The Community I Needed Didn't Exist, So I Built It

If you had asked me two years ago if I thought I'd be leading a community of thousands of women who hike, travel, camp, and explore together, I probably would have laughed.

The truth is, Girlhood in the Woods didn't start because I had a brilliant business idea or some grand plan.

It started because I was lonely.

For years, I found myself wanting to go on adventures, try new things, and spend more time outdoors, but I always ran into the same problem: I didn't have anyone to go with.

And if you've ever been a woman who wanted to do something alone, you've probably heard the same things I did.

"That's not safe."

"You shouldn't go by yourself."

"Maybe wait until someone can go with you."

Eventually, I started believing those things.

I already struggled with social anxiety and was a bit of a homebody, so making new friends felt almost impossible. It seemed like everyone else already had their people while I was stuck waiting for the right friendships to magically appear.

Then life completely changed.

About a year and a half ago, I unexpectedly lost my job. What followed was one of the hardest seasons of my life. I fell into a deep depression and struggled to find the motivation to do much of anything. During that time, I leaned heavily on my best friend, Kate, my dog Atlas, and the outdoors whenever I could.

Not long after, my family took a hiking trip to Arizona.

I grew up hiking and camping, but somewhere along the way I'd forgotten just how much those places made me feel like myself. Standing on those trails, surrounded by mountains and fresh air, I felt something I hadn't felt in months.

I could finally breathe again.

I came home with a promise to myself: I was going to spend more time outside. I was going to camp more, hike more, and stop waiting for "someday."

So I planned five camping trips for the summer.

Life, however, had other plans.

My car broke down.

Three of those five trips were canceled before they ever happened.

I was frustrated, disappointed, and honestly just tired.

Tired of waiting for life to cooperate.

Tired of people canceling plans.

Tired of waiting for the "right time."

I didn't want another excuse.

I just wanted to go camping.

Around that same time, my best friend Kate moved back home. As excited as I was for her, it also made me realize something.

I couldn't be the only woman who felt this way.

I couldn't be the only one struggling to make friends as an adult.

The only one who wanted to travel but didn't have anyone to go with.

The only one who wanted to feel safe enough to explore the world.

The only one who wished there was a place where showing up alone wasn't scary.

So instead of waiting for someone else to create that space...

I decided to create it myself.

That winter, I made a simple post inviting women around my age to join me for a hike.

No one came.

So Atlas and I went anyway.

The next week, I planned another hike.

Again, no one came.

So Atlas and I went again.

There were moments when I questioned whether I should keep trying. I remember telling a friend that maybe this just wasn't going to work.

She reminded me it was the holidays.

She told me people were busy and encouraged me to keep showing up.

So I did.

Week after week, I kept planning hikes.

Then I hosted a Galentine's event.

Slowly, things started to change.

One woman became two.

Two became five.

Five became a group of women laughing together like they'd known each other for years.

It became obvious that this wasn't just something I needed.

It was something so many women had been searching for.

As the months went on, those hikes turned into so much more.

Beach days.

Coffee meetups.

Game nights.

Camping trips.

Michigan day trips.

Weekend retreats.

New adventures.

New traditions.

New friendships.

What started as one lonely woman hoping someone would join her for a hike has become a community filled with women who encourage one another, celebrate one another, and remind each other that none of us have to figure adulthood out alone.

I've watched strangers become best friends.

I've watched women attend their first event terrified to come alone, only to leave already making plans for the next one.

I've watched women celebrate new jobs, comfort one another through heartbreak, cheer each other on through difficult seasons, and discover confidence they didn't know they had.

And somewhere along the way, I realized this community wasn't just something I was building for other women.

It was something I needed too.

Girlhood in the Woods has become a place where I can show up exactly as I am.

On the good days.

On the hard days.

On the days when life feels overwhelming.

I've shared my struggles, my excitement, my wins, and my failures, and every single time I've been met with kindness and encouragement instead of judgment.

That kind of community is rare.

And it's something I'll never take for granted.

That's why Girlhood in the Woods exists.

Not because hiking magically changes your life.

Not because camping solves all your problems.

But because community changes people.

Sometimes all it takes is one brave decision.

Signing up for the hike.

Going to the beach day.

Showing up to game night.

Booking the day trip.

Saying yes to the weekend retreat.

Walking through the door even though you don't know a single person.

Those small moments of courage have a funny way of changing everything.

If you're reading this and life feels heavy right now, I hope you'll give yourself grace.

Keep going.

Take the trip.

Go on the hike.

Sign up for the event.

Say yes to the thing that scares you.

You never know what's waiting just around the corner.

Maybe it's confidence.

Maybe it's healing.

Maybe it's the friendship you've been praying for.

Or maybe it's simply finding a place where you can be unapologetically yourself.

I hope you'll join us for an adventure someday.

Whether it's a local hike, a beach day, a game night, a day trip across Michigan, or a cozy weekend retreat, I hope you know there's a place for you here.

Because Girlhood in the Woods has never just been about getting outside.

It's about belonging.

It's about choosing courage over comfort.

It's about finding joy again.

It's about remembering that you don't have to wait for someone else to start living the life you've been dreaming about.

And most importantly, it's about remembering that you never have to walk through life alone.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Whether you're reading this from your couch, your favorite coffee shop, or somewhere beneath the trees, I hope you leave knowing one thing:

You are not alone.

There is a place for you here.

And we'd love to save you a spot around the campfire.

Until next time,

Raelyn Bedford
Founder, Girlhood in the Woods