Clubs and Community Groups: helping you reach new people and keep current members engaged
Are you looking for ways to breathe new life into your club? Whether you are a walking club, a service club, a craft group, a neighborhood house, or a local community association, the challenge is often the same: How do we reach new people and keep our current members engaged?
The Side-by-Side Nature Walks program is a simple, "plug-and-play" way to add a new dimension to your current program. It isn't about fitness or "conquering the outdoors"- it’s about conversation and connection in nature.
Research tells us that women aged 50+ are often in transition, recently retired, looking for ways to stay active and social, but they often feel intimidated by formal groups. They might worry they aren’t fit enough, don’t have the right equipment, or will be "the slow one" who holds everyone up.
By offering a Side-by-Side program, your club provides a low-pressure "soft entry" point to walking in nature. It acts as a bridge, bringing people into your community who might never have walked through your doors otherwise.
In partnership with:
Side by Side Nature Walks: Benefits for your Community Group
Attract New Demographics
Reach women in transition - the newly retired, those who have recently moved to the area, or those recovering from health issues who are looking for a gentle way to reconnect.
Boost Member Retention
It’s a great way to keep your long-term members involved. If age or health means they can no longer participate in your more "intense" activities, the Side-by-Side walks keep them socially connected and valued. The walks will also add activities to your program, keeping them engaged
Simple to Run
You don’t need special equipment or high-level training. All you need are 1–2 members who have their first aid certificate and love a chat, and some fun, short nature walks in your community.
What does a Side by Side Walk Look Like?
Chilled out walks
No pressure to be fast, fit or “outdoorsy” enough. Walks are short and slow (under 5km, under 2hrs), we stop often, and genuinely leave no one behind. Size, speed and fitness really don’t matter.
Come when you like
Walks are low cost or free. There’s no commitment to come to every walk. Just let the leader know if you are coming so numbers can be managed. Groups are small with max of 14 walkers.
Social First
The walk is just the vehicle; the conversation and connection is the destination. We always finish with a cuppa, and someone brings along some homemade baked goodies to share.
Why Women only?
We have designed Side-by-Side Nature Walks based on the feedback from our participants. While everyone deserves the benefits of time spent outdoors, many women, particularly those over 50, face unique hurdles that keep them from taking the first step.
Research shows that 52% of women worry about being judged while exercising, and many feel intimidated by the "serious" gear or fast pace often associated with mixed-gender groups. By creating a women-only space, we remove the pressure of comparison and the fear of "holding others back."
This isn't about exclusion; it’s about equity. It provides the psychological safety and supportive environment women need to build their confidence, share lived experiences, and feel safe in nature. Our program is designed to meet women exactly where they are, turning the intimidation of a new activity into a genuine sense of belonging. Read more about Equity: The importance of a women-only walking program
Why Short & Slow Paced?
For many women, the barrier isn’t walking - it’s the pressure around it. Long distances and faster paces can feel daunting, especially when you’re worried about keeping up. Short, slow walks remove that pressure, with a gentle pace and a small time commitment that makes it easier to say yes.
It also reduces the mental load - less planning, less overthinking, just showing up. When something feels manageable and welcoming, people come. And once they come, they connect with others, and their confidence grows.
How can my club or community group set this up to make is successful?
I’m Richelle Olsen, I’m the President of the Escaping Your Comfort Zone bushwalking club and the Executive Officer at Bushwalking Victoria. I have been working alongside Outdoors Victoria, the City of Greater Geelong and the Surf Coast Shire to develop this program in those council areas, and to create a way to make it easy for other clubs, community groups and councils to set this program up across Australia. I’ve already done the heavy lifting, I know the program works, and I have created a "Side by Side Field Guide" that will:
Give you the exact wording, templates and tips and tricks that work for attracting new women to your walks (it turns out "We love a sleep-in!" is a great recruitment tool).
Help you to identify 1-2 members who love a chat and don't mind the slow pace of being your "Side-by-Side" leads.
Provide your leaders with the training needed to support these walks (we love short and sharp!)
Give you great tools to help your members see the value in adding a slower, more social activity.
Provide your club or group with the confidence to welcome a new group of participants to your community.
Give you guidance for applying for grants if required to help you to get started
What is the cost of bringing this program to my club/community group?
Because the Side-by-Side Field Guide was developed with federal funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care, the manual itself is available to clubs and community groups at no cost. My goal is to make the "blueprint" for success accessible to everyone.
However, we know that club volunteers are busy. To get the best results without adding to your workload, I offer consultancy and implementation support for a fee. This ensures the program is set up correctly, your leaders are confident, and your new membership stream is built to last.
The best part? My support is often grant-funded. I can work with you to identify and apply for local or state grants that cover my professional fees, as well as your club’s startup costs (like marketing and leader training). This means you get expert guidance and a polished program rollout with little to no impact on your club's bottom line.
Ready to get started? If you think your club could benefit from a few dozen new members and some extra funding, I’d love to have a chat. Email me at richelle@escapingyourcomfortzone.com
“Women come for the physical and mental health benefits of being in nature, to build fitness and to discover new places, but they stay for the connection, the community and the sense of belonging”
