Empowering Tomorrow’s Outdoor Leaders: Backcountry Squatters
Backcountry Squatters is a nationwide coalition of college clubs committed to fostering participation, leadership, and inclusivity among women and gender-queer folks within the outdoor industry and community.
about us
Run by ‘Squatters alumni, this 501c3 nonprofit uplifts women and gender-queer folks at a pivotal moment in their lives by connecting them in the kinship, growth, and empowerment of shared outdoor pursuits.
our chapters
We are opening the door to outdoor opportunities that women and non-binary folks have historically been excluded from. With chapters established accross the nation, Backcountry Squatters is rapidly expanding.
join us
Your support helps shape the next generation of resilient, empowered leaders. Together, we can make a difference, creating a more inclusive, resilient, and environmentally conscious future.
on the blog
Healing my Younger Self: Lessons in Womanhood are Ageless
The CU Boulder chapter of Backcountry Squatters created a chapter-specific scholarship to award three individuals who are defying circumstances, fighting stereotypes, advocating for environmental justice, and/or actively working towards social change in their communities with a $200 REI gift card to provide members a platform to share their stories and inspire each other. Ella Stern is a Junior at CU, an active member of her Squatters community, and one of the 2024 CU Backcountry Squatter-ship recipients.
Strengthening Skills, Building Confidence: How Backcountry Squatters Helped Me Become a Better Guide
With the support of Backcountry Squatters, Jamilah completed a swift water rescue course, gaining essential skills and confidence as a river guide. This experience emphasized the importance of preparation, teamwork, and leadership on the water.
From Newcomer to River Guide: My Outdoor Journey with BCS
With the help of a Backcountry Squatters scholarship, Khushi spent my summer as a river guide, gained her Wilderness First Responder certification, and grew in ways she never imagined. The community and support she found through BCS has opened doors she never knew existed in the outdoors.
Standing Strong: Backcountry Squatters’ Commitment to DEI
Backcountry Squatters stands firm in our commitment to DEI education and creating an inclusive outdoor community. Despite new federal challenges, we remain dedicated to empowering women, non-binary people, and other marginalized groups to thrive in the outdoors.
Brown butter seed bars and community
BCS alum Jenny Irwin shares her journey from engineering to food and farming, reflecting on how food fosters connection. Plus, don’t miss her incredible seed bar recipe—perfect for all your adventures!
5 Tips for Nurturing your LDF
Long-distance friendships take effort, but they’re so worth it. From silly vlogs to commuter calls, shared challenges, and showing gratitude, these tips will keep the love alive no matter the miles. 💛
What our community says:
From the beginning this movement has never been about how fast we can ski, how hard we can climb, or how far we can run–it has always been about pushing the boundaries of what women perceive as possible for themselves in outdoor culture, and in-turn, society. Through my own experience with Backcountry Squatters, I’ve found a meaningful sense-of-place in my community and have gotten to do so alongside women with an array of interesting backgrounds and stories–an experience I believe every woman should get the opportunity to have.
The Backcountry Squatters were a pleasure to partner with for avalanche education. The turnout for the classes was always high and the women were excited to learn. It’s great to work with a club that is eager to offer educational opportunities, as well as fun experiences.
I am always inspired by the women I have met through Backcountry Squatters. This community has introduced me to strong, confident, and amazing women who all share a collective enthusiasm for the outdoors. By maintaining a supportive atmosphere to pursue unique goals and have fun doing it, ‘Squatters has helped me build confidence in the mountains, on the river and even in school.
I got involved with the Backcountry Squatters at DU when it first got up and running because I wanted to not only inspire girls to join the outdoor community but also help other like-minded girls to find more gal pals to go get after it with. That’s why it has been so important to me: because we need more girl support in the outdoor community and an inclusive environment where we can grow and learn from each other.
WHO WE ARE
Backcountry Squatters is a vibrant community that empowers college women and non-binary folks at a pivotal moment in their lives. We are dedicated to fostering growth, leadership, and kinship through shared outdoor pursuits.
Our vision propels a new generation of leaders to thrive through college and beyond, making a lasting impact on the world. With a nationwide network of clubs, we prioritize community, leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, education, and outdoor recreation, ensuring everyone can access the transformative power of the outdoors.