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BOARD OF DIRECTORS












Interested in joining the Board?

We are always looking for new women to serve on our Board of Directors.

Terms are for 3 years.

If you would like to apply to serve as a Board of Director, please send an email to membership@womenoutdoors.org 

Officers

Margaret Crowley, Board  President, Finger Lakes

 learned about Women Outdoors at a local outdoor expo and joined shortly after I joined the BOD in 2021. Over more recent years as family responsibilities have decreased, I have been able to devote more time to: hiking, skiing, snow shoeing, birding, biking and kayaking. I have truly enjoyed meeting new friends and learning about nature & conservation and what we each can do to take better care of mother earth. I enjoy leading hikes and showing participants interesting features. We are fortunate to have such wonderful and diverse parks and great people with whom to explore.


Kris Mujica, Board Treasurer, Finger Lakes

Kris currently lives in Addison, NY but lived in Delaware for 30 years after college.  After moving back home to help her elderly mother, Kris found out about Women Outdoors at a Finger Lakes Trails Festival.  She has been a member for three years and joined the Board about two years ago.  Having grown up on a beef cattle farm, she loves the outdoors.  The demands of maintaining her family's 60 acres limits her time for hiking and kayaking.  But, whatever she is doing you can be sure her lab, Ruby, is by her side!

Bonna Wieler, Board Secretary, NH/VT 

Bonna has been part of the board for oodles of years, having found Women Outdoors while searching for women playmates to kayak with.  Finding the group cooperative and inspiring, she joined the board to fill a niche. As Secretary, she takes minutes at meetings and posts them once they have been reviewed by the board members, and sends out a To-Do list to board members via email after each meeting.

Directors at Large


Randi Lynn Quackenbush, 
Finger Lakes

Randi joined the WO Board in 2021. She loves hiking, backpacking, paddling, skiing, and camping in all seasons, and she travels to the mountains at every opportunity - she recently became an ADK 46er.  After attending a few Becoming an Outdoors Woman events in NY and VT, Randi sought out women-specific outdoor opportunities and found Women Outdoors. As a newer Board member and resident millennial, Randi has been helping plan events and provide technical support. She lives in Trumansburg, NY with her husband and dog Luna.

Jennifer MacKenzie, Connecticut

I grew up camping, hiking and fishing with my family in Maine and New Hampshire. I traveled across all of the US, raised three sons, and currently have seven grandsons and two granddaughters.

I live in Danbury CT near the New York border. I have been leading hikes for at least 25 years - all levels: simple walks on carriage roads, to scaling the rocks of Popolopen Torne or at Macedonia in Connecticut. Most of those hikes have been for The Hiking Group CT-NY. I enjoy fall and winter hiking the best. Basically I appreciate any opportunity if I was being outdoors and active

While I've completed the training to be an AMC leader, I have never organized a hike for them. I have completed their wilderness survival training twice as I think safety for all outdoor activities is important.

As the newly retired school teacher / librarian with time in my hands I'm looking forward to contributing my skills and abilities to the Women Outdoors organization.

Bet Bowles, Mid-Atlantic

In February of 2023, I discovered the Women Outdoors website by accident while looking for something to complete my bucket list of adventures. I am a retired Federal Contracting Officer that developed a love for the outdoors when I was traveling all over the world for work. I enjoy hiking, camping and traveling.

Without knowing anyone, I went to the 2023 Gathering in Albany, New York from Maryland (6 hour drive). I was welcomed by the group and mostly the women in the Mid Atlantic region basically took me under their wings and made the whole introduction to the group feel welcoming. Since joining the group I have been on at least one event a month with the Mid Atlantic group. 

I decided to join the board to see if I could use my skills of negotiation to help facilitate the goal of the organization.

Lisa Vaas, Eastern MA

Lisa, who lives in Boston, joined Women Outdoors around 2001, joined the board a few years after, and eventually took on the job of president. During her tenure, she launched the WOOF online event series during the pandemic and helped to launch the Women Unleashed program. After a brief hiatus, she rejoined the board in 2024 as a director at large. Lisa organized an American Canoeing Association Level 1 Kayaking instructor training weekend for 7 Women Outdoors members in July 2024. She's part of organizing committees for the Gathering and the Craftsbury skiing weekend. Lisa has also launched a new Paddling committee that will work to spread  knowledge of water sports safety and skills.  Her favorite outdoor activity is kayaking. She likes x-country skiing and sometimes hikes, only because that’s what the cool kids do. She wants to take kayaking training somewhere warm!

