Base Camp is gearing up for its biggest adventure yet

I had a chance to sit down with the power couple behind Dayton’s most adventurous retail shop: Base Camp Outdoors Co.! On the most basic level, Base Camp is an outdoor recreation retailer selling products to help you get out and explore such as apparel, camping gear, birdwatching items, etc. But the core of this local business goes much deeper.

Base Camp’s Purpose

It’s rare and exciting for a new business by first-time entrepreneurs to be so locked on their true north. Base Camp owners, Claire and Brycen Cross, believe in the power of nature to help people heal, to reduce stress, and to create internal calm. They also recognize that not everyone has been encouraged to be “outdoorsy” for various reasons. It can sometimes even feel as though outdoor recreation is something only certain people can enjoy – like there’s some kind of barrier to entry. Base Camp is a place where people can ask any and all questions without judgement. Whether you’ve never set foot in a forest, or you’re not sure where to kayak, or not sure what a kayak is, Base Camp wants to help you feel confident enough to venture out and experience nature.

“We chose the name Base Camp because it’s a place to start – base camps are located at the trail head,” explains Claire. “But base camps are also places people gather just to hang out. It’s a place everyone’s welcome.”

How it Started

Claire and Brycen have unfortunately experienced tragic losses in their family, and during the pandemic, they started taking stock of things in their lives. “We realized we didn’t want to spend time doing anything that doesn’t fuel us,” explains Brycen. “During Covid, daily walks were becoming spiritually necessary. Getting outdoors helped us deal with that difficult time.”

They decided to start Base Camp and go all in – to ‘go after it’ like their tagline says. Their goal is to encourage and equip the community to be able to enjoy all the benefits of engaging with nature. And Dayton has so many wonderful opportunities to do just that.

“Dayton has bike paths, hiking trails, waterways, and parks – Dayton could be the outdoor capital of the midwest,” explains Claire. “One of our mottos is ‘the outdoors is for everyone,’ and we want to help more people experience Dayton’s outdoor opportunities.”

In addition to their website, Base Camp has popped up at events in the Dayton Arcade markets and had a booth at 2nd Street Market. “The Metroparks have been a great community partner to us,” explains Brycen. “Being at 2nd Street helped us plug into the community, learn about running this business and especially about working together.” Running a business as a couple would be daunting for anyone, but Claire and Brycen make it look effortless.

“We’ve known each other since we were 11,” explains Claire. “No matter what happens with Base Camp during the day, the friendship comes first. He’s more ‘back of house’ and I’m more ‘front of house’ – we know our strengths and weaknesses and make it work.”

“It’s fun to do something new every day,” explains Brycen. “And our kids have enjoyed being involved, too.”

What’s Next

Base Camp is getting a home base – right across the street from Day Air Ballpark. For Brycen, growing up in the suburbs meant that spending time downtown in Dayton was a highlight. And working at the ball park as a teenager was a reason to spend even more time downtown exploring the city. “The vibrancy and people downtown were exciting,” explains Brycen. “I always wanted to contribute something of quality back to this community.”

It just so happens that the exact place they had their eye on was available – all 4,000 square feet of it right next to Moeller Brew Barn in the Water Street District. “The sky’s the limit with this space,” explains Claire. “We’ll have a mobile mending service pop up, there will be a stage for education opportunities, live music, and more.”

They have plans to open their retail store by late spring 2024. Until then, their website is stocked for all your adventures. Base Camp will also be a part of the upcoming Adventure Summit (February 9 & 10). They’ll be holding an outdoor potluck in February, plus an urban birdwatching event in March.

Stay up to date on all things Base Camp on their Instagram and Facebook.