Outdoor Adventure Training and Retreats For Women

Vermont Outdoor professionals and organizations offer outdoor challenges, skill development and educational programs for women throughout the year, including VOGA's original Doe Camp Retreat. This page includes our Women's Adventure Event Calendar and businesses that offer women specific programming. Choose from a variety of fun and educational opportunities and activities.

Connect with like minded adventurous women by joining our brand new private Doe Camp Nation group page on Facebook.

Due to many requests, we just created a private Facebook group page for adventurous women.
You can connect with like minded women, post day trips and outings and invite members to attend, post gatherings, share tips on different activities/resources, ask for advice, post or find women's outdoor events, share and ask for outdoor health information, get discounts on gear/lodging/services, post photos, videos and more!

Firearms Safety for Women

Retreats and Outdoor Adventures

Women's Outdoor Programs

There are few new programs on our radar at this time but as we recover from COVID and events become available, they will be posted here.

COVID-19 in Vermont. There is new information for people traveling to Vermont.

Adventure Based Programs for Women

Appalachian Trail Adventures
Hiking, Caving, Kayaking
An award winning hiking spa, based in Killington, Vermont. With more than 25 years of experience, Appalachian Trail Adventures (ATA) is a one-stop adventure destination for outdoor enthusiasts, couples, girl getaways, families, friends and single travelers. We provide both personalized, All-Inclusive Hiking Vacations and Guided Day Adventures throughout the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Backpacking For Slowpokes
Stowe and Central Vermont
Guided Hikes, Overnight Camping, Private Hires, Winter Snowshoeing with Your Dog, Summer Overnight Backpacking, Multi-Day Full Moon, Multi-Day LGBTQ+
Body positive overnight backpacking adventures for women who prefer to stop and check out the view. Whether you need to get away from the city and submerge yourself in Vermont's backcountry or simply want a bad ass, super different femme weekend, you’ve landed home.

Horses and Pathfinders
Moretown, VT
Women’s Lead-Herd-Ship Sessions - Designed for women who are ready to declare transformation, our Women’s Lead-Herd-Ship Inner Circle will explore true leadership for yourself, your vision, your work and every relationship in your life. All learning is in-person, grounded, and safe. Each week we take our time and space. This a non-riding program and prior horse experience is not required.

Magical Earth Retreats
Southern Vermont
Summer Day Camps, Women's, Family and Adult Retreats
Readsboro, VT
Magical Earth Retreats provides the space, place and opportunity for women to re- connect with mother nature with the goal of changing the destructive route of the human race one child/person at a time with love, light, peace and creativity.

O.W.L.S. Skills: Outdoorsy Women Learning Survival Skills
Jessie Krebs started this school with the dream of women working together and supporting each other in a safe and challenging way. Women are survivors without training. We simply push on…or we don’t make it. Survival is about a lot more than physical skills, and survival takes many forms depending on the environment. Humans have been passing down wilderness skills for years, but women were often excluded. This is obvious when we look at most survival schools today. At OWLSSkills, women support and nourish each other to express and grow via training. With the physical skills of making a fire, tying up a shelter, or leading an off-trail hike, come the non-tangible skills of empowerment and confidence. We are stronger together. Come join us in being wilder women. Watch Jessie Krebs on MasterClass.

Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School
Alpine Mountaineering, Ice and Rock Climbing
Burlington VT
Petra Cliffs offers a complete outdoor instruction curriculum, catering to groups of all sizes and to individuals of all ages and abilities. From one-on-one technical skill instruction to group teambuilding, we consistently meet the needs of our diverse clientele.

Quimby Country
Northeast Kingdom
Biking, Birding, Moose & Nature Watching, Canoeing & Kayaking, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Fishing, Hunting,
Averill, VT
Quimby’s 3-night women’s retreat offers flexibility, allowing participants to design their own experience and embrace all the amenities Quimby’s has to offer, while taking advantage of professional instructors and staff. We have designed a perfect getaway retreat for you and your friends, and we look forward to sharing Quimby’s with you!

