Let’s Meet at the Picnic Table at Midnight

The author provides background about women’s outdoor trips using examples of early women’s expeditions, research, and observation. She describes differences in the aims of men and women as they designed boys’ and girls’ camps, respectively, from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. The author explains how women’s trips designed by women are often different from co-ed trips and why some women choose to go on all-women trips. Stereotypes of outdoor women and women’s outdoor trips are explored, and the concept and effects of lesbian baiting are discussed. The value of giving voice to more perspectives and ways of being in the outdoors is presented.