About Us

The Outdoor Centre, part of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Active Living, has been renting gear and teaching outdoor skills for over 45 years. Our goal is to make outdoor activities affordable and accessible by providing the skills and equipment needed, and by creating a friendly and safe learning environment. You don't have to be a student. Our rentals, programs and trips are open to everyone on and off campus. 

The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre

The Outdoor Centre began in 1976 as a simple rental shop that was primarily focused on providing students camping and outdoor sports equipment at the lowest possible rate.

Over the years we’ve added rental equipment and programs and expanded our service to the public to the point of becoming the largest centre of its kind in North America. Our goal is to provide you the experience, knowledge and equipment you need to make outdoor activity a regular part of your active lifestyle. With our experienced team of coordinators, and thousands of satisfied users every year we feel confident that we can provide you with an excellent experience.

Being a part of the University of Calgary keeps us focused on providing a solid educational component with each program. 

Read about the history of the Outdoor Centre here.

Program Coordinators

Our program coordinators are industry leaders/certified professionals and have extensive experience guiding or instructing in their area of expertise. 

Contacts

Go to this page to find contact information for Customer Service, Media Relations and Outdoor Centre Management. 

Looking for a job with us? Check the Active Living Job Opportunities page. Outdoor Centre Jobs

Our Partners

See our program partners or affiliates, and certification organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most questions that we get can be answered by rereading the registration confirmation email, however here we've answered the most common ones.