Gear manufacturers have realised that lots of women like the outdoors and they're different shapes from men. Here's what's out there, and where you can buy it.
Amy Corcoran - Outdoor Instructor
The Outdoor Recreation industry provides its workers with an adventurous, stimulating and fulfilling lifestyle, even if it’s not always consistent. The work can involve weeks or months away from home on programs, and is often seasonal and unpredictable. However, for those passionate about the outdoors and helping participants benefit from their involvement in outdoor activities, it can be highly rewarding and a worthy vocation.
Amy Corcoran is one of these people - she has been working in the outdoor industry since she left school. Amy started as a volunteer leader on camps for disadvantaged children and their families with St Vincent de Paul, and on camps for children with disabilities. After completing Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation she worked at a few different camps before deciding she needed more a challenge and signing up as a participant on a 26 day Outward Bound course called
Amy’s favourite part of the job is not so much the outdoor activities themselves, but using the outdoors to help participants develop their personal awareness, and to have experiences that will have a positive impact on their life. She quotes Kurt Hahn, the founder of Outward Bound: “We are all better than we know; if only we were brought to realise this, we may never again settle for anything less.” Amy believes herself blessed with a job where she gets to help people realise this.
Amy says she’s also gained fantastic benefits herself from working in the outdoors. Amy has been influenced along the way by mentors, both male and female, who have encouraged and inspired her as she has progressed in Outdoor Recreation. Throughout the process of learning to be a better instructor, she’s learned to push her physical capabilities, gained self confidence and self awareness and developed her understanding of herself and others.
Amy hasn’t found the outdoor industry to be male dominated at all, with an equal share of females at every place she’s worked. If sometimes she is not as strong or physically capable as the male instructors, it doesn’t affect her capability to do her job because she knows she has strengths in other areas.
For people starting out in the outdoor industry, Amy suggests trying everything and discovering which aspect of the industry you are passionate about. Then it’s just a matter of finding a company that focuses on whatever that is!