So what exactly is The Shed and why do we believe it’s a good idea?

We developed The Shed to facilitate putting wildlife students and professionals who need additional equipment in contact with those who have extra. It’s a simple concept to help those working to help wildlife, but one that hasn’t existed until now.

The idea for The Shed developed during our many years of assisting wildlife students, researchers, and managers to acquire the equipment, supplies, and expertise needed for their programs to succeed. Sometimes this was as simple as short-term loans of field gear like tents or GPS units. Other times it involved formal property transfers of trailers or 4-wheelers.

As our collaborations grew, we recognized that there was no shortage of projects that would benefit from additional “stuff”. Maybe a graduate student needed a few extra remote cameras, or a district biologist needed bear spray to equip volunteers. The list is as diverse as the species we work to conserve.

We also knew that these very things were often sitting on a shelf in an office or a storage unit – somewhere. A project is completed or a program changes research methods, and overnight, this surplus “stuff” is on the path to collecting dust instead of data.

Just like how a buck sheds his prized antlers and doesn’t expect anything from the rodents that benefit, we aren’t charging for this service. Nor will we take possession of items posted to The Shed. Our goal is to help wildlifers acquire what they need to improve conditions for wildlife and their habitats. That’s it. And we sincerely hope that users will donate or loan what they can, while only charging for what they must.

So look around your office and garage for those things you just don’t need but think someone else could use. Instead of letting them go to waste, put them in The Shed. And the next time you need that extra bit of gear for your project, try looking in The Shed first. By working together, we can save money, reduce waste, and most importantly, advance conservation.