Escaping your comfort zone

Richelle Olsen started Escaping Your Comfort Zone in 2016 to support women and non-binary people to take on the outdoors, no matter their size, age, or fitness level.

The group's mission is to demonstrate you don't have to have a certain body type to be adventurous.

The group’s motto is “The outdoors doesn't care about your size, your speed or your fitness, and neither do we!”

"When you go to a gym, quite often people feel scrutinised. They feel judged. They feel like they don't fit in because they don't have a certain body type," Ms Olsen says.

Escaping Your Comfort Zone (EYCZ) strongly believes "the outdoors belongs to everyone" and is all about making the outdoors as inclusive as possible.

"It doesn't matter how fit you are, how much you huff and puff … because you're out here in it. We are all red faced, huffing and puffing together."

Escaping Your Comfort Zone encourages members to go at their own pace, with plenty of stops along the trail, and the group moves at the speed of the slowest hiker, so no-one gets left behind.

"It doesn't have to be far, or fast, to be an amazing adventure."

Gippsland Volunteer Leader Jess Edwards, joined during the pandemic as a member and was quickly promoted to a volunteer leader late in 2021.

Jess grew up camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors but after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia when she was 21, she found being active more difficult.

“Over the years I’ve struggled with weight gain and feeling like I didn’t deserve to take up space outdoors,” Jess said.

She then joined the EYCZ.

“When I found EYCZ all that changed. I found a community of like-minded people that recognise that the outdoors is for everyone.

“I found a sense of belonging, that connection that I’d missed for so long.”

Jess stated that she's "made some really good friends through EYCZ and now we catch up outside of EYCZ events as well".

Jess is particularly excited about leading the upcoming Gippsland Getting Started in Adventure Program, supported by VicHealth.

The programs are for people who feel like they don’t quite fit into mainstream hiking and adventure groups.

“We want to show you that the outdoors belongs to everyone, regardless of what social media tells us.

“We welcome you as you are.”

EYCZ currently has around five active Gippsland Leaders, with events all over including South Gippsland, West Gippsland, Central and East Gippsland.

Melissa Barnes is a Gippsland Volunteer Leader from Warragul.

“I’ve had fantastic adventures and trips since becoming involved with EYCZ,” Mel said.

“It’s such a supportive, welcoming group and I love that no one is left behind.”

The motto “the outdoors doesn’t care about your size and neither do we” has never rang truer.

Mel loves the opportunities that EYCZ brings.

“It’s so important to show that people of any size and fitness levels can have fun and adventures while enjoying the outdoors and getting to explore the beautiful places we live in.”

Ms Olsen says it's important the group caters to those new to exercise, because not every sport group is beginner friendly.

Escaping Your Comfort Zone is supported by VicHealth, is an active This Girl Can supporter, conducts Proud2Play diversity training for leaders, and is a Bushwalking Victoria Club.

The group was also the winner of the VicSport Outdoor Recreation Initiative of the year in 2019.

For more information on Escaping Your Comfort Zone, visit www.escapingyourcomfortzone.com/ or email richelle@escapingyourcomfortzone.com

/ Sponsored article /