Looking for a fun getaway idea with your girlfriends or even a solo adventure? We just learned about the REI Outessa, a series retreats for women who want to push their limits and learn new skills through immersive experiences.
The REI Outessa retreats are held in inspiring mountain settings, including a location in North Lake Tahoe at Squaw Valley, California from Aug. 2-5 and in the White Mountains of Waterville Valley, New Hampshire from Sept. 13-16.
In addition to the awesome programming, women can fully customize their retreat experience and their schedules. For example, participants can join workshops like Wilderness Survival, Map and Compass Navigation, Sunrise Yoga, and Reframe on Goal Setting, and activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, standup paddle boarding, and introduction to backpacking, taught by top REI Outdoor School female instructors and brand partners. The day starts with a full breakfast before heading out to the trail, crag, or water, while evenings are filled with chef-inspired meals and fireside relaxation complete with s’mores, wine, inspirational speakers, and conversation. In 2017 the retreat series brought close to 1,000 women together to experience the outdoors and find their community of likeminded women.
Additionally, if you can’t make a retreat you can attend their virtual event where participants from all over the country can come together on one day to pledge miles and work toward a collective goal. Women, their friends, families, and allies can conquer these miles on their own time while empowering women in their communities and potentially meeting new friends that have the same common goals. Women can engage with others through hiking, walking, paddling, or running to reach a milestone achievement. Additional details will be announced this summer.
Outessa is also part of REI’s broader effort called Force of Nature to advance gender equity in the outdoors. Force of Nature aims to ensure women are just as inspired and equipped as men to embrace life outside. Launched in 2017, Force of Nature featured four components: over 1,000 events designed for women, a comprehensive marketing effort to change the male-dominated imagery of people in the outdoors, an increased effort to develop and offer high-quality technical gear and apparel for women, and a $1 million commitment to support nonprofits that create opportunities for women in the outdoors.
Visit www.Outessa.com to learn about the retreat locations and dates. Tickets for the REI Outessa retreats will go on sale in February. On this day, participants can also begin to build their schedules for the three-day weekend.