Donna Adams, Eastern Mass

I enjoy the freedom retirement has given me and use it to spend more time outdoors. The Minuteman Bikeway is a mile from my house and I have had the good fortune to bike many miles on it. I enjoy kayaking and in the summer of 2024 I participated with six other WO members and got certified as an ACA Level 1 kayak instructor.  I also love hiking, birding and cross-country skiing.  

In 2024, I completed Wilderness First Aid and CPR training. I attended AMC’s Leadership Training Program and participated in their Spring Hiking and Backpacking Program. I haven’t lead trips for AMC because my focus is to promote and contribute to women being outdoors. In 2024, I joined the Board. It will be rewarding to pitch in and help guide WO into the future.

Lisa Barker, Finger Lakes

Board of Directors News Blog


  • 24 Nov 2024 4:57 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    A Letter from Margaret Crowley, WO Board President

    Dear Members of Women Outdoors,

    As another year draws to a close, it is good to take a moment to reflect on the incredible adventures, personal growth, and camaraderie that have defined our past year together.

    Highlights of Our Year

    From our Craftsbury cross country skiing weekend, to exhilarating hikes in the Northeast Kingdom of VT, to our kayak instruction on Lake Scully and serene kayaking trips on the Connecticut River, to The Gathering 2024 and fall foliage hiking Mt Greylock or the Mt. Morris Dam, every adventure has been an opportunity to build lasting friendships in the great outdoors.

    Community and Connection

    Women Outdoors (WO) continues to thrive because of the dedication and passion of each member. It's been inspiring to see how we've supported one another, from cheering on a fellow paddler getting back into a swamped kayak for the first time, to sharing tips for orienteering, to learning wilderness first aid, to sharing stories around the campfire, to sharing talents at the talent show during The Gathering. The strength of our community is a testament to the power of shared experiences and mutual encouragement.

    Achievements and Milestones

    We are proud of the many achievements this year, including:

    • WO first virtual annual meeting (so that more members could participate, rather than limiting participation to those who were able to attend The Gathering) 

    • Mid-Atlantic Region hosted their first annual Mini-Gathering Camping Weekend with great success (11 participants)

    • Initiated a Paddling Committee for WO

    • Craftsbury Cross Country Skiing Weekend (40 participants)

    • White Mountain Winter Getaway (13 participants) 

    • 5 members have successfully completed ACA Kayak Instructor Training during 2024

    • Offering a diverse WOOF calendar 2024 (members can view these online if you missed any)

    • The Gathering 2024 (49 participants)

    • Launching new workshops and training sessions on outdoor skills

    These milestones are a reminder of what we can achieve together when we set our minds to it.

    Looking Ahead

    As we look forward to the coming year, we have even more exciting plans in store. Our calendar will be filled with diverse activities ranging from local day trips to more ambitious multi-day expeditions as well as international travel to South America. We'll also be introducing new initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity and promoting conservation. Our WOOF (Women Outdoors Online Fun times) presentations have been a big success and we’ll be starting these up again soon and continuing WOOF into spring. 

    We are super excited about our new venue for The Gathering 2025 which will be held August 22-24, 2025 in the mid-Hudson Valley of NY at Camp Scatico where camp staff will prepare meals and do the dishes! This larger, full service and well equipped camp has many new offerings such as a climbing wall; gymnastics room with a floor trampoline for yoga, bouncing, exercising and/or gymnastics;  golf putting & driving range;  hiking right from campus (no need to drive off campus to a trail head); possible archery range; and an inflatable to bounce off of, or be launched off of, into the lake! Along with all the traditions such as campfires and talent show - We cannot wait! Mark your calendar now!

    Gratitude

    We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to Women Outdoors’ success, whether by organizing events, leading trips, encouraging others to join, serving as a Regional Contact, or on the Board of Directors, or on a working committee, or simply sharing your enthusiasm for the outdoors. Your participation and support make Women Outdoors the vibrant and welcoming community that it is.

    Call to Action

    We encourage all members to get involved, share ideas, and bring their unique strengths to the table. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just starting out, there's a place for you in Women Outdoors and we encourage you to invite someone else to also join Women Outdoors. If there is an outdoor skill you are interested in learning and sharing, let us know as WO is dedicated to providing leadership training. Let's continue to inspire and uplift one another as we explore the great outdoors and natural wonders around us.

