Hello everyone, my name is Emma Rose and I am the External Director for the New Brunswick Women in Business (NBWIB) Conference.  I will be bringing you our latest blog post. As the final weeks of summer approach, I'm sure you're looking for fun activities to make the most of the time remaining. If you’re like me, I’m always looking for new exciting activities during the summer, however, finding these outdoorsy adventures can be somewhat daunting.  Where do you go? Who do you go with? What about gear and planning? If you’re new to the outdoors community or the area the answers to these questions can be difficult to find and leaving them unanswered can be what takes you from “I’m so excited to go!” to “Maybe next summer”. In this blog post, I will be detailing my personal experience as someone spending their first summer in the Maritimes and how the women’s adventure group I found through Second Nature Outdoors helped me break into the outdoor community. 

While the outdoors might seem like a big free-for-all, available for anyone and everyone to enjoy, in reality the landscape and community are often far from accessible or welcoming. Many facets of the industry feel exclusionary to anyone who isn’t male, cisgender or able-bodied. Thankfully there are plenty of women out there looking to change that, including Chloe Saulnier, the Operations Manager at Second Nature Outdoors who saw a need for an inclusive, beginner-friendly adventure group. I had a great time at this event and want to share my experience with you; 

“Women’s Adventure Wednesday” occurs weekly on Wednesday evenings and focuses on paddling themed events whether kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards.  Occasionally a biking event will also be thrown in. The event I attended was a kayaking fun and games night.  At these events, all the gear is supplied. This particular Wednesday gear included; the kayak, PFD (personal floatation device), paddle, bailer bag and tow rope. While I have kayaked before, some of the ladies in the group had not, and the guide went over the parts of the boat, how to use all the required equipment, how to paddle and assisted everyone in getting into their kayaks.  

Water can be very scary for a lot of people for very valid reasons, and getting out on the water can be challenging for a whole plethora of reasons. Having the right gear being a huge obstacle, so it was a major advantage having all the gear provided by this program. I only had to bring myself and some comfy quick dry clothing.   

The great thing about this group is it gives members the option to go at their own pace and push personal boundaries in a fun, supportive and nurturing environment. Our evening was very fun and spent paddling around the Oromocto location of Second Nature Outdoors. We paddled in the Oromocto river and around Thatch Island with lots of breaks to enjoy the scenery and some games and friendly competitions to break the ice and test our new skills out on the water.  

I was very excited to find a women’s only group as these groups often give women the extra freedom to truly be themselves. This freedom gave me the opportunity to fully experience the place we were paddling, learn and try new things and push myself in new ways that I and a lot of women, wouldn’t feel comfortable doing in a mixed group situation. The shared experience away from the external pressures of life can foster deep connections and comfort those who are at different stages of discovering the outdoors. It’s also such a cool opportunity to be involved in things you otherwise thought you couldn’t do, and get the support of others around you.  

One of the highlights of the evening was the bond you create with others over collective experiences.  Adventuring with other women who have a passion for life and new experiences is empowering and the type of energy you receive from a group like that allows you to test your limits and re-discover yourself and your potential. The shared experience of facing challenges or fears and new encounters in a fun, safe and supportive environment nurtures the soul for many women and is the reason I chose this group.  

Don’t forget, no matter your situation or where you find yourself there are always opportunities for new experiences thanks to folks working tirelessly in those fields. At an event such as Women’s Adventure Wednesday you are sure to meet like-minded adventurers who are keen to seek new experiences and make meaningful connections.