As a girl who did not grow up in the hunting and fishing world, nor had anyone in my family that participated in these hobbies, it was a struggle finding people to take me hunting/fishing and to teach me the basics. When I was 18, I decided I wanted to learn as much as I could about hunting, fishing, and conservation. I started asking friends and local guides to take me just so I could learn. Unfortunately, as many of us have experienced, that does not always go the way we want it to and we quickly realize we can get caught in unfavorable situations when we are the only lady in the mix. I realized that I needed to find other women who enjoyed these hobbies as much as I did so that I could feel more comfortable in the duck blind, woods, on the boat, etc. Therefore, I started coordinating women’s trips on my own! One of the first trips I coordinated on my own was a Sandhill Crane and duck hunt with an outfitter in Oklahoma. During the three days we were there, our group of girls became extremely close. We did not just discuss hunting and fishing topics but had much deeper and intimate conversations about life in general. By the end of the trip, I knew I wanted to make it a priority to do more of these women’s trips because I was extremely inspired by the girls I had just met. So, I went on my first Her Wilderness trip & eventually became a coordinator for Her Wilderness!
Through Her Wilderness, I have met so many incredible women who are truly amazing in their own ways. The cool thing about this company is that Her Wilderness is a platform for all women who have a passion for the outdoors and/or want to learn more. We all come from all walks of life, so to say, and are so unique in our own ways, but also very similar in other ways. Her Wilderness is not just about enjoying the outdoors with other women. It is so much more than that. Her Wilderness was made to create a community of women who enjoy the same passions and hobbies, but it has become much more than that for me, and I am sure for many other women who have been on Her Wilderness trips.
I have grown so much as a person just through going on these trips and learning about other people’s life experiences, their successes, and their hardships. It is incredible how many strong women there are in this world and in this community alone. I never knew how many women there were out there just like me before booking a Her Wilderness trip. Her Wilderness has allowed me to become more vulnerable with other women and has helped me become a better listener and a more empathetic person. I genuinely enjoy getting to know people on a more personal level because I believe the only way we really connect with people and make an impact on others is when we are vulnerable and transparent with them.
So, you ask what Her Wilderness means to me? It means much more than limiting out on cranes or ducks with incredible women by my side. It means much more than experiencing high mountain tops and breath-taking views. For me, it is about establishing meaningful relationships with like-minded women within AND beyond the outdoors by being empathetic towards other women and showing kindness in everything. What Does Her Wilderness mean to you? Let us know!