Think about it… when was the last instance you voluntarily spent time outside? And it doesn’t count if you walked down the driveway to take out the trash or opened the slider to stand on the deck and wait for your dog to come inside. So when was the last time you were outside for hours at a time, taking in all that is around you—the sway of the trees, the warmth of the beach sand in between your toes, and the fresh breath of air into your lungs?

But truly, though, when was the last time you went outside to experience this?

Most of us are too caught up in the daily hustle—the 9 to 5 work schedule, the slew of notifications pinging our phones, and the stress of keeping up with a social life.

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At this point, we don’t give ourselves the chance to step outside and take it all in. And when we do, we’re still plugged into our phones—taking photos, sending text messages, and checking our calendars.

And then we become burnt out. The daily stressors of work, school, and responsibilities take over. We lose motivation. We lose the desire to get out and experience things that deviate from our perfectly-planned-out schedules. We tune into the same television shows for comfort or grab coffee from the same place. There isn’t anything special or rewarding about our free time.

All of this was a driving factor for Raelyn Bedford, founder of Girlhood in the Woods, a social club for women in their twenties and thirties to get outside, experience new places, and be surrounded by new people.

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How Girlhood in the Woods Began
Raelyn Bedford, 22, founded Girlhood in the Woods after her own experience with work-related burnout. As she sees it, “The society we live in is so fast paced; we’re always wanting to get to the next thing instead of slowing down and simply enjoying what’s around us.”

“I love the saying: 'you don’t live to work, you work to live,'” she revealed. As soon as she shifted her focus to seeing work as a means of providing for the things she loves to do, it became possible to reclaim her time (and to spend it outdoors). It was easier to set boundaries with work. And it allowed her to prioritize a life shaped by meaning rather than obligation.

She now works for a non-profit organization, a job she thoroughly enjoys.

“I had two main goals for the upcoming year: be intentional and be present,” she described. “I wanted to find a way to bridge the gap between being present and tending to the million-and-one things I have to do when I get back.” So whether it was going out for a hike for a few hours on the weekend or signing up for a retreat, she wanted to create an outlet for young women to “get outside in a low-posh way.”

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Let’s Take a Hike
From taking a hike to going sledding to walking her dog, Raelyn appreciates any activity that gets her outdoors. “I wanted to create a girlhood community for those who are outdoor people,” she explained. “It would be nice for girls to get to know those around them while also being present in the nature that is around them.”

“A big part of [creating the club] was the opportunity to connect with other people,” Raelyn stated. And for those who show up with a few friends, she suggests that it’s “beneficial to split up with your friends when you come to the events” and get to know other people. It might be out of your comfort zone, but in the outside environment, she hopes it allows for women to feel confident in reaching out.  

“Another big part of it is having confidence in yourself—to be able to connect with other people and be comfortable doing that,” she described. “I want girls to return home from a retreat or event and just feel rejuvenated, energized, and centered.”

A Time to Slow Down
In a world that is constantly tapped into social trends and always logged into the company calendar, Girlhood in the Woods is yet another grassroots movement that aims to unplug us from the hustle and bustle of work life—a reminder to slow down and take in what is naturally around us.

It’s not about being an expert hiker, it’s about being spontaneous in activities that get us out of the house. It’s about choosing presence, even if only for a few hours, and allowing nature to do what it has always done: ground us.

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For Raelyn, the outdoors has become a way for her to recoup. And now, it’s a way to offer other women to do the same—together.

Girlhood in the Woods aims to create an intentional space for connection. It challenges the expectation that our free time must be productive to be meaningful. It might seem like two hours spent on a hike or chatting in a coffee shop isn’t impactful, but those moments foster presence, build camaraderie, and offer a kind of restoration that constant burnout (obviously) can’t provide.

Upcoming Event
Next month, Girlhood in the Woods is hosting a Galentine's Day Party on February 13th. It will be hosted in Grand Rapids. For more information, please visit the club's Instagram page.

And further, Girlhood in the Woods will be hosting their first spring retreat from May 29–31. It will be hosted in Michigan, with registration opening on February 1st. For more information on this, please visit their official website.