Updates: Finding Connection Beyond the Page
OBC’s Big Plans for the New Year
It’s a new year (can I still say Happy New Year? I’ve decided that I can). In the “backcountry” of Outdoor Book Club,
and I have been doing a lot of planning, dreaming, and mulling over exactly who and what we want OBC to be, and it’s been a thrilling (if somewhat daunting) process.We Want to Hear From You!
Help shape the future of OBC by filling out our survey (and you could win a $25 REI gift card!).
In fact, it’s still a work-in-progress, and to help move the process along even further, we want to hear from you! To help us make Outdoor Book Club even better, we’ve put together a quick survey (okay, it’s a little longer, but worth it). By filling it out by Groundhog’s Day (Feb. 2), you’ll not only help shape the future of OBC but also be entered to win a $25 REI gift card!
Exciting News: OBC is Now a Nonprofit!
Part of the planning we’ve been doing has been around how we want to structure this community. And after a lot of thought and strategizing, we’re excited to announce: Outdoor Book Club is now officially recognized as a nonprofit! Specifically, we’re a 501(c)(7) social club, which means we’re a community of women brought together by our shared love of books and the outdoors. It’s just a tax status, of course—OBC is so much more than that. We actually like to think of ourselves as being at the beginning of a movement. Watch for future communications where we’ll share more details about how you can officially join and support our work as a paying member. Memberships will help us create more meaningful connections, build our community, and basically allow us to establish a solid foundation for long-term impact.
Saying Goodbye to Facebook
Substack is our new “basecamp” for building connection and community
Speaking of making the world a better place, Jen and I have made a conscious decision to leave Facebook. The OBC groups will still be there, we’re just not going to do much (if anything) to keep them going. So if you want to keep up on all things OBC, Substack will now be our official “basecamp.” Facebook is just not a place where we want to be anymore, and we’re guess that a lot of you feel the same way. So we’re renewing our commitment to build something of value here on Substack, and we’re deeply grateful to all of you for continuing to support the work and community we’re trying to build.
Building Our Community in 2025
What you can expect as we create a safe, welcoming space to exchange ideas and inspire one another.
Next, we want to take you along on our journey, and so it’s important that you know what our 2025 vision for Outdoor Book Club is. First and foremost, it is to build up and out our membership and community here, as a place where we can exchange book recommendations, ideas about travel and favorite locations, gear tips and more. So please share this community with your booksy, outdoorsy friends! We know we can depend on you all to make this place a home, to reach out to each other and new members and make everyone feel welcome, supported and like OBC is a place where we can feel brave, safe and connected. If there’s anything we can do to help with that process, by all means, reach out!
Finally, as we work on the community-building aspect of OBC, we’ve also made a conscious decision to pull back on planned trips. While we’re stepping back from organizing trips this year to focus on building our tribe, we’ll be creating spaces here on Substack where you can connect with other heroines and plan your own adventures together.
However, we’ll still host a few special experiences; in fact, we’ve got two upcoming opportunities before the summer. So if you’re craving a cozy weekend to connect with adventurous women who love books, there are still three spots left for our retreat at the beautiful MacMullan Center on the serene shores of Higgins Lake, March 21-23. You’ll enjoy creative exploration, reflective moments, hearty meals, and optional outdoor adventures like hiking or snowshoeing. This is your chance to recharge and rediscover your inner heroine—here are all the details!
Also, look for an announcement about our super-secret, upcoming 'Tom Lake' weekend in April. It’s going to be AMAZING! (That’s all I’m going to say for now.)
Thank You for Being a Heroine
For showing up, blazing trails, and making the world a better place.
Finally, I want to be intentional about my gratitude for this community. It’s a rough world out there right now, and Jen and I have made a very conscious decision that whatever’s wrong with the world, politics won’t fix it — but we think that community might be. So in case no one has told you lately, thank you for being the heroine of your own story—for showing up for yourself, your family, your friends, and your community. I know the path isn’t always easy, and the terrain can be pretty rough, but every step matters.
We all have our own mountains to climb—battles that others can’t see—but know that they are worth the effort. And know that we see you. We appreciate you. And we believe the world needs more heroines like you—blazing trails, finding beauty in nature, and living boldly, bravely, and authentically.
Keep going. You ARE making a difference.
Tallyho,
Jill Hinton Wolfe | Chief Heroine
P.S. If you’re as excited about OBC’s future as we are, please share this post with a friend who loves books, the outdoors, and building meaningful connections.
P.P. S. And don’t forget to fill out the survey by Groundhog’s Day for a chance to win a $25 REI gift card!