Teaching confidence, one mystery item at a time
September 10, 2025
I was recently invited to give a presentation for the Lehigh Valley Women of Adventure, a wonderful group of women who hike, camp, paddle, and generally make “the great outdoors” look easy. I met one of their members, Michele, during a camping trip in the Catskills, and when I mentioned that I teach outdoor skills for women, her eyes lit up. Before I knew it, I was booked to lead a session for their group.
My class is called “Wild and Fearless: How to Gain Confidence in the Wild.” It’s one of my favorites to teach, partly because I get to talk about preparedness, and partly because every time I run it, I tweak it to make it a little more fun (and occasionally, a little more chaotic).
This time, I was trying to figure out a way to teach the 10 essentials hands-on, while also making sure I got all my items returned. Enter the mystery paper bag challenge. Each participant received a sealed paper bag containing a different outdoor item. One by one, they opened their bags, announced what they found, and discussed whether it was essential to carry in the outdoors.
The method worked wonderfully… though I wasn’t sure how many women would attend, and something I hadn’t anticipated: many thought the bag was a gift. I had to gently remind them that I needed the items back — and yes, I reclaimed every single one.
The class was held at Egypt Park, inside an indoor pavilion, which was perfect for staying dry and comfortable while still enjoying the park atmosphere. Some items were easy guesses — a flashlight, a first-aid kit — while others elicited raised eyebrows (mosquito head net).
About twenty women attended, and they were a fantastic group — curious, engaged, and full of thoughtful questions. I left feeling inspired and hopeful that this won’t be my last session with them. Teaching women how to feel more confident and capable in the outdoors never gets old — especially when there’s laughter involved.