“Research has consistently concluded that when females participate in outdoor recreation, they experience a range of benefits. Those who pursue outdoor recreation demonstrate higher levels of self-esteem, self-trust, self-worth, assertiveness, self-sufficiency, independence, confidence, empowerment, and body image as well as a greater sense of community and stress relief through interaction with the natural environment.” (Source)

Women also face a higher barrier to entry with access to outdoor pursuits, both in exposure to the experiences and greater risks for physical safety than their male counterparts. As such, our intention is to reach female-identifying youth of all walks of life who may otherwise not have been exposed to the outdoors during the pivotal years of adolescence. Investment in women is an investment in our future. Research shows that each additional year of schooling boosts women’s earnings by an average of 11.7 percent (versus 9.6 percent for men). In addition, “women can be powerful instruments of social change. When women are healthy, educated, and empowered, they are more likely to take leadership roles in the community.” (Source)