About Us

WoW is a group of women who are passionate about the natural world.  We would like to deepen our spiritual connection with woods and other natural places.  We have created and are expanding a community of women who want to be deeply connected to nature. We know that by fostering a personal relationship with nature we can develop and enhance environmental stewardship. We support each other in our individual and collaborative efforts to preserve this beautiful planet.

Invitation: Come with us as we joyfully join our energies and strengthen our spiritual bond with the natural world so we can transmit our love and reverence of mother earth to others. We are creating a community of women who love the earth and who support each other in our individual and collaborative efforts to preserve this beautiful planet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why WoW hikes? WoW hikes are different from those offered by many hiking clubs. Our focus is on spending time in nature. In addition to walking, we take the time to admire the beauty around us, learn a bit about the flora or fauna, do exercises to deepen our connection with the natural world (usually simply sitting quietly) and enjoy each others company. Nature is a wonderful place to get to know others and find friends that share our interests. In our high stress world, nature can have a powerful calming force, give us peace of mind and perspective on our lives.  Going for a walk in nature is good for both mind and body.

How challenging are the hikes? WoW hikes/walks are for women of all ages and vary in their difficulty. Some are short on relatively flat dirt trails and others are longer on more challenging rocky or occasionally steep terrain. Detailed hike descriptions are available in advance to help you pick the right one for your interest and ability. These are not power hikes…the shorter hikes are fine for anyone who can walk the distance. If you are not sure, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Who comes on the hikes? We are a wide variety of women who value the natural world. We don’t fit one mold … some are young, some are old and many of us are in between. Most of us live in central Connecticut, but others occasionally come from farther away. Some of us have good outdoor skills and hike often with friends or on our own while others of us enjoy the woods, but are not comfortable or don’t wish to venture out with out a group.

How often are there WoW gatherings? We meet approximately monthly alternating between weekend hikes and weekday hikes since each of us have different schedules. Generally we have a weekend hike every other month. We have weekday hikes every other month on the alternate month.  The day of the week for weekday hikes varies depending on hike leaders’ and avid WoW hikers’ schedules.

What should I bring or not bring? Dress in layers for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. On some hikes hiking boots are essential, on others comfortable sturdy walking shoes are fine. Bring a backpack with water, a snack or lunch and space for an extra layer as you warm up. Please bring enough layers so that you can enjoy sitting or standing quietly for 5 or 10 minutes.

Please plan to only use your cell phone for emergency calls … preferably turn it off (or put it on vibrate if you have some urgent personal situation). Please do not bring children, male friends or pets … this is a women’s time. There are occasionally hikes that we welcome girls to join us … and there are many other hikes offered by Everyone Outside (www.EveryoneOutside.org) and other groups on which everyone is invited. Many of us like to hike with dogs, but we don’t bring them on WoW hikes … it is hard to have quiet time in the woods with dogs running around.

Have another question? Need more information? Please send an e-mail to info@womenofthewoods.org.