Backcountry Women

FAQ's

We've created this Frequently Asked Questions section to help you! If you need to contact us for any further clarification, please go to our Contact page. Please allow approximately 5 business days for a response.

Memberships & Events

Q: Do I need a membership to join events?

A: No. While our memberships offer many added benefits and value, you are absolutely able to join us for events without one. Our events often have limited space available, and registration is advertised to members first. Non-members can join events we advertise, at our non-member price.

We rely on memberships to help sustain what we do - check out our Memberships page to learn more about the benefits! If you want to become a member, but simply cannot afford to, we encourage you to check out our Sponsored Membership option on our memberships page. We offer a limited amount of free memberships to those that are genuinely unable to raise enough funds to pay our membership fee.

Q: Who are Backcountry Women events for/who can participate?

A: We welcome adult individuals (ages 18+) who identify as women, as well as those who are transgender, femme/feminine, genderqueer, and non-binary. We prioritize creating a space where women's unique experiences in the outdoors are centered and celebrated. Our events are designed to foster connections among like-minded individuals who share a passion for nature.

While we understand that gender identity is complex, we believe that focusing on the female experience allows us to create a uniquely supportive environment for those who may face specific challenges or perspectives in outdoor spaces. Our goal is to empower and uplift individuals who identify with the female experience in outdoor spaces, providing opportunities for growth, connection, and self-care. We encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or would like to learn more about our events and community.

Our events are exclusively for adults - we do not permit babies / children to attend. As caregivers, women often put ourselves last. We provide opportunities for connecting with fellow like-minded outdoors enthusiasts while leaving other roles behind for a little while. Connecting with community and your surroundings outdoors is a great way to practice self-care, and we are committed to facilitating this.

If Backcountry Women isn't the right opportunity for you, there are plenty of other ways to get into nature within Manitoba. With limited resources, we are unable to offer all of the possible opportunities. We encourage you to check out these alternatives to get outdoors with like minded folks:

- Big Sky Run Co. Parent / Baby Run/Walk Support Group
- CPAWS Manitoba Nature Club
- Manitoba Section of the Alpine Club of Canada
- Manitoba Parks
- Nature Manitoba
- Out There Winnipeg
- Forte Whyte Alive

Q: What do I do if I don't wish to renew my membership?

A: We don't want to see you go, but if you no longer wish to be a Backcountry Women member, please be sure to log into our website and visit your profile, then suspend your renewal prior to the renewal date (the renewal date information is in your profile). You will receive reminder notices via email to remind you of membership is approaching its renewal date. These emails will include instructions on how to cancel if you wish to. Please be sure our emails are not going into your spam.

You must cancel prior to your renewal date. We are unable to refund membership fees once paid.

Why would I pay for something offered by Backcountry Women when I could just go do an activity on my own for free?

A: While you can certainly enjoy the outdoors on your own, Backcountry Women offers a unique experience that goes beyond a simple hike or activity. When you join us, you're investing in:

- Community: Connect with like-minded individuals, experience a unique adventure, and build lasting friendships.
- Mentorship & Guidance: Benefit from the knowledge and expertise of our experienced and certified leaders.
- Organized Adventures: Enjoy meticulously planned trips and outdoor education opportunities, saving you time and effort, motivating you and setting you up for success.
- Personal Growth: Challenge yourself, learn new skills, and achieve your outdoor and personal wellness / empowerment goals.
- Supporting an Important Mission: Your contributions help us maintain and grow our operations and resources.

By choosing Backcountry Women, you're not just participating in an activity; you're becoming part of a supportive community and contributing to a meaningful cause. Your support helps us break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a more equitable outdoor space for all women. By choosing Backcountry Women, you're not just participating in an activity; you're becoming part of a movement that empowers women and celebrates the outdoors.

All of your purchases go towards supporting the endless hours behind everything we offer, and the full potential of Backcountry Women as an organization and community. It's also important to remember that we have significant operating costs, including software costs (website / membership, marketing, design + newsletter software, online store, waivers, accounting software, photo storage), payment processor fees, social media / marketing services, taxes, insurance, operators licensing, gas + vehicle expenses, and more!
Thank you to everyone who joins in on our events and purchases memberships. Without you, everything we have built over the years would no longer exist! We are so grateful to have your support in the work we do, and the opportunity to connect with each and every one of you.

Backcountry Women Membership Options: Find Your Perfect Fit!

Thank you for considering a Backcountry Women membership! Your support allows us to connect women and other marginalized genders with the outdoors and a vibrant community. We offer two main membership levels (plus Student and Sponsored levels) to best suit your needs:

Explorer or Student Member:

Discounted pricing on all events and activities! Get out and explore with our vibrant community at a reduced cost.

