May 6th, 2017
“Force of Nature”
Outdoor Wisconsin Women Panel- REI Brookfield
About
REI, the outdoor retail company, is spending the month promoting and supporting women who work and play in the outdoors. They are opening up a dialogue about how women are shaping the outdoor industry and finding ways to make better products for women. It’s not meant to be controversial. It’s an opportunity to highlight women who are pushing for more inclusivity in their sport or career, promoting role models, and getting better gear for women of all shapes and sizes.
Our Event
We attended a panel discussion at REI’s Brookfield, WI store that included five women who work or play in the outdoor field. Our panel included; Sophie Goekes, Mary Creegan, Melanie McManus, Cheryl Mitchell, and Jeanna Schwinn (in order of photo left to right).
They answered several questions about how they thrive in nature, how they feel they fit in, how their male counterparts support or don’t, and the problems with gear companies. We heard several great comments on what it means to have female role models and how to be one.
Some of our favorite quotes:
On the stereotype that the wilderness is not safe for women.
“The farther out you get, the more you learn to rely on yourself” Sophie
“Black people are afraid of the woods because of its history, but if you prepare before you go you’ll have a great time” Cheryl
“It’s not scary out there” Melanie
On outdoor apparel and gear.
“Companies are in the habit of Shrink it and Pink It, but they are getting better and we need to call the manufacturers” Jeanna
On being role models.
“If you can’t see it, you can’t believe it” Cheryl on promoting diversity
“Inspire boys too. Encourage them to support women” Jeanna
“Get involved. Get the word out. Join an organization” Sophie
Links to learn more about these amazing women
http://superiorwomenexpedition.weebly.com/
http://www.melaniemcmanus.com/
http://tallpinesconservancy.org/
Take Away
We had a great time! There was a great turnout. It was held outside and was a bit chilly so we didn’t stay late to chat. They even provided food. The women left us inspired as we prepare to leave soon. It’s great to see women getting involved in sports that some perceive as “men’s sports” and inspiring the next generation. Some people think we are crazy for quitting our jobs and starting a new lifestyle, but then we see these women and we know we aren’t the first and we are not alone.
This event is a good start for us and the kinds of things we hope to cover on our travels. We learned we need to stay and chat no matter what and take more pictures. When we hit the road we hope to find events going on, meet people, join groups, and get involved. We want to try and be more than just tourists. We want to learn about the communities we pass through on a more intimate level and events like this one is a great way to do that.
