Join us for the 38th Annual National Gathering over Memorial Day Weekend 2017!

38th Annual National Gathering 

May 26 - May 29, 2017

                 

Get Ready to Have Fun and Celebrate 38 years of Women Outdoors!

Every Memorial Day weekend, women from across the country come together for the Women Outdoors National Gathering: three wonderful days of fun and adventure. This year, we'll be returning to the Sargent Center in southern New Hampshire. If you'd like to know more about how we came to that decision after a year's worth of work exploring other venues, I urge you to read this letter. We're still exploring the possibility of holding the Gathering in a location that's more central to us all, so stay tuned for news about the 2018 Gathering. 

At any rate, back to Gathering No. 38: Whether you're  a hiker or biker, kayaker or swimmer, birder or star gazer, painter or poet, writer or reader, the Women Outdoors Gathering has something for almost everyone.

DAYTIME ACTIVITIES

Most of the activities at the Gathering are volunteer-led workshops. Some of the favorites include the hike to the heron rookery to see the fuzzy heads of baby heron, the wildflower identification walk, trekking up Mount Monadnock, and biking New Hampshire’s back roads. Members also offer workshops such as orienteering, knot tying, bicycle repair, camp cooking, drumming and first aid. Some of the quieter offerings may include chi qong, yoga, painting and crafts. In addition, women can canoe or kayak in Half Moon Pond - we'll have about 14 kayaks available for use all weekend - and explore the many walking trails at the Sargent Center. The beach will also be open for sunbathing and swimming on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Adventure Element - The Climbing Tower

This year's Gathering will once again feature the popular adventure element, the Climbing Tower. On Saturday morning, the Climbing Tower will be open to those who wish to challenge themselves on this adventure element. The Climbing Tower will be run by the trained staff at the Sargent Center and is free to Gathering attendees.

Here are some member-led workshops that have been offered at past Gatherings:  Bike ride to Harrisville, Nature Walk to Heron Rookery, Receiving: The Law and the Spirit, Seeing Differently – A Workshop in Photography, Packing Safety Gear for Kayak Trips, Beginning Kayaking, Lantern Making Workshop, REIKI – Energy Healing Experience, Evening Birding, Wonders of the night sky, Native American Flute, Intermediate Kayaking, Paddle at nearby Edward MacDowell Lake, Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop, Intermediate Kayaking, Hancock Bike Ride, Making Celtic Knots, Quirky Races – Fun Competition Event for large group. Put on your thinking cap now to figure out what YOU can offer!

EVENING ACTIVITIES

On Friday night, the Gathering opens with board game night. Enjoy some delicious snacks to start our weekend as you greet old friends and make new ones.

Saturday evening features the Women Outdoors annual meeting followed by a dance with Sargent Center's sound system and YOUR mix tapes. Bring us your favorite dance tunes!

On Sunday evening, we have the always entertaining Coffee House Review – a talent show of Women Outdoors members. We end the evening with a campfire, s’mores and sing-along.

Keynote Speaker

This year, we're looking to our members for keynote presentations. Have you done something amazing? Do you have a slideshow you'd like to share with us? Please write to us at gathering@womenoutdoors.org if you're interested and describe your presentation. We'll forward your offer on to our Entertainment Coordinator. 

Seated Massage

Women Outdoors' own Alice Sherard of Wholistic Hands Massage Therapy might be available to offer seated massages. If Alice does in fact attend this year, see her at the Gathering to set up a time. Separate fee applies.

The Sargent Center

Nature's Classroom operates the Sargent Center in Hancock, New Hampshire. Located in the Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire, the 800-acre camp features hiking and biking trails and a large lake – Half Moon Pond – for canoeing, kayaking, swimming and relaxing. Perhaps most important, the meals at the Gathering are fabulous.

Accommodations

Women have a variety of options for their stay at the Gathering. Cabins sleep 4 to 10 people in bunk beds and have a living room and a bathroom with hot showers. Dorm rooms sleep up to 6 people in bunks and have a bathroom with hot showers at the end of the hall. Cabins and the dorm are heated and have electricity.  

Yurts sleep 4 to 6 people on cots in an open floor plan. The yurts are like round platform tents and are completely enclosed and above ground. There is no heat or electricity in the yurts. 

Women who want to camp can pitch their tent in the meadow. There is a separate bathhouse with hot showers for the yurters and tenters.

Meals

The Sargent Center prepares delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrées for each meal. Desserts are fabulous. Meals from Saturday breakfast through Monday lunch are included in the price of the Gathering. Friday night’s dinner is an additional charge of $12. 

Registration Fees

Fees range from $73-$320, depending on the accommodations you choose and how many days you attend. Please register and pay by May 4, 2017. After May 4, registration is on a space-available basis, since this year, we may be sharing Sargent Center with another group. Fees for registration go up $50 for all registrations that come in after May 4.

Some partial scholarships are available. To apply for a partial scholarship to the Gathering, download this form and return your completed application no later than April 20 to the Gathering coordinator at gathering@womenoutdoors.org.

For a complete list of fees, see the 2017 Registration page.

Please note: Gathering attendance is for Women Outdoors members only. If you are not a member, please Join Now or Renew your membership!