Be part of a supportive network: Connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts and share your love of nature.

Discounted workshops and courses: Gain valuable skills and knowledge at a member-exclusive price.

Adventurer Member (Upgrade Available) or Sponsored Member:

All the benefits of Explorer Membership, PLUS:

Free access to many events! a variety of hikes and special activities without additional registration fees (for example Full Moon hikes, Snowshoe and X-country Ski events).

Maximize your savings! Get the most out of your membership with frequent event participation.

Choosing Your Membership:

Regular event attendee? The Adventurer level might be perfect - enjoy free events and maximize your savings!

New to Backcountry Women? Start with Explorer and upgrade anytime!

Upgrading to Adventurer:

Excited to join the Adventurer level? Simply email us at ashley.backcountrywomen@gmail.com with your name and contact information to get started. Note: Adventurer members with more than 3 cancellations per year risk membership downgrades.

Remember:

Discounted workshops and courses are available for ALL members.

Event registration fees for all levels of membership ensure quality experiences and committed participants.

Still have questions? Reach out any time via email (mentioned above)! For instructions on renewing your membership or upgrading your membership level, click here.

Event Participation

Q: What do I do when I register for an event and can no longer make it?

A: Upon registering for an event, please check your email for a registration confirmation email, and save this email in a dedicated folder for Backcountry Women events so that you can refer back to it later. Your registration confirmation email will include your event contact's information.

You must communicate with the event organizer contact via email regarding any changes in your attendance. Our cancellation policy is stated when signing up for an activity which participants confirm and agree to during registration.

Q: Do you cancel for weather related reasons?

A: Activities are offered throughout every season, including during the cold, heat, and rain. Weather is assessed carefully by our leaders leading up to an event/activity. We reserve the right to cancel an event due to any concerning inclement weather, poor conditions, and other risk management concerns. Credits towards another event will be offered in the event we cancel.

Please check the weather forecast immediately prior to an activity to ensure that you are prepared. Be sure to keep checking your emails in case a leader wants to reach you with an update or important notice about your event.

Q: What is expected of me as an event participant or member?

A: By participating in any Backcountry Women activities, you automatically agree to follow our Member Code of Conduct. Please read the details, and reach out if you have any questions.

Q: Can I bring my dog to an activity/event?

A: It really depends! We assess the appropriateness of having a dog join an activity based on a number of factors and will state in the event description if we are allowing dogs to join. Our activities are participant focused and we want the best experience for everyone. If a participant does not want a dog(s) to attend due to fear or allergies, Backcountry Women will respect that request and ask that participants keep their dog(s) at home.

When dogs are allowed to join, there are rules that we enforce for everyone's safety and enjoyment. For example, dog(s) must be kept on a leash and in the participant’s control at all times (NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES), unless in a designated off-leash area in a dog park — and then only if the dog reliably responds under voice commands; this is to ensure the safety of all participants, dogs and the general public. We reserve the right, at the group leader’s sole discretion, to request owners of dogs who show behavior of concern to refrain from attending.

Contacting Event Organizers & checking your email after registration

Q: How can I communicate with event organizers/leaders?

A: If you are registered or waitlisted for an event, or have a question for an event leader prior to registering for that event, and need to get a hold of the organizer you can find their contact information on our Who We Are webpage. Please do not use a Facebook message or other social media channels to contact an organizer. You must reach out to us via email.

Q: After registering for an event, what further information do I need?

A: Event attendees are responsible for having a valid e-mail address and for checking e-mail prior to an event. After registering for an event, you will automatically receive an email confirmation and reminders with any further details (be sure to check your spam!).

online store

Q: I have questions about your online shop

Please see our Online Store FAQ's here

Online Store FAQ

POSTING RULES / CONDUCT, COLLABORATION + ADVERTISING REQUESTS

At Backcountry Women, we focus on creating a safe & positive space where everyone is free to share their experiences and try new things. We are committed to ensuring that both our in-person activities, as well as online groups are a judgement-free and positive space. For this reason, we have created a Social Media Code of Conduct. You can locate a link to this below as well as in the footer section of the Backcountry Women website

We also receive a number of requests from others wanting to collaborate or requesting that we share an event/product/service

Q: Can I use the Backcountry Women Facebook group (aka Backcountry Women's free community forum) to post something I want to promote?

A: As a general rule, you are not allowed to advertise your / another organization or business' products, events or services in this group. We have created this space on Facebook as a way to further connect our community beyond our events and to share ideas, inspiration and knowledge in addition to keeping you in the loop regarding what Backcountry Women has coming up. We focus our promotional efforts on Backcountry Women events or organizations that we have directly partnered with.

