Sideline Stories: Gillian Schair, Founder & Co-Leader, Ladies Adventure Club

Totally amazing that an incredibly fussy 13-year-old girl whose mom dragged her canoeing down the St. Croix River, camping on Mooselookmeguntic Lake, and hiking up to Chimney Pond in Baxter State Park would turn into a lover of all those experiences and would in turn, drag her children to those same places. And, yes, her kids fussed all the way, too. Growing up, my best and most favorite spot was curled up on the living room couch, disappearing into my Nancy Drew books. I was a reader and a girl who loved rearranging the furniture in her room; I was not an outdoor enthusiast. I pushed hard against my mom when on summer days she loaded my younger sister and me into her Jeep Cherokee to explore the wilds of Maine. Those long drives on the paper roads! As a teenager, I much preferred the weekends with my dad who had cable TV (and MTV!)

Funnily enough, at 42 years old (six years ago), I founded a small business that focuses on getting women outside and out of their comfort zones in a safe and supportive way. Now, my best days are the ones outside, and running the Ladies Adventure Club is my passion. The mission of the Ladies Adventure Club: We are a welcoming community of women who like to explore new places and spaces, and challenge ourselves to be bold and have fun. Our group is multi-generational, diverse in skill and experience, and we all share the desire to grow, and to get outside. We also care deeply about creating and being part of a supportive community.

I continue to push myself and not accept what’s comfortable or easy. Over this past pandemic year, I have rafted the Kennebec River, summited Katahdin, paddled the Allagash River, walked hundreds of miles, and skied uphill, downhill, and over many miles of snowy trails. I am grateful that my joy comes from spending time outside and helping women find their joy through challenge and success.

I have to believe that the hours on the water and on the trail in my youth laid the seeds of passion that make up my days now. I couldn’t see it then and it took a while to percolate. But percolate it did. Here I am, decades later, adventuring as often as I can and sharing my love of Maine and the outdoors with an amazing group of women. I’m grateful for our state, for my role models, and to all the women who adventure with me.