We are thrilled to announce that in this, our 40th year, we are introducing a scholarship to honor the memory of Jan Brown. Jan was one of our beloved founding mothers. She was an historian and office manager whose contributions to Women Outdoors were vast: Jan tracked our organization's history and publications, as well as kept a comprehensive bibliography of books written by and about women's voyages and adventures in the outdoors that has now been donated to Mount Holyoke University. She was a world traveler who visited far-flung lands and regaled us all with her marvelous photos and stories. To pay tribute to Jan's countless contributions and her inspiring life, we will be awarding a full scholarship to attend the National Gathering. The winner will be announced at the Gathering. Don't miss the announcement, timing to be determined—the recipient won't know until you ALL know!

The activities at the Gathering are a combination of volunteer-led workshops and offerings from the Berkshire Outdoor Center and its staff. Favorites include the hike to see, up close, the dam and lodges of the American Beavers that live on the ponds in the Berkshires; tie-dying workshops with our creative maven Monica; kayaking and canoeing instruction with our ACA certified instructors Bonna and Deb; boating on the pristine, 100-acre Rudd Pond; a night walk where you'll learn things about pirates and eyeballs that you well may never have known; a challenge course that will include a climbing tower, high ropes, and a zip line, and much, much more!

Do you want to be part of the "much, much more?" If you're interested in leading a workshop, please go to our Programming & Activities page (link below) for instructions on how to submit your title and description.

Leaders of workshops accepted by the Gathering Committee will receive a $35 rebate on their registration fee.

The two-story Gibson Hall lodge, devoted to Women Outdoors' exclusive use for the Gathering, sleeps a total of 78. Check out the floor plan. As you can see, the rooms a massive, two-story, central auditorium. It's all made of old, dark wood. We've been calling it the Harry Potter House!

Gibson Hall has electricity, heat and hot water, with shared bathrooms.

Room assignments are first come, first served. We have a total of 17 rooms that can be doubles, triples, or quads. When you register, you can request your roommates. If no preference is given, we will match you up, filling double rooms first (unless you have a preference for 3 or 4 in a room).

Meals will be served in the camp's beautiful dining hall, on the shores of Rudd Pond. The meals include a fabulous array of options, with pastas, chicken, vegetables, delicious steaks, and vegetarian options at all meals. The mouth-watering selections are accompanied by an extensive salad bar, fabulous desserts and snacks, fresh fruits and coffee, tea and drinks, as well as hot vegetarian options.

Make sure that when registering you fill out the optional form for those with food allergies, and get it back to us by the deadline so that the kitchen staff can accommodate you!

You can find that form in the Paperwork section at: