Shifting Gears kicks off their fourth annual Wild Women Week on March 1, leading up to International Women's Day on March 8.
The local volunteer group hopes to celebrate breaking down traditional barriers to outdoor recreation by recognizing local women and non-binary individuals who aren't afraid to brave the outdoors and have fun while doing it.
Board Member Aubrey McNeil said she found most of her love for the outdoors by working with the organization to create a more inclusive space for outdoor activities.
"We just wanted to find a way to really celebrate women, recreating the outdoors in a way that made them feel wildly powerful and wildly beautiful," McNeil said.
This year's event features in-person and virtual offerings, including a sunset paddle at the Bellingham Bay Community Boating Center on Thursday, March 3.
The Virtual Adventure Movie Night includes a list of films sent out via email. It allows participants to enjoy the compilation of films from the comfort of their own homes at their convenience.
A group of wild women celebrates the week-long event with a mountain bike trip in Spring 2020. Biking, hiking, swimming, dancing and even watching movies have found their place as activities featured in Wild Women Week. Courtesy of Michelle Holtorff via Shifting Gears
The group champions inclusivity and recognizes that gender identity transcends the sex a person was assigned at birth.
"Part of the reason why Shifting Gears was founded in the first place was to make everyone feel more welcome and included in the outdoors, no matter where you're at, who you are or how you identify," McNeil said.
In addition to the events, McNeil said the week's goal is to get people thinking about how to make getting wild in their own way a part of their day-to-day life.
Whether participants share their experiences at an event or on social media with the hashtag #WildWomenWeek is secondary to encouraging a wilder, more empowered lifestyle.
Another tradition continued this year is the crowning of the Wild Woman of the Year. Last year's winner, open swimmer and artist Kelcey Bates, said receiving the honor still brings a smile to her face today.
"The water, particularly the cold water, is a complete mind reset," Bates said. "Safety in numbers is great, not to mention the laughs and giggles and just flat-out joy that this brings."
Bates said the attendance for many of the weekly swims she hosts has continued to increase in the last year and expanded the broader community of open-water swimmers.
"The group has gotten so big that I don't have to initiate things anymore," she said. "They're doing it themselves, now. I just said, 'here, look what you can do,' and it's just taken off."
The week will conclude on March 8 with a Pint Night featuring a special Shifting Gears beer at Fairhaven's Stones Throw Brewery, as well as a celebration of all those nominated for Wild Woman of the Year.
Danielle Alleman, an administrator for the Bellingham Outdoor Women Facebook group, said creating a welcoming environment for everyone in outdoor recreation should be a priority.
"Many spaces in the outdoors are designed to promote the egos of able-bodied white men, and it can often feel overwhelming to get involved in outdoor recreation if you don’t fit that description," Alleman said in an email.
McNeil said attending Wild Women Week events always brings her a sense of comfort and fulfillment.
"When you're in this community, there's just something about it," she said. "You're suddenly not afraid, and the barriers just melt away the second you get there and get to connect with people, and the high that you feel after leaving those sorts of events sticks with you for longer than just the week."
Madisun Tobisch (she/her) is a third-year news/editorial major who has worked for The Front in some capacity since winter 2022. After all this time, her love of local news and celebrating the voices of her community keep her coming back for more. As returning managing editor this quarter, she hopes to further The Front's mission of keeping readers, both new and returning, informed and engaged. While not in the newsroom, Madisun can be found barista-ing, watching movies or trying to be creative.
