Finding a supportive, welcoming and inclusive group to do fun things with is so important, especially as an adult! I’m Danielle and I’m an ambassador for the Greater Chicago Area. What better way to meet new friends than to plan fun events? Your job as an ambassador is to manage and engage with your local chapter’s Facebook group, create fun events and opportunities for members of your group, and be part of a team of supportive ambassadors- both locally and around the world! You might be asking- why would I want to become an ambassador?

First, you are able to plan events/activities that you want to do! Is there something you’ve been wanting to try but didn’t want to do it alone? Is there an activity you really love doing and want to show other women why it’s so fun? These are great ways of deciding what kind of events to create! Although many of our events are hiking and outdoors related, you can create events of any kind! Some examples could be kayaking, meet & greets, mini golfing, going to a local event/festival, camping weekends, axe throwing, a self defense class, the list goes on and on! One of my favorite examples is when I put on stand up paddle boarding events the past few summers. Two incredible things happened: 1) I met people who already had their own paddle boards (or kayaks) that I could meet up with throughout the summers and 2) I met people who wanted to try it and was able to provide them with the opportunity to do so! Win-win all around!

Next, you get to make new friends and meet like-minded people! I first joined Women Who Explore: Greater Chicago Area because I was looking for a group that ran local events so I could meet people while doing something I knew I enjoyed or an activity I had been wanting to try. I applied to be an ambassador because I love planning things and figured it would be an even better way to meet new people through the group. I also joined because many of my friends have moved out of state, are starting families, or aren’t big outdoorsy people. It’s so awesome running events and having the same people repeatedly attend your events and being able to build those connections that turn into friendships and it’s also so exciting meeting new women! There are so many amazing women in this community and I hope to meet and inspire as many of them as I can!

Another fun part of being an ambassador is learning new skills and seeing the “behind the scenes” of what goes into managing a Facebook group and planning events! You see your group from the admin side- being the one to create events, approve/decline members and posts, engaging with your group and managing the Facebook group in general. The Ambassador Academy does a great job of offering classes on important topics such as Leave No Trace, How to Use Canva, Eventbrite updates, etc.

Last, but probably most important- you have a huge support system of awesome women at your side every step of the way! All ambassadors have been through the onboarding process and we are all here for each other! Your local chapter may have a team of ambassadors you’ll be joining, or you may be the amazing woman that brings your chapter back to life! All ambassadors have access to and are encouraged to engage in the ambassador Facebook group for anything you might need! Have a question, don’t understand something, or just need some advice (personal or Women Who Explore related)? We are all there to support you in any way you need!

Why you should become a Women Who Explore Ambassador

So you want to take photos of wildflowers...