The story of women’s adventure travel in the United States dates back to 1977, when Woodswomen emerged as the first nonprofit to offer outdoor leadership training specifically for women. The ideals of empowering women in the outdoors by offering fun, supportive, and challenging trips where women of all shapes, sizes, and expertise levels are celebrated remain the core tenet of why AGC exists today.
Woodswomen was the first organization to offer outdoor leadership training focused on women’s experiences and needs, which attracted women from across the country to work as guides, learning and practicing their unique philosophy, and sharing their enthusiasm and wisdom with the adventurous women who have traveled since then.
Woodswomen launched in 1977 with a trip exclusively for women to Northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, and would eventually evolve into what is now Adventures in Good Company. AGC has grown by leaps and bounds over the decades and has continued to attract participants and guides who share a vision of what adventure travel for women should be. To this day, the Boundary Waters remains a destination where AGC leads all-women groups, continuing its legacy as a place of inspiration for women finding their way in the outdoors.
The Launch of Woodswomen (1977-1999)
Woodswomen was an outdoor adventure and education organization that operated from 1977 to 1999. It started as a nonprofit organization by women for women and served over 8,000 women over the years. Woodswomen is often referred to as the ‘grandmother’ of outdoor women’s adventure travel groups, as it was one of the first organizations built on serving women in this capacity. Many women lacked strong outdoor skills because they had not been given the opportunity to learn them. Woodswomen was created to change that.
The name ‘Woodswomen’ was created in 1977, when a group of women organized an exclusively women's trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This trip was a major milestone in the world of women’s adventure travel, and Woodswomen continued to make an impact on the industry.
Expanding Women’s Outdoor Leadership in the 1980’s
In 1980, Woodswomen started a women-in-leadership course that trained several women who became guides in the outdoor travel industry, which was still very out of the ordinary at the time. In 1987, Denise Mitten, Woodswomen Guide and Executive Director, secured a grant that allowed Woodswomen to begin the Women and Children Bonding in the Outdoors Program. In 1989, Denise secured funding for the Wilderness Experience for Women Offenders Program. Both of these programs became life-changing opportunities for the participants who were able to take part.
Growth and Inclusion in the 1990’s
By the next decade, the organization continued to find ways to positively influence the lives of marginalized groups, including women and youth, through experiencing the outdoors and travel.
In 1990, Woodswomen celebrated the 100th anniversary of Fay Fuller’s ascent of Mount Rainier with a commemorative climb of the same mountain. The climb included over 30 women, some of whom wore dresses, and one woman who completed the journey with an artificial leg.
In 1992, Woodswomen launched an outdoor program for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth in Minnesota, with the goal of creating inclusivity and a feeling of accomplishment for the participants. In the same year, Denise Mitten released an inspiring article titled "Throw a Party: The Hostess Concept of Leadership" that would become a founding philosophy with a ripple effect lasting fordecades.
By 1993, Woodswomen had expanded to offer 59 domestic trips and 11 international trips, from cross-country adventures to a climb up Kilimanjaro.
The Woodswomen Philosophy & Trip Styles
Woodswomen was built with feminist and environmental ideals in mind, with the goal of making all women feel included. The company's stated purpose was to educate women and children in outdoor travel and living skills through programs and trips.
The values and guiding principles of Woodswomen included:
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Valuing emotional, spiritual, and physical safety
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Valuing personal choice and individual goals
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Valuing healthy relationships with people and their environment
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Valuing women’s strengths as an asset to outdoor living and traveling
Woodswomen offered a wide range of activities on their adventures, including biking, rock climbing, backpacking, cross-country skiing, kayaking, canoeing, whitewater canoeing and rafting, winter camping, sea kayaking, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, mountaineering, horse packing, llama packing, and dogsledding.
The trips were designed to accommodate both women with little to no outdoor experience and those with extensive outdoor experience. This welcoming atmosphere fostered a very inclusive environment that attracted women from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Woodswomen also made strides toward fostering inclusivity by creating a scholarship for low-income women who might not otherwise be able to participate.
It Started With a Trip to the Boundary Waters
The Boundary Waters of Minnesota was a very special place for Woodswomen. This is where the organization began and where it continued to provide programs and trips for women for many years.
A Woodswomen participant, Christy, tells the story of her first canoe trip to the area with Woodswomen, which demonstrates the magic of traveling with this organization. Christy recalls being a bit nervous as the trip began, but she elaborated:
“Somehow, right from the get-go, everyone was so accepting, encouraging, and friendly; we were all equals in this adventure, regardless of where we came from or our previous experience.”
Christy shared everything the group learned while on the trip:
"We learned how to get in and out of the canoe, “C” and “J” strokes, how to navigate where we wanted to go, steering from the front and back of the canoe, and how to avoid underwater obstacles. I could feel myself gaining confidence, relaxing and enjoying the wilderness, and actually enjoying the company of others.”
Christy’s story is one of many from women who were transformed in some way, specifically through Woodswomen’s trips in the Boundary Waters.