    If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to Women Outdoors so that Women Outdoors can continue to expand our offerings and programming, please visit https://www.womenoutdoors.org/donate

    If you are interested in joining the board of directors for WO email president@womenoutdoors.org

    Thank you for being part of this amazing journey. Here's to another year of adventures, growth, and unforgettable memories!

    Warmest regards,

    Margaret Crowley, Women Outdoors President

  • 15 Nov 2023 6:54 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Hello Members of Women Outdoors! 

    It was nice meeting new friends and seeing old friends at The Gathering in August 2023. It was a great time where participants were able to select from new activities like a tubing trip, starting a night crawler (worm) farm or enjoying the night sights from a telescope, as well as offerings which have traditionally been available: songs around the campfire, paddling & paddling skill development, biking, hiking, birding, swimming, bike maintenance and repair, a wonderful talent show, silly skits, and more. Brava to Sandy Z, who organized registration, housing, food & schedule and to Becky F for managing the kitchen during the event; I think participants agree they both did an outstanding job on these large assignments and we appreciate their service. Thank you both! 

    If you are interested in helping plan The Gathering 2024, please email us at gathering@womenoutdoors.org

    The Board of Directors for Women Outdoors (WO) held our annual retreat October 27-29 and we were thrilled to welcome two new board members: Jennifer MacKenzie, Regional Contact for Connecticut, and Jennifer Hodges. The Board worked hard planning, elected officers, reviewed the annual budget and established champions for Board committees. The Board parted at the end of the retreat dedicated to two goals: welcoming & safety, with some exciting plans for the new year and beyond. 

    The Board continues to focus on providing a safe space for women to gather and enjoy the outdoors. That safety includes three areas: (1) WO is committed to providing a welcoming environment so that whether someone is an expert or newer to being outdoors, all feel welcome, accepted and appreciated,  (2) WO is committed to welcoming all women regardless of age, class, ethnicity, race, health, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion, physical size, education level, job and function, equipment/newness of their gear, personality traits, and other differences, and (3) WO is committed to providing safety: meaning the leader has some knowledge and experience (although not necessarily an expert), and is able and prepared to help someone newer to the activity to participate safely which, based on the event and current conditions, might include postponing for a more opportune time.

    All positions in Women Outdoors are volunteer. Event leaders are volunteers and will continue to provide and have participants sign a release of liability for each event as is our current practice. Event leaders are the backbone of WO; if you are interested in becoming an event leader, please reach out to your Regional Contact (RCs and email address can be found on website).

    The board left the retreat re-committed to growing and diversifying WO. If you know a woman who might be interested in joining WO, please share the information; this has proven to be one of the best ways to grow any organization. As you probably know, WO has a policy that a woman can participate in 3 activities to “try out” WO prior to joining.

    We have a small but strong group working with Sandy Z on refreshing the WO website which Sandy Z lovingly created with help from others and has maintained for several years. Our Diversity Committee continues to meet monthly to discuss, research and plan. 

    Some members of WO participate only in local events while other members participate in events offered by different regions or “national” events. WO has two significant “national” events currently planned: Craftsbury and White Mountains 4 Day Getaway. And Women Outdoors Online Fun Times (WOOF) events will be starting soon! 

    Thank you for your trust and support. We look forward to an exciting new year in WO!

    Margaret

    Board 2021

Board Members Emeritae

Mary Charney, Finger Lakes 

Happily retired and interested in all types of outdoor pursuits including nature study, hiking, kayaking, birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, nature photography and exploring the country in my RV with my cat Ginger as co-pilot.  

Thanks to a friend and to Meetup, I discovered Women Outdoors in the Fall of 2014, participated in a couple of events and then joined Women Outdoors in Jan 2015 in the Finger Lakes NY Region.

I have planned and lead a few trips and then became a member of the board in 2018 and assigned as Membership Coordinator in 2019 and Gathering Committee Co-Chair for our 40th Gathering in 2019.

I find it both meaningful and rewarding volunteering my time to  work with others on the board to help guide our organization in fulfilling our mission of promoting friendship, adventure, and leadership skills for women in the great outdoors.


Anna DeSousa, Board Treasurer Emerita, Finger Lakes


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