The Outdoor Resource Center (ORC) is a student led and focused program within Campus Recreation that serves as the HUB for the outdoor community at San Francisco State University. We are located in the Mashouf Wellness Center (MWC), right down the hall past the Admin Offices adjacent to the MAC Court. Just turn left as soon as you enter through the main entrance of the MWC.
The ORC offers a variety of outdoor equipment available for rent at low cost, and strives to serve as a resource to help folks get outside for whatever adventure that may be. In addition to equipment rentals, we also host numerous outdoor workshops to help familiarize patrons with our equipment and pertinent outdoor skills such as backpacking, camp cooking and navigation, etc.
Our services are currently only available to MWC members. All equipment is rented on a first come, first served basis, as we do not take reservations.
The ORC welcomes persons with disabilities and can make reasonable accommodations upon request. If you need reasonable accommodations for any of our services, please contact our programs Staff by email at outdoors@.mail.sfsu.edu or our Student Managers at gatoroutdoors@sfsu.edu.
Hours of Operation
- Monday: Noon - 6 p.m.
- Tuesday: Noon - 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: Noon - 6 p.m.
- Friday: Noon - 5 p.m.
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Equipment Rentals
Walk ins are welcome! Payment occurs in person at the Outdoor Resource Center.
Pricing is based on a 1–4-day weekend rate instead of a daily rate, as most of our rentals go out on a Friday and return on a Monday. So, whether you have a piece of equipment for 1 day or 4 days, you pay the 1–4-day price. An additional day price unique to each piece of equipment will be applied for each day past the 1-4-day period. Equipment may be rented up to a maximum of 12 days. Equipment may not be returned on the weekends.
Sample ORC Clinics
Camping 101 Back to Basics
Define what different types of camping exist; tent camping, backpacking, glamping, car camping, what gear is needed for them, and how we can fit it into our budgets!
Backpacking 101 Back to Basics
Discover different types of gear, permits, fire, and footwear. How many different stoves can you use? Don't forget about staying safe from bears!
Planning and Preparation
Learn about emergency preparedness, how to book a campsite, and things to consider when packing and planning.
Women of the Wilderness
Gain the empowerment to explore, discover women's historical marks made on outdoor adventures, and learn about safety precautions.
Outdoor Workshops
ORC Workshops focus on a variety of outdoor topics with the goal of sharing knowledge and resources to help the SF State Community get outside. Common workshops include Rental Equipment Demos, Securing Camping Reservations and/or Backcountry Permits as well as Open House's and much more. Click below to view our current workshops.
Tent Set Up Tutorial Videos
Need some help setting up a tent? Check out our tutorial videos presented by our Outdoor Coordinator Jay!
Frequently Asked Questions
We are located inside the Mashouf Wellness Center:
Mashouf Wellness Center
ATTN: Outdoor Resource Center
755 Font Blvd
San Francisco CA 94132
When you enter the building, turn left and we are at the end of the hallway. If you cannot find us, ask a staff member at the front desk!
We ask for the equipment to come in by 6:00pm each day so we may clean it and get it ready to go out again the next day. Having an hour or two to do this allows us to better serve the customers and assure we have functioning equipment for them.
Yes, you can now submit a reservation request here!
Please give at least 48 hours for Staff confirmation.
Pricing is based on a 1–4-day weekend rate instead of a daily rate, as most of our rentals go out on a Friday and return on a Monday. So, whether you have a piece of equipment for 1 day or 4 days, you pay the 1–4-day price. An additional day price unique to each piece of equipment. View Equipment Rental Prices on the List of Equipment. Click here to view our current pricing list.
Yes, we do through our Gator Outdoor Adeventure Trips program. More information on our current trips can be found here.
The Outdoor Resource Center provides a variety of tools to perform bike maintenance and tune-ups at no cost! Although our staff cannot perform the bike services, we supply patrons with items such as bike pumps, tubes, and plenty of tools to get the job done.
Feel free to email our Outdoor Resource Team at Outdoors@mail.sfsu.edu for any general inquires or questions. Any comments, or concerns should be directed to our Outdoor Resource Center Student Manager by calling (415) 405-2881 or emailing gatoroutdoors@sfsu.edu. You may also reach our Outdoor & Leadership Development Coordinator, Jay Harcum at harcum@sfsu.edu.
Please, take a moment to review our policies which are designed to ensure a safe and positive experience for everyone involved. Please take the time to read through them carefully so that you are aware of our guidelines and expectations. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.