What motivates women to become outdoor instructors and keep mentoring others?

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Women remain underrepresented in outdoor leadership, a field traditionally shaped by masculine norms. Research on what motivates women to enter and remain in these roles is limited, particularly in volunteer-based outdoor education programs.

This study examined the motivations and formative experiences influencing women’s engagement and continued participation as instructors in Michigan’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program. Five BOW instructors took part in semi-structured interviews about their backgrounds, experiences, and reasons for instructing. The researchers used a constructivist theoretical framework to guide thematic analysis with NVivo software. Peer review of the findings supported credibility and trustworthiness.

Participants identified early exposure to outdoor experiences, strong mentorship, and alignment with BOW’s culture as core motivators. They attributed sustained involvement to emotional connection, a supportive community, and opportunities to make an impact by mentoring others. BOW’s distinctive all-women format was reported to enhance confidence and belonging.

To support gender equity in outdoor leadership, the study recommends that programs foster inclusive environments emphasizing mentorship, shared values, and emotional safety. The findings inform future strategies for recruiting and retaining women in outdoor education and leadership.