Sounds of laughter filling the air, the sun slowly setting and mocktails clinking together. That's exactly the kind of night Lauren Pearson envisioned when she created her new program, Ladies Night Out(side).
As an assistant program coordinator for Outdoor Murfreesboro, Lauren says she's truly loved coming up with new, innovative programming to fit the needs of those in the community.
Ladies Night Out(side) can involve nights by the campfire, hiking through the woods, kayaking down the river or even making candles. It doesn't seem to matter; registration fills up quickly, and this unique new program definitely has been labeled a successful one.
Interestingly, this type of outing only happened because she was continually hearing from women who were coming to the Wilderness Station saying they wanted to do something just for them where they could meet new people. So she began working on how she could meet their request.
“I wanted to foster a group who would create an environment to make connections and meet new friends and all while doing cool things outside,” says Lauren.
That's exactly how this fun new program was created. She keeps it quick and easy, but there are always some elements of food and drink involved. They recently did a s’mores bar and grilled cheeses, and she always has a themed mocktail on hand.
Kira Palmiter has attended several of these events and shares, “Ladies Night has been such a wonderful way to connect with the outdoors while meeting new friends. These monthly meetups give me dedicated time to step outside, relax and enjoy fun new activities. Whether we’re kayaking and trying archery, getting creative with macrame and solar printing, or simply making s’mores around the fire, there’s always something fun for everyone. I look forward to each night and love that every meetup brings a new experience."
This program is for those 16 years old-plus and all age ranges attend. October will rally around a spooky theme.