VENTURE OUT Femme Backcountry Festival: A Weekend of Empowerment, Education, and Connection
- Leanne Wren
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
What an incredible weekend! We just wrapped up the 4th Annual VENTURE OUT Femme Backcountry Festival, and while we are still riding the high from such a powerful and inspiring event, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the hard work and dedication that went into making it all happen.
This event was a huge labor of love, not only for Kelley and me but for the entire community that helped bring it to life. It takes an incredible amount of effort to pull off something like this, and we absolutely couldn’t have done it without our amazing volunteers, sponsors, and the continued support of Lisa from The Scout Hut. Their generosity and enthusiasm helped set the stage for an unforgettable weekend.
A special shoutout to Ri, our amazing photographer, who captured all the magic of the weekend. Ri followed the group around, documenting the energy, the laughs, and those breathtaking moments that we’re sharing in these stunning images. Ri’s passion and skill behind the lens helped us preserve the spirit of the event and gave us memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you, @ri_ganey , for sharing your talent with us!
We are beyond grateful to the incredible instructors who gave their time and expertise to guide our participants through tours, sharing both their knowledge and passion for the backcountry. These connections are what make events like this so meaningful.
At the core of VNTRbirds, we’re an educational company that specializes in backcountry education and avalanche courses throughout the winter months. Our focus has always been about building trust and skill in the backcountry, but the VENTURE OUT Femme Festival brought something new—something we truly believe is just as important. This event wasn’t just about education; it was about creating a community. A place for women and femme-identifying folks to meet, bond, and find backcountry partners they can trust—partners they can plan with and, ultimately, rely on when conditions get tough.
Planning and hosting an event like this is a whole different beast from what we’re used to, but the energy and excitement that radiated from everyone who attended was absolutely worth it. We do all of this for you—for the community we’re working to build, where support, connection, and safety come first. The challenges of pulling this off remind us that creating opportunities for these connections is invaluable.
We’re proud to see the momentum and the network that’s been growing, and we can’t wait for the next chapter. Thank you to everyone who joined us, to those who volunteered, and to all our sponsors for supporting this event. Together, we’re making the backcountry more accessible, inclusive, and fun!
Here's to the connections we’ve made and the adventures ahead. Until next time, keep venturing out!
-Leanne Wren (she/they) Co-Owner and Backcountry Educator
