Photo by Pat Christman
Stacie Mueller of the Minnesota State University rec center puts up one of the center's new rental tents. The umbrella-like tents spring up in less than a minute.
MANKATO — George Cejka says his idea of roughin' it is "the cable TV being out." But that doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate the great outdoors.
Cejka is the rec center coordinator for Minnesota State University, which also gives him the task of being in charge of the school's outdoor rental center.
The center just may be one of Mankato's best-kept secrets.
"We don't get as much business as we'd like," Cejka said. "We want to get people outdoors to enjoy the beauty of the rivers and the state parks we have here in southern Minnesota."
The rental center has canoes, tents and sleeping bags available to the public at affordable prices. For instance, $30 can get you can a four-person tent, two sleeping bags and a canoe with paddles and life jackets for an entire weekend.
If you're a novice or casual camper or paddler, Cejka says, you shouldn't have to track down an outfitter or drain your savings account at one of the big outdoors department stores in order to get outside.
"You don't have to go out and spend 250 to 300 bucks to go camping," Cejka said. "It's pretty dad-gum affordable. If you're only going to go out a couple times a summer, it's a no-brainer."
Minnesota State is one of the few places to find such deals, however.
A to Z Rental Center in Mankato does rent canoes, but it no longer has tents or other camping equipment.
Cejka recently purchased two new pop-up-style tents that hold up to six people and open like umbrellas "to set up in 30 seconds."
"They truly are no-brainers," he said of the tents.
Cejka says he wants his customers, whether they're MSU students or members of the Mankato community to enjoy the experience of the outdoors if they want.
Although groups like the Boy Scouts or international students will rent the gear, Cejka says that typically, only about a third of the equipment is rented out on a given weekend.
"It's still a hidden secret," he said. "We do a lot of advertising on campus, and we get those folks. But it's the community people, alumni and friends of the university. They don't come in as much as we'd like."
Maverick Rental Center weekend package rates:
Group rentals are also available. Extra days are $10 for packages 1, 2 and 3 and $5 for the others.
Packages can be picked up Friday afternoons and must be returned by 9 a.m. the following Monday.
For more information or to reserve packages, call (507) 389-1321 or e-mail george.cejka@mnsu.edu.
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