Vermont Adventure Tours
Southern, Central - Vermont
Hiking, Canoeing, Kayaking, Orienteering, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Winter Camping,  Women's Challenges, Youth Programs, Winter Activities
Rutland, VT
Imagine doing an adventure tour through Vermont and New England that is perfectly blended to match your needs for adrenaline and serenity. Mix and match elements to create a special custom tour package suited to your unique tastes. Experience spectacular mountains, crisp fresh air, lush forests, wildlife and an abundance of adventure on an adventure holiday designed to fit your specific time frame, budget and interests.

Women's Outdoor Event Calendar

June through October, Thursday Women's Ride
Mountain bike rides with Ridgeline Outdoor Collective
http://www.ridgelineoutdoorcollective.org/calendar/

August 6 at 9 am, Level 1 Introduction to Firearms
Vermont Womens Shooting Association - Hubbardton, VT

August 10, 17 and 24, - Women's Pistol Classes
Parro's Gun Shop in Waterbury, VT is offering Women's Pistol Classes on August 10, 17 and 24. https://www.parros.com/home

August 14, 2022, Women’s Intro to Rifle and Shotgun
Length: One 4-hour day of instruction, starting at 1-5PM. Prior Experience: NONE to minimal, Description: This course is designed to introduce women 18 and older to basic Rifle/Shotgun safety and skills. Cost: Range fee $5, ammo fee $50, http://vtfirearmstraining.com/vt-firearms-class-schedule/

August 25, 2022, Women's Mountain Bike Clinic
4:00pm, Back for summer 2022, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center is offering a series of introductory/beginner mountain bike clinics & group rides for women 18 and over. Registration required. https://www.craftsbury.com/cycling/cyclingprograms/womensmountainbikeclinics

August 26 - 27, 2022, NWTF: Women in the Outdoors
Join the National Wild Turkey Federation in a women-focused event with classes on water safety, fishing, firearms handling and shooting, turkey hunting, and self-defense. Participants will arrive Friday night for an evening social around the campfire and overnight accommodations in rustic cabins. Then enjoy a full day of activities culminating with an evening BBQ dinner - maybe even cook up the fish you caught! To register and for more information, contact Ron LaFreniere at 802-730-7660 or e-mail ronlafreniere@outdrs.net. Reasonable accommodations can be made on request at no cost to the student. If you need an accommodation, please give as much notice as possible. If you need accommodations, please let us know when registering. https://www.nwtf.org/events/vermont-women-in-the-outdoors-2022

September 9-11, 2022, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
Silver Bay YMCA, Adirondacks, NY. - Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) and Beyond BOW are programs designed to teach women outdoor skills. These programs provide women with information, encouragement, and hands-on instruction in outdoor skills such as fishing, shooting, archery, hunting, trapping, outdoor photography, map and compass, survival, camping, canoeing, and outdoor cooking. BOW workshops are designed primarily for women who have little or no experience with outdoor activities. These are three-day workshops that offer many different classes over the course of a weekend. https://www.dec.ny.gov/education/68.html

September 16-18, 2022, Quimby Country Women’s Weekend
Quimby’s 2-night Women’s Weekend offers flexibility, allowing participants to design their own experience and embrace all the amenities Quimby’s has to offer, while taking advantage of professional instructors and staff. We have designed a perfect getaway weekend for you and your friends, and we look forward to sharing Quimby’s with you! Situated on over 1,000 acres, Quimby’s allows for ample exploration and quiet moments allowing you to fully feel connected to the natural environment and one ’s needs.  Our Women’s Weekend will replenish and inspire you to try new things and make new connections. https://quimbycountry.com/

September 18, 2022, Women’s Intro to Handgun
Cost: Range fee $5, ammo fee $50. Length: One 4-hour day of instruction, starting at 1 PM – 5 PM, Prior Experience: NONE to minimal. Description: This course is designed to introduce women 18 and older to basic pistol safety and skills. TO SIGN UP FOR THIS COURSE, http://vtfirearmstraining.com/vt-firearms-class-schedule/

