The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode: 1KHO 554: How to Start an Adventure Club (and Change Your Family’s Life)
Host: Jenny Urch
Guest: Beth Barth, Founder of Girls Adventure Club
Date: August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the transformative power of adventure, exploring how families—especially mothers and daughters—can reclaim childhood through intentional time outside. Host Jenny Urch talks with Beth Barth, founder of the Girls Adventure Club, about fostering a culture of outdoor adventure, building community, overcoming obstacles to participation, and how to set up your own adventure club. The conversation is filled with practical ideas, honest insights about community building, and inspiration for parents to “just go.”

Key Discussion Points

1. Beth’s Adventurous Background

• Study Abroad and Solo Travel

  • Beth shares how her spirit of adventure began at 19, when she studied abroad in Australia with a layover in Fiji.

    “I ended up in Fiji by myself in a hostel under a banana tree listening to a local band play Hotel California…these people—wow, the world is big and there’s so many cool things to do.” (Beth, 04:06)

• Backpacking with Her Husband

  • She and her now-husband Justin pushed against traditional expectations, saving up and traveling the world with limited plans.

    “We had the first two weeks booked and then the rest we just figured out as we went.” (Beth, 09:37)

• Lessons Learned from Travel

  • Trust, flexibility, and learning to take life “one step at a time” are themes she carries into motherhood and the Girls Adventure Club.

    "You really just have to trust in the world and in yourself and really you just have to know the next step. You don’t have to know how to get out of the forest, you just have to know what’s the next thing." (Beth, 06:06)

2. Birth of the Girls Adventure Club

• Origin of the Idea

  • Beth wanted more meaningful experiences for her daughters as friendships became more important in tweendom, especially after community disruption during COVID.

    “The idea just hit me like a ton of bricks. The Girls Adventure Club.” (Beth, 16:23)

  • Her background in women’s health and value of sisterhood influenced her focus on girls and mothers.

    “I’ve always…had a special spot in my heart for women and girls, and for supporting them and uplifting them.” (Beth, 16:33)

• Practical Beginnings

  • Beth started with outreach to her local homeschool community, emphasizing the need for both her kids and herself to get outside and connect.

    “If you love adventuring too, come with us. And so it’s really just turned into a really cool thing.” (Beth, 17:03)

3. Unique Club Structure and Philosophy

• Mother–Daughter Core

  • Unlike many kids’ clubs, mothers fully participate.

    “The beautiful thing is the moms being involved. This is a mom and daughter group...you are having these shared experiences with your daughter and building bonds.” (Beth, 23:42)

• Importance of Consistency and Connection

  • Using small financial commitments and advance payment for events to boost consistent attendance and community-building.

    “Often when you have a financial investment, even if it’s a small one, it motivates you to get out and to show up. And once you make friends, that becomes the motivation.” (Beth, 24:42)

  • Recommendation: Sessions and advance payment help relationships form by bringing the same families together.

    "Now we just do the full year...you just pay it in advance for the whole year. So it is more of a financial investment now. But it is the same group and people are investing." (Beth, 27:56)

• Adventuring on Mondays

  • Unusual among homeschool groups, but Beth found Mondays work best, offering a fresh start to the week and avoiding other activity conflict.

    “Mondays are actually the greatest. I found it to be just the greatest jumpstart." (Beth, 30:18)

Adventure Club Activities: Ideas & Inspiration

Beth lists dozens of activities, illustrating how accessible and varied adventure can be.

• Top Activities from the Club (31:10–34:31)
  • Intro to scuba diving
  • Outdoor/indoor rock climbing
  • Whitewater rafting (e.g., Banning State Park in MN)
  • Sea kayaking Apostle Islands, Lake Superior
  • Log rolling, hike sledding, waterfalling
  • Paint-by-numbers by a lake (combining art & nature)
  • Book clubs, adventure film fests, virtual Q&As with female adventurers
  • Projectiles class: axe/spear throwing
  • Aerial silks, trapeze, ski jumping
  • Connection days: casual hangout time post-adventure

“We’ve done paint-by-number after a hike by the lake...combines nature and art and it’s so peaceful.” (Beth, 22:17)

• Travel Range

  • Members typically drive up to an hour for unique activities.

• Big vs. Small Adventures

  “Adventure is what you need it to be. I always say, like, toe dips or big trips—they all count, they all matter.” (Beth, 41:41)

Overcoming Challenges

• Getting People to Show Up

  • Initial attendance can be tough; a nominal fee helps and so does prepayment for a season.
  • Jenny shares feelings of rejection when leading previous groups that fizzled due to low turnout.

    “I have struggled...with leading groups because I feel like people choose you as an option and...I struggled with feeling rejected...” (Jenny, 25:14)

• Beth’s Advice

  • Don’t cancel even with lots of last-minute dropouts; "go anyway." These sometimes turn into the most meaningful days, especially in tough weather.

    “Don’t cancel the day. Go. Still go. Because oftentimes those are the most beautiful days.” (Beth, 52:54) "Even if you go and you're the only one there, you are still there with your children...as the kids get older, the time shrinks...take it when you can." (Beth, 53:24)

• Ego and Letting Go

  • Beth admits to initially taking no-shows personally but realized it's not about her.

    “I just keep telling myself, it's not you, it's not you, it's not you, until I believe it.” (Beth, 54:49)

    • Focus on your “why”: Make memories with your children; the rest is bonus.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Trust & Adventure:

  "You just have to know the next step. You don’t have to know how to get out of the forest, you just have to know what’s the next thing." (Beth, 06:06)

• On Shared Experience:

  “The beautiful thing is the moms being involved. Hop in and, you know, get in the water, jump off the dock, go whitewater rafting. You are having these shared experiences with your daughter and building bonds.” (Beth, 23:42)

• On Growth Through Discomfort:

  "It’s scary to go out. It’s uncomfortable to go out and meet a new group of people...the hardest part is showing up." (Beth, 24:38)

• On Simