CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) — Lime Hollow Nature Center is launching Women in the Woods, a new outdoor education series.

The program aims at empowering women and non-binary people of all experience levels, abilities, and ages to feel confident spending time outdoors. The program will kick off with a free open house on Saturday, March 7th at 10:00 a.m. and will run for about two hours, giving an educational entry point into hiking. No prior experience in outdoor activities or equipment is required.

Topics included in the open house will be:

  • The Ten Essentials for safe and confident time outdoors
  • Women-specific gear, including inclusive options for plus-sized bodies
  • Real-talk outdoor skills that address the practical realities women face outdoors
  • Building community in natural space

“For a long time, the outdoor industry has sent a quiet message about who belongs outside,” program guide Candace Rozansky says. “Women in the Woods is our way of pushing back, creating a welcoming, low-pressure space where women and non-binary folks can learn, explore, and reclaim their wild.”

Structured as a six-part monthly series, participants will learn skills to gradually build on throughout the duration of the program. Participants can attend sessions individually or as part of the full curriculum, which leads to a supported overnight backpacking trip at the end of the summer. Session topics will include nutrition in nature, foraging, navigation and orienteering, and backpacking.

Find more information about the program and how to participate on the Lime Hollow Nature Center website here.