Oct 7, 2022 at 5:00PM - Sun, Oct 9, 2022 at 5:00PM, Women's Weekend Survival Class with Jessie Krebs
Monkton, VT - This stand-alone course is for those that would like more hands-on practice and coaching. The weekend is spent diving into the five basic needs of a survivor in an outdoor base camp.  Staying warm and protected using clothing and gear, shelter, and fire skills; health concepts and techniques; what to do if you are lost/disoriented; finding and consuming food and water; and most importantly, how to get FOUND ASAP! It includes lectures, demonstrations, and student practices in a friendly, supportive learning environment. Evenings are spent cooking and eating dinner around the fire, followed by more discussion and lessons, including night navigation techniques. Smore's and dinners are included! $520.00 - https://go.thryv.com/site/6zyw7zstcjg3hf6c/online-scheduling?event=gqmpjrg9w3q4gzio

October 15, 2022, Women's Rope-working Class: Knots, Hitches and Lashings for Multiple Applications with Jessie Krebs
Monkton VT. - at 10:00AM - 6:00PM. This eight-hour training covers many different knots, hitches, and lashings, incorporating hands-on practical applications in scenarios like shelter-building, lashing up poles between trees, making tripods, and emergency ascension or rappel.  We'll learn how to make a simple two-strand reverse twist rope out of whatever materials you may have on hand and then dive into the incredible things you can do with a deceptively simple line.  These skills were commonplace in previous centuries, handed down through the generations, but they are rapidly fading from our modern times.  In an emergency, they can be used to quickly and efficiently solve a host of problems and are also just fascinating and FUN!  Come join the ranks of the knot-nerds! $150. Only 12 spots available. https://go.thryv.com/site/6zyw7zstcjg3hf6c/online-scheduling?event=j8vhhu4iy5fxw05o

October 16, 2022, One Day Women's Survival Course with Jessie Krebs
Monkton VT. - at 10:00AM - 6:00PM. This “crash course” in basic outdoor survival principles is excellent for those who are short on time, yet want to feel more confident in the outdoors. This is the perfect course for an introduction to core concepts that will help keep you centered and making healthy decisions if things get hairy. It's mostly lecture-style with some hands-on training on topics such as staying warm, building fires, signaling for help, navigation concepts, knife sharpening, building emergency shelters, and more. Young, old, injured or otherwise are welcome! $150. https://go.thryv.com/site/6zyw7zstcjg3hf6c/online-scheduling?event=vkgs4uo622wydrsr

October 16, 2022, Women’s Intro to Rifle and Shotgun
Length: One 4-hour day of instruction, starting at 1-5PM. Prior Experience: NONE to minimal. Description: This course is designed to introduce women 18 and older to basic Rifle/Shotgun safety and skills. Cost: Range fee $5, ammo fee $50, http://vtfirearmstraining.com/vt-firearms-class-schedule/

Archery Classes

Please Support Our Sponsors

Outdoorsy Women Learning Survival Skills - To educate and empower women and other underrepresented demographics in the skills of surviving emergencies in global wilderness environments.

Jackson’s Lodge and Log Cabin Village is a destination of going-back-in-time to a Vermont lakeside resort built in the 1920s.

The Well Armed Woman Shooting Chapters in Vermont. Search by state.

Women Training Women - Providing education and training of women who are interested in learning about firearms, firearm safety and the fun of shooting.

Say good-bye to harmful petrochemical ingredients in your soap, and hello to natural materials.

Outdoor pants designed so everyone can answer nature’s call.

We’re dedicated to creating the world’s best socks, and prove it by standing behind them unconditionally.

R & L Archery, Barre VT. Gear for Fishing, Hunting, Camping, Kayaking, Geocaching, Paintballing

Find everything you need for the outdoors, including fishing gear, archery equipment, firearms, and outdoor clothing at Vermont Field Sports

Rack N' Reel is a store specializing in sporting goods, archery, guns, ammunition, outdoors, work and technical apparel, camping, kayaking and other outdoor ventures. Rack N' Reel 5343 Ethan Allen Highway, New Haven, VT.

VASA is the statewide association of ATV clubs dedicated to developing, promoting and conserving responsible, family friendly ATV recreation throughout the state.