Women’s Wilderness exists to create space for girls, women, and non-binary people of all ages and backgrounds to find their place, their voice, and their power in the outdoors.
We believe that access to nature is a right. We are one of the only gender-informed, social justice focused outdoor educators in the U.S, and for 26 years we've been creating empowering spaces in the outdoors for women, girls, and non-binary people, particularly those who face discriminatory barriers to accessing outdoor spaces.
We offer a variety of courses and affinity spaces that feature hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing, whitewater rafting and more, taught by certified woman and non-binary identified instructors. Over the past 26 years, our programming has grown to currently include a diverse, year-round offering of programs including:
• Outdoor GIRLS - Free after school mental health program for newcomer middle school and high school girls who identify as immigrants, refugees and asylees
• Girls Lead for Life - Free after school rock climbing, wellness and social emotional skills program for adolescent l girls from low income backgrounds
• Girls’ Wilderness Adventures - Backpacking, climbing and leadership Summer camps for girls and non-binary youth ages 8-18
• Trailblazers - Donation based outings aimed at supporting the health of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) who identify as women and non-binary
• Women’s fee-for-service programs - Climbing, backpacking, day hikes, and retreats for adult women and non-binary people
“It's nice to be with other women who look like me. The space felt safe and I love learning from other BIPOC women.” -Trailblazers Participant
"There is a sense of trust when we are telling our stories because we are with people we can relate to who have been through something similar." -Outdoor Girl Immigrant Refugee Leadership Series Participant
"Something about the Women’s Wilderness community just makes it feel safe to be emotionally vulnerable." -Wilderness Adventure Participant
"I think I really found courage in myself that I never knew I had. I have learned to speak my mind, and not hold back because I might sound stupid. This experience has brought out the best in me." -Girls' Wilderness Adventures Participant
"I remain changed from my Women's Wilderness trip. It was incredibly challenging for me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I had to pull strength from deep within me, strength I wasn't sure I possessed. I went from constantly repeating I can't, to saying 'Yes, I can.' Even two years later, when I am faced with challenges in life, I think: 'I did that backpacking trip, so I can do this, too.'" -Girls' Wilderness Adventures Participant
"I'v come home with better body image definitely, more confidence on making friends, and generally less attachment to technology." -Wilderness Adventure Participant
"I have become more aware of my needs and learned how to voice them and take up space." -Wilderness Adventure Participant
Women’s Wilderness exists to create space for girls, women, and non-binary people of all ages and backgrounds to find their place, their voice, and their power in the outdoors.
The organization was founded in 1998 by Laura Tyson, a wilderness therapist and professional outdoor educator. She observed that the nation's two biggest outdoor education/wilderness therapy organizations, Outward Bound and NOLS, were founded by white men, with the original intent of serving primarily white boys and young men. This greatly limited the opportunities for girls and nonbinary folks (especially those who identified as BIPOC and those who weren't wealthy) to have outdoor experiences crafted to address the challenges and experiences they face in adolescence, in a style that was crafted to fit their realities.
WW was founded to change the way that girls and women connect with nature, each other, and the power within themselves, through an inherently gender-informed lens.
Organization name
Women's Wilderness
other names
WW, The Women's Wilderness Institute
1998
Category
Youth Development, Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, Environment
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Child Care Credit
Address
1206 Euclid Ave Suite 1Boulder County, CO, US