Women make up a third of the Scouting membership in Wales, and more than half of our volunteers, according to the 2024 Scouts census.
Yet, when it comes to some of the more adventurous Scouting activities, female members are under-represented both as participants and leaders.
It’s something ScoutsCymru is committed to changing, which is why we’re organising our first introduction to hillwalking weekend for women, taking place over the weekend of 19-21 July at Yr Hafod, our residential centre in Eryri.
Women in the Hills will give female Scouting leaders aged 18+ the opportunity to gain practical experience of walking in the hills of Eryri in a safe and supportive environment. Bookings for the event go live today via the link below.
Participants will learn more about map reading and terminology, navigation and route plotting, as well as how to recognise, understand and manage potential dangers. They will gain knowledge of what’s needed in their ruck sack and why, learn about different types of clothing and footwear, and what equipment is needed for safety. There will also be plenty of time to ask any questions about planning walks on their own or with friends, as well as planning for groups.
Numbers will be limited to 21 participants for the event and the course will be completely free, as part of ScoutsCymru’s commitment to encourage more women to lead within Scouting.
With four fully-qualified and experienced female volunteer leaders sharing their skills and expertise, the weekend is ideal for those wanting to understand more about hill walking as a personal recreation as well as those who hope the experience will lead to more formal training and qualifications, such as Scout Hill Walking Permits.
Arriving at Yr Hafod on the evening of Friday 19 July, participants will meet the all-female team leading the event, chat through plans for the weekend, and get to know their fellow hill women.
Saturday morning will see breakfast, followed by a kit check and briefing session before setting off for a fully-guided walk in the scenic hills of Eryri. The distance and technical difficulty of this walk will be determined at the weekend, ensuring it’s suitable for all those in attendance.
Once back at Yr Hafod, participants will have time to relax, before a debrief over dinner and a chance to network with other women in Scouting in Wales. Breakfast on the Sunday will be followed by a shorter walk, finishing with a goodbye lunch before all participants depart.
Participants will need to make their own way to Yr Hafod and bring their own outdoor walking gear, as well as a sleeping bag, sheet, pillow, and pillowcase for the dorm-style accommodation. The exact details of what is needed are in the Frequently Asked Questions linked below.
If childcare costs are a barrier to attending this event, please get in touch as we may be able to support you. We have also included in the FAQs places that may be able to support for anyone needing clothing and equipment for the weekend.
You can see the Frequently Asked Questions here.
Louise Shaw, Secretary of Yr Hafod and one of the instructors for the weekend, said: “The volunteer leaders team at Yr Hafod are a diverse group of people including women from different backgrounds. We have younger to more mature leaders with many years of sharing our passion for the outdoor environment with others. We welcome the chance to show a female-only group what can be experienced in our lovely national park. Bring yourselves, some kit and a smidgin of get-up-and-go to what we hope will be a very fun and educational weekend.”
Kerrie Gemmill, Director of ScoutsCymru, who will also be taking part in the weekend, said: “It is wonderful when the seed of an idea becomes a reality. Women in the Hills was borne out of a workshop with the team at Yr Hafod as we pondered how we could encourage more diversity in the team and in hill walking. Our hope is that creating a women-only space will take away some of the anxiety of going on a hill walk.
“We are extremely fortunate to have experienced mountaineering women who know Eryri and who will be our guides, taking away the worry of what route to take or how to find our way. This weekend is a gentle introduction to give women in Scouting the confidence and boost to try something different, learn new skills, and have a good natter along the way.”
All booking forms must be submitted by Monday 15 Apil. After the deadline, the system will randomly sort the submissions, and the first 21 individuals listed will be selected to attend the event. Those not selected on the first occasion will be held in a waiting list. If there are any cancellations, we will contact the next person on the list.
You can book online here: Women in the Hills Booking Form