Want to Collaborate or Hoping We’ll Share Your Event/Product/Service?

Q: Can you share something I'd like to promote? Or, can we collaborate on an initiative I have in mind?

A: We welcome opportunities to collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals who share our passion for the outdoors.

However, due to limited resources, we can only consider partnerships that align strategically with our mission and current initiatives.

To help us determine if a potential collaboration is a good fit, please carefully consider the following before reaching out:

- Shared Values and Goals: Does your organization or project align with Backcountry Women’s mission and values?
- Complementary Initiatives: How does your proposal complement our current work or support our programs and organization in a meaningful way? Are there opportunities where we both benefit?
- Mutual Benefits: What are the potential benefits for both Backcountry Women and your organization?

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to exploring potential partnerships that create positive impact.

All requests can be sent to ashley.backcountrywomen@gmail.com

Read Our Social Media Code of Conduct Here.

Information about Backcountry Women

What Backcountry Women Does & How We Can Support Even More Inclusion in the Outdoors

At Backcountry Women, our focus is and has always been, to help women / women identified genders get outdoors and experience the benefits of nature. As a small business (with our Founder being the only official employee), we have limited time and resources available and our priorities always come back to providing our community with the best experiences we possibly can. We know that Backcountry Women might not resonate with everyone but we do want to support others in finding or creating their community outdoors.

We strive to make the outdoors a diverse space, but the hard reality is that we simply cannot do it all. With the goal of supporting and growing outdoor diversity and therefore building a greater community locally, we welcome consultations with members of the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, differently abled communities to support initiatives related to creating outdoor opportunities with specific needs. So, if you would like to build an outdoors based organization in Manitoba that specifically represents and builds community diversity, we can offer you 1 free hour of consultation to share our many years of knowledge and experience, aiming to help set you up to succeed. Manitoba has so much room to grow - contact us if you'd like to inquire about setting up a meeting!

Life is better outdoors!

Is Backcountry Women a Nonprofit?

Our goal has always been to serve, support and empower others while creating lasting connections in the outdoors community. An incredible amount of time, energy, and expertise are put into our offerings to provide our community with the highest quality events & resources. We have chosen a for-profit model for a variety of reasons, all of which aim to help us with our mission. We are still heavily reliant on the dedication of our volunteers to be able to offer the events you see.

Keep in mind that you do not have to be a non-profit to do good in the world. There's a variety of ways of structuring an organization, each with their own pros and cons. To read more about the advantages and disadvantages of each, see the article linked below.

We use profits to put back into the business and grow our resources in order to achieve organizational goals, reach more people, sustain our sponsored membership program which provides our community access to free memberships, and work towards the goal of breaking down barriers to accessing outdoor recreation. Being able to continue to provide quality experiences for individuals to gain knowledge & confidence in the outdoors and gaining the benefits of being in nature is all becuse of everyone who supports us.

Thank you SO MUCH for supporting Backcountry Women - without you, we wouldn't be here!

How do Partnerships Benefit Backcountry Women's Community and How are Partnership Dollars Allocated?

Backcountry Women has built up a community of like-minded individuals since 2017. Bringing people together in a welcoming space to connect where they feel open to trying new things, meeting new people, and sharing their experiences are all things that we focus on.

We believe that the outdoors should be accessible to everyone and work towards breaking down barriers that people may have when it comes to getting outdoors. In addition to offering a variety of organized activities for people to join, Backcountry Women has an ever-growing Empowerment Fund and Sponsored Memberships that allow us to assist those with financial barriers to ensure that they are still able to get outside and enjoy activities with us.

Any funds that we may receive from partnerships always go back into our community and allows us to provide access to affordable opportunities. Without partnerships we will need to restrucure the way we price memberships and events which would create the barriers we are working to break down

If you have any questions about how our partnerships work or would like to partner with us, please contact ashley.backcountrywomen@gmail.com

Article on Advantages and Disadvantages of Nonprofits

Why does Backcountry Women make a land acknowledgement?

The Backcountry Women community has the privilege of spending recreational time in nature in this great land we call home. We strive to be good stewards of the land we live, work and play on by following and educating on Leave No Trace principles. But we acknowledge that this land is the ancestral and traditional homeland of the Indigenous peoples who were here before us; it came to us through broken treaties, widespread massacre and cultural genocide.

We aim to honour and recognize Indigenous peoples as the historical and traditional stewards of the land, and to cast light on the history of how we came to have access to the land; and therefore we make a land acknowledgement ahead of each of our activities.
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