitors will be able to rent or purchase outdoor gear, take part in workshops and training sessions, and enjoy community programming like yoga classes, herbalist workshops, and storytelling nights. The space will also feature a café corner with local coffee and treats, greenspaces for gatherings, and opportunities to connect with local organizations such as AWARE Wildlife Center and Arabia Mountain Nature Center.
Beyond recreation, The Gear Bank will invest in the local economy by offering paid internships for college students, volunteer opportunities for professionals, and vendor space for local artisans and farmers.
Our mission is simple: to ensure that a lack of gear, knowledge, or opportunity never keeps anyone from discovering the joy, healing, and empowerment of the outdoors.
The Retreat House: A Home for Learning, Healing & Connection
Tucked among trees and trails, The Retreat House will be a gathering place for rest, reflection, and growth. This space will host immersive outdoor experiences — from conservation workshops and hiking skill sessions to leadership retreats and community trainings.
Think of it as a launch point for deeper engagement with nature and each other. Visitors might learn to follow a blaze through the woods, practice gardening or trail maintenance, or explore conservation work as a way to strengthen their community.
The Retreat House will also serve as a hub for exclusive BOC events and trainings, inviting members and partners to connect, learn new skills, and share ideas that move our mission forward.
More details are on the way — but one thing’s certain: this space will embody the BOC’s five core precepts of Equity, Recreation, Advocacy, Conservation, and Education.
Follow The BOC to stay updated and be among the first invited to experience these new spaces.
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