Meet Amy Kryston of Switchback Gear Collective

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Kryston.

Hi Amy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Switchback Gear Collective was started by eight friends in the UNC Chapel Hill Master of Public Health program. We noticed the lack of economically accessible outdoor gear in the Triangle despite the many natural opportunities our state has to offer. We saw this as an opportunity to improve equity and access to the outdoors, something critical to mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness and community. Moving from a modest donation drive generously sponsored by a local brewery and a small pop-up sale at CommunityWorx in Carrboro, we have expanded to tackle outdoor inequity from multiple angles and in full partnership with the community. Our signature event, pay-what-you-can second-hand gear pop-up sales, has kept hundreds of pieces of gear out of landfills and into the hands of those who may not otherwise have access. They also fund our free-to-borrow gear libraries, coming soon. We have developed our amazing volunteer network that supports our second-hand gear donations and gear libraries.

Access is not only about the gear and what people physically require to get outside. Our Community Advisory Board and many conversations with the community and experts in the outdoor field have reiterated the importance of having access to knowledge and community so that everyone feels welcome and safe outside. As such, we’ve grown to include free workshops like Camping 101 and are planning community campfires for the new year. We want every person in the Triangle to feel welcome in the outdoors, regardless of income, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, weight, and any other part of their identity that has led to marginalization.”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have certainly been challenges! As a newer organization, finding funding both for gear purchasing and operational support has been somewhat difficult. We currently are entirely volunteer-operated but hope to provide stipends to our dedicated and hard-working leadership team in the next fiscal year. But the challenges are overwhelmed by the incredible support we have received from community. We have been supported by many local businesses, municipal agencies, and individuals and groups that align with our mission. This, and the clear need we see in our community, keeps us going. 

I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Switchback Gear Collective?
Time spent outdoors is necessary for physical, mental, and spiritual health. However, not everyone has access to the outdoors because of a variety of barriers, including gear cost and lack of knowledge and community. 

Switchback Gear Collective is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to reduce barriers to outdoor activities by: 

(1) providing equitable access to low- or no-cost outdoor gear utilizing the pay-what-you-can model at our second-hand gear pop-up sales and free-to-borrow Gear Libraries through municipal partners, 

(2) creating opportunities to gain knowledge and skills in outdoor recreation and safety through free workshops and community campouts in collaboration with our partners, 

(3) building community around inclusive outdoor activities and the importance of equitable access to the outdoors for physical and mental health and 

(4) promoting sustainable outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship in the Triangle area of North Carolina. 

Our vision is for a future where experiencing the outdoors is accessible, sustainable, healing, inclusive, safe, and affordable for all people. There are many wonderful organizations in the Triangle that are involved in health equity, outdoor recreation, sustainability, and stewardship. However, none are grounded in holistically eliminating barriers to the outdoors like we are. We address many of the barriers to experiencing the benefits of nature in an intentional and community-based manner, not in a piecemeal fashion. And we do this through an innovative approach, partnering with municipal agencies that are able to leverage their infrastructure and community reach. Our Gear Libraries are simple in concept: people can borrow outdoor gear, much in the same way that they would check out a book at the public library. They will reserve a gear kit online for free and pick it up at the municipal office. We include a comprehensive user guide full of information about our gear and camping basics. Borrowers will then return the kit to the office the following week, and our volunteers will ensure that all gear is clean and in safe working condition for the next reservation. We provide the gear, the information, and the volunteers, and our municipal partners provide the space for the kits, staff to facilitate gear pick-up and drop-off, resources for kit cleaning (like a sink and space to hang dry), and the reservation system. Our Gear Library pilot kit contains everything needed for two or four people to go car camping and includes tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, cookware, and much more. To learn more about Switchback Gear Libraries, check out our website: https://www.switchbackgear.org/about/switchback-gear-libraries 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We love the Triangle! We love the natural beauty and the people, and it is both of these facets that have inspired us to this work. Some of our favorite areas are the hikes and water recreation spots around Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, and the Eno River. Going to UNC Chapel Hill, we’re also big fans of the Bolin Creek and Booker Creek Trails and the many parks in the area. As an environmentally conscious organization, we also deeply appreciate the free bus system in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and around the Triangle. In Raleigh specifically, we love checking out Dix Park, the Arboretum, and Lake Johnson. As for what we don’t like… we don’t like that there are so many people living near beautiful areas that don’t have access to them! 

Contact Info:

• Website: switchbackgear.org
• Instagram: switchbackgearcollective

Image Credits
Switchback Gear Collective