Spotlight on Jennifer Daring
/BY CARA SCHAEFER
Life is busy, but spending time outside can help us connect to both ourselves and others. We spoke with Jennifer Daring, leader of the Green Girl Gang, about work-life balance, creating community, and the impact of spending time with other women in the outdoors.
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Daring.
OUT THERE: You've talked about having a never-ending list of hobbies. Why do you think that is?
JENNIFER DARING: I'm curious and always interested in expanding and broadening my horizons. I just want to try everything at least one time!
OT: How do you manage your time in a way that allows you to get outside and do the things you're passionate about?
JD: I currently work three jobs, go to school full-time, and run a women’s outdoor adventure group, so finding time for myself and my hobbies is something I’m still struggling with. But you know, I’m trying!
OT: Has anything in particular worked especially well for you when it comes to making sure you do get that time outside?
JD: Definitely saying no. I'm a yes person, so I say yes a lot. But I tend to overbook or bog myself down, when I really need to say no more. That way I can enjoy my hobbies and actually be present, and not just like, “Okay, get this done really quick so you can do the next thing”.
OT: You mentioned running a women's outdoor group. Can you give me the elevator pitch of what the Green Girl Gang is?
JD: We are a women's focused outdoor group. Everyone is welcome, so if guys do want to show up, we're not going to single anybody out, but the focus is on women. We do everything and anything under the sun, like rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, backpacking, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and park cleanups. We get out there and help women find that community that they're looking for, versus, you know, being stuck in that cis white male community and not really connecting with people.
OT: Do you have any intentional practices to try to make the atmosphere as welcoming as possible, especially for women who might not be familiar with certain outdoor activities, or maybe this is their first time in an outdoors group?
JD: I have newcomers pretty much at every meetup that we have! On my social media posts, I make it very clear that we all start somewhere, we're all not professionals, we all make mistakes, and we're all learning. It's all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. We want everyone to feel comfortable, whether it's their first time or their 20th time there.
OT: Is there any one memory in particular, when you think about the Green Girl Gang, that kind of encapsulates your experience with the group?
JD: Maybe my first or second meetup, we had a women's wellness festival. You had to buy a ticket in advance, and I bought mine the day of. I was still hesitant on whether I was going to attend or not, because it was a bunch of women that I didn't know, and I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I was terrified, but I was like, “You know what? I'm going to go. I’m going to do this and it's going to be a good time”.
I went there, and it was a huge pivotal moment for me. I had the time of my life! I met amazing women who are my friends still to this day, and I got to try things I had never done before, like Buti yoga and slackline. It was a lot of fun just connecting and talking to women with different backgrounds and histories. I'm so glad I went.
OT: Are there any tips you would give someone looking to bring people together through the outdoors?
JD: I have a friend who just moved to Colorado, and she was worried about finding her community. And I told her to make that community. Put up a flyer at the climbing gym. Have a conversation with someone on a hike. It's kind of scary at first, but just put yourself out there and create the community that you're looking for.