Today, nearly five decades after the first Boundary Waters Journey, women continue to paddle these same waters guided by AGC. Today’s AGC guides prioritize teaching women to build new skills, confidence, and lasting friendships. And the setting remains the same: scenic campsites, wildlife, laughter, and shared meals around the fire.
Similar to the early days, one of the women on AGC’s most recent Boundary Waters trips in September 2024 shared about her experience:
“I loved this trip! The Boundary Waters area is so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. Paddling in the tranquil lakes, sleeping under the stars, excellent meals by the campfire, and the camaraderie of our small group made for a truly wonderful experience,” said Lynda.
The Impact of Woodswomen / AGC Guides
At Adventures in Good Company, we are very proud of our guides for many reasons, but particularly for their comprehensive and captivating backgrounds and extensive outdoor experience. We are fortunate to still have on our roster two incredible head guides, Deb M. and Brenda P., who all started their guiding careers many years ago with Woodswomen.
Deb Malmon began working with Woodswomen in 1997, leading canoe trips in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Deb remembers learning a great deal about guiding from Denise, one of the original founders of Woodswomen.
“While on a whitewater canoe program, Denise taught us you can move faster than the river OR slower than the river to steer your boat in rapids. We so often only paddle harder in those moments, we head into strainers or obstacles. That notion that you could slow yourself down was pivotal and apropos to life!”
AGC is so grateful to have Deb, her wisdom, wit, and expertise as an integral part of the AGC guide team.
Brenda Porter’s first experience with Woodswomen was in 1993 at a weekend ‘Integrated Leadership Workshop’ as professional development for her full-time job with the Girl Scouts. She decided to volunteer as a guide on weekends for rock climbing and canoe trips for women and youth. A few years later, she participated in a week-long leadership course and combined her years of experience and enthusiasm to become an incredible guide. Today, she continues to guide a wide variety of trips around the world and is admired for her experience and skill set, as well as her watercolor artistry that enlivens any itinerary.
The Transformation to Adventures in Good Company (1999)
When Woodswomen was nearing its viable end in 1999, Guide and Executive Director Marian Marbury was ready to make the leap to start her own company and to evolve the non-profit organization into Adventures in Good Company.
She was fortunate to build on the knowledge and experience she had gained, employ Woodswomen guides she already knew, and adopt many established trip itineraries, which provided a solid foundation.
Marian was determined to continue offering trips for women based on the same philosophy of Woodswomen, which included valuing emotional as well as physical safety, personal choice and individual goals, and healthy relationships with each other and the environment. She wanted to continue offering fun, supportive, and challenging trips that celebrate women of all shapes, sizes, and expertise levels.
That philosophy became the foundation for the decades that followed, as Adventures in Good Company grew and attracted participants and guides who shared the same vision of what adventure travel should be.
New Name, Same Philosophy
Much like Woodswomen, Adventures in Good Company has always focused on active travel for women with adventurous spirits.
When developing the philosophy for Adventures in Good Company, the values from Woodswomen were carried over in full, and some new ideals were added that reflect the vision AGC was able to move forward with.
Adventures in Good Company’s Philosophy:
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We strive to create an atmosphere where women feel comfortable being who they are, and where everyone enjoys sharing their similarities and celebrating their differences.
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We want to create a space where you feel supported in following your own agenda, whether that's challenging yourself or taking some much-needed R&R. It's your trip.
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We believe that feeling truly connected to the natural world is both a human need and deeply rejuvenating. In this context, we also understand the joys of challenging your limits.
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We think that groups form the strongest bonds when individual needs and wants are being met. We design our itineraries to maximize flexibility, and we will do everything we can to help you have the trip that you want.
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We find that experiencing other cultures respectfully, rather than exploatively, enriches our understanding of our common humanity.
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We are committed to being a leader in sustainable travel among travel companies.
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We love having fun, eating good food and laughing a lot!
Our trips emphasize women challenging themselves and supporting one another, creating community and friendship, and, of course, relishing the culture and food of any destination. We offer more than just incredible trips; we create experiences of a lifetime for women seeking a new adventure.
Adventure in Good Company’s Growth Over the Years
Since 1977, the Woodwomen and Adventures in Good Company legacy has shaped the landscape of women’s adventure travel.
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We have led thousands of trips and outdoor adventures combined.
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We have visited over 100 destinations around the world.
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We have had the opportunity to travel with more than 1,000 brave, interesting, enthusiastic, and adventurous women each year.
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We have had a part in empowering countless women through the challenge and experience of travel and time outdoors.
As women’s group travel continues to grow in visibility and popularity, our mission remains steady.
We continue to create small-group adventure travel experiences where women challenge themselves, support on another, and experience the world in ways that are active, meaningful and deeply connected.
Nearly 50 years after that first canoe took off into the Boundary Waters, the core belief remains unchanged: when women step into the outdoors together, confidence grows, community forms and lives are transformed.
