Women's Outdoor Adventure Club: Backcountry Squatters

Backcountry Squatters is a student-led outdoor club dedicated to empowering women and gender-diverse individuals through adventure, community, and skill-building. The club creates a welcoming, supportive environment where members can explore activities like hiking, climbing, skiing, and backpacking, regardless of experience level.

Through group trips, workshops, and mentorship, members develop confidence, leadership, and a strong connection to the outdoors. Backcountry Squatters aims to break down barriers in traditionally male-dominated spaces while fostering inclusivity, resilience, and friendship.

Club Aims:

• Community Building: To build and sustain an inclusive, supportive network that connects women through shared outdoor experiences, mentorship, and meaningful relationships.
• Skill Development and Education: To provide accessible opportunities for members to develop outdoor skills, safety knowledge, and technical competencies through workshops and guided outings.
• Leadership and Representation: To encourage and cultivate women’s leadership in outdoor spaces by creating pathways for members to organise events, lead trips, mentor peers, and serve in leadership roles within the club and the broader outdoor community.
• Environmental Stewardship: To promote responsible recreation and a strong environmental ethic by advocating for conservation, preservation, and public access to natural spaces, and by practicing Leave No Trace principles in all club activities.

Postal Address:

Mailbox 225,
Level 1, Building 168
University of Melbourne VIC 3010