She Can Adventure leads the way for the women of Central Florida.
Written By Cynthia McFarland
Camping, hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities feel natural if you grew up doing them, but many women never had that opportunity as girls.
That’s where She Can Adventure steps in.
Specifically targeting women, this woman-owned organization was founded by Crystal Batlle in early 2019.
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Crystal was part of a women’s hiking club but also loved to camp and do other activities.
Her two daughters, now 5 and 7, have been part of her hikes since she toted them along from the age of 6 weeks old. She launched She Can Adventure with them in mind.
“It became my goal to create a community for women to feel secure and safe enough to explore the outdoors,” says Crystal, a Florida native from Deltona. “The goal is to make this a 501(C)(3) organization. My dream is to see this go global.”
She Can Adventure allows women and girls aged 12 and up to experience a variety of outdoor activities. No membership is needed. You can just buy tickets to the events that interest you.
The next camp out series takes place April 12-14 at Buck Lake in the Ocala National Forest. The women-only weekend features tent camping, meals cooked over the campfire, guided hikes, self-defense classes hosted by Warrior Forged/Mean Girls Project owner Leslie Steinmann, meditation under the stars and much more.
Day passes are available for those who want to participate without staying overnight.
“Most of the women come by themselves and meet their new best friends there,” says Crystal. “We’re always trying to encourage the next generation of outdoor women.”
Because of Florida summers, campouts are scheduled fall through spring. She Can Adventure offers other events throughout the year. These vary and include guided hikes, kayaking, orienteering, book club and more.
Group chats on Facebook and WhatsApp help women stay in touch between events.
Some activities are more adventurous than others. For example, next January, the group will do a 106-mile bike trip from Key Largo to Key West on the Overseas National Scenic Highway Trail.
The organization has hosted two summits featuring a great lineup of speakers covering a wide range of outdoor adventures.
Among those speakers was National Geographic 2019 Adventurer of the Year, Heather “Anish” Anderson, who hiked 8,000 miles in one year.
If you’re a woman of any age craving more outdoor in your life, She Can Adventure may be just what you need.
For more information and to sign up for events, visit shecanadventure.com.