O.W.L.

Strengthening women and girls’ confidence in the outdoors -- and life!

OWL: Outdoor Women Lead is a collaborative program between WHRL and Maine Outdoor School. It includes:

OWLette, a summer camp for girls ages 11 – 16, located at Milbridge Commons. Girls learn outdoor, naturalist, and gardening skills.
An Outing Group for Women, a support network of women 16+ who go on outings in Washington County.
Outdoor Skill Building Workshops for women and their families.
An online hub for women who are interested in learning on their own time via our Facebook Group, iNaturalist project, videos, and blog posts.

This program is inclusive to all definitions of women. Please reach out if you’d like to learn more.

Giving-- it's the Maine thing to do.

Donate

Outing Club for Women

OWLette

OWL Facebook Group

Educational Videos

Outing Group Hike to Tunk Mountain

Outing Group for Women

This outing group is reserved for women and girls 16+.

Upcoming Fall Outings

Stargazing in Steuben

at Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge

October 15th, 6 – 7:30 pm

Learn your constellations in preparation for showing off your astronomy skills during the upcoming Orionid meteor shower, which will peak later this month. Bring a lawn chair, a headlamp, warm layers, a mug, a blanket, and wishes for a clear night! There will not be much walking involved in this outing, just stargazing. Snacks and hot beverages will be provided. Meet at the Birch Point Trail off Pigeon Hill Road in Steuben.

For more information about the trail, click here.

Register Here

Unique Organisms

at Ingersoll Point Preserve

November 19th, 12pm-3pm.

This mossy wonderland in South Addison is the perfect place to learn the differences between non-vascular plants, symbiotic organisms, and fungi (mosses, lichens, mushrooms!) and begin your journey on identifying these unique organisms.

This is a 3.4-mile moderate trail network that includes some sections along the rocky shore. For more about this perserve, click here.

Registration coming soon!

Winter Plant & Tree Identification

at Pike Lands Preserve in North Lubec

December 17th, 12pm-3pm.

With the deciduous leaves gone and winter nearly upon us, now is the perfect time to brush up on your winter plant and tree identification skills in a wonderfully diverse forest with ocean access and views. There’s even an arboretum across the street to test even the most skilled tree-identifiers.

This is an easy trail network. Click here for more information about the preseve.

Registration coming soon!

In the event of a necessary weather-related cancellation, outings will be rescheduled for the following day. Registered participants will be emailed by 3pm the Friday before an outing in the event of a postponement.

Outdoor Skill Building Workshops

These workshops are geared towards women and their families, ages 10+. You do not have to have kids to participate.

Orienteering Basics for Women and their Families

October 22nd, 9am – 1:30pm

Knowing how to use a map and compass can be the difference between a fun outdoor adventure and a scary one. Your phone or GPS system won’t always work, but a compass and your brain will—if you know how to use them! Learn how to use a compass, take bearings, and triangulate your location through this 4.5-hour course with Registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark. This course will begin in Milbridge and end in the Black Woods off Rt. 182 and include a backcountry lunch (if you orienteer yourself correctly to the lunch location)! Compasses will be available to borrow, but bring your own if you have one. For women and their families ages 10 and up. Registration is required.

Registration Full -- Join the Wait-List!