Helping Team Whiteman enjoy the outdoors

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Winter has finally passed, it is a nice warm spring day in the spring and you want to go out on a fishing trip, but you do not have a boat. Where is the best place to rent one?

The Whiteman Outdoor Recreation Center is a great option, offering most items at a 40- to 50-percent discount from rental dealers in the surrounding community.

"Outdoor Recreation offers a wide variety of rental equipment," said Tim Allen, 509th Force Support Squadron Outdoor Recreation manager. "We have anything from boats and canoes to chairs and tables."

Outdoor Recreation offers equipment for rent to all DOD members, and anyone with a valid DOD identification card is allowed to rent from them.

"The things people rent from us are usually items that would cost $600 to buy and you would only use it once and then have to store it away," Allen said. "Customers can come here and rent these items and they do not have to worry about storing them away or maintaining them."

Not only is Outdoor Recreation convenient for members on base, but the discounted prices can really help.

"If you go to the lake in the summer and rent a fishing boat, it's going to cost you approximately $200 dollars a day," Allen said. "Whereas you can rent one from us and an entire weekend will only cost you $135."

Within the last year, Outdoor Recreation has updated its stock, purchasing all-new boats.

"The newer equipment and the strict maintenance schedule we keep on our items have increased our products," Allen said. "People know when they're renting from us they are getting well taken-care-of equipment and [they] trust us."

Outdoor Recreation offers discounted prices for people looking to rent during the weekdays, as well. They also have boating and other out-of-season equipment still available during the winter months.

"We can also assist getting people good rental deals on winter equipment in the area," said Allen.

Outdoor Recreation also organizes trips throughout the year to different outdoor locations throughout Missouri. Previous trips have included horseback riding, mountain biking and whitewater rafting.

"We are trying to organize trips to get people interested in the outdoors," Allen said. "We want people to go on our trips and return to these places to do it again on their own."

To find out about all the items available at Outdoor Recreation, stop in or call 660-687-5565. Customers can also sign up for ForceCast at whitemanfss.com to receive updates on events from Outdoor Recreation and other FSS facilities.