outdoorswomen | The Filson Journal

Florida Outdoorswoman: Ava Fitzgerald

Ava Fitzgerald grew up just ten minutes from the beach in South Florida, where the rhythms of nature were part of everyday life. From a young age, she was immersed in Florida’s rich ecosystems. “I’ve probably watched turtles hatch a hundred times,” she laughs. “We’d go to the beach at sunset, looking for tiny little tracks leading back to the nest, and then suddenly, it was like a zombie apocalypse. Dozens of tiny baby turtles crawling out of the sand.”

A 2020 Field Report from BHA

Backcountry hunters and anglers is an organization dedicated to the stewardship of our public lands. Here, john gale of BHA offers a look at their mission, some of the year’s most important initiatives, and how you can get involved.

Jen Judge: Becoming an independent Outdoorswoman

For me, becoming an independent woman in the outdoors has been about mitigating fears. After all, the backcountry is full of potentially scary things. There are wild and unpredictable creatures, as well as creepy-crawlies. There are existential risks to worry over, including injury (of either myself or others), over-exhaustion, running out of food and water, being stuck out in the elements, or simply getting lost. And then there are fears caused by how society sees women, such as lack of competence or not measuring up.