This year, as part of International Women's Day, we are celebrating some of the adventurous women in the world that are inspiring us at the moment. These women are going out of their comfort zones, learning about themselves, and making change in their communities.
We believe everyone can go on an adventure, big or small. From Wild Walks (adventures for children to take their adults on) to human powered travel around the world, adventures help us see the world from different perspectives.
Mya-Rose Craig AKA Birdgirl
Mya-Rose is a 17-year old bird watcher who in 2019 became the youngest person to have seen half of the world's birds (5,369)! And this year she's had another first: youngest person in the UK to be awarded an honorary degree!
Birdgirl is campaigning to make nature more accessible for Visible Minority Ethnic young people. In 2016, Mya-Rose created Black2Nature, a not-for-profit running nature camps for black and minority ethnic children. "I am half Bangladeshi, and ever since I was a child I have been keenly aware of the lack of people like me out in Nature in Britain." (Resurgence and Ecologist).
Mya-Rose was at the Bristol Youth Strike last week, joined by Greta Thunberg. You can watch her speech here (starts at 28 minutes).
Amy is a wild swimmer, whatever the weather! She has been wild swimming most days, all-year round for four years. Amy describes her body as a 'vessel for adventure' - we love that!
We had the joys of watching Wild Swim, a short film about Amy's journey with wild swimming, mental health and body positivity, on the big screen at Adventure Uncovered Film Festival this year. It was beautiful and moving, we recommend!
"Growing up I very rarely saw my body type represented and at school I really struggled with body image and self-esteem... Swimming is something that my body can do exactly as it is without anything needing to change."
We love wild swimming and all sorts of swimming at Outdoor People. But we also know there are barriers to swimming for many people, especially women and children. In collaboration with Deakin & Blue and Ella Foote (another inspirational adventurous woman!), we hosted a Swimming Women event to chat about what we love about swimming and why we don't swim.
Carole is a walker, gardener, community activist, nature lover and beekeeper, among much much more! Carole has consulted and supported the growth of community gardens in Southwark for the last 10 years. She's an incredible role model; in an interview with Niellah Arboine (gal-dem) Carole says "It’s for me to say to young black women and girls, ‘did you know you can be a bee farmer?'".
Carole is always on adventure, she walks everywhere and brings people together along the way. “I want promote the simple act of walking and talking as a point of accessibility, which aren’t dependant on social, cultural or financial status in society” (Eden Project Communities). Come and join us on a Family Wild Walk, Carole!
You can follow Carole's adventures on Twitter or Instagram @Blak_Outside
We recommend listening to Go Jauntly's podcast episode featuring Carole, interviewed by Hana Sutch (another inspiring adventurous woman!).
Photo credit: Lou Jazmine
Anoushé Husain describes herself as "a champion for all those experiencing barriers and self-limiting beliefs." We definitely agree. She shares her story and life experiences with authenticity and perseverance.
Anoushé is the founder of the charity Paraclimbing London. “We help a variety of people, whether you’re missing a limb or you’re visually impaired or you have invisible conditions like cancer or mental health issues, Paraclimbing London wants to remove the barriers you face and help you get into climbing.” (Ali Mitib, Hackney Post)
She is an ambassador for Ehlers-Danlos Support UK and Limb Power, a national charity created to engage amputees and individuals with limb impairments in physical activity, sport and the arts.
We recommend watching If I Can, a film by Peter Cadman and Liam White.
Our Outdoor Families community is filled with incredible women and girls. This is our thanks and appreciation to all of you. Here's to all the women in the world that are adventuring out of their comfort zone every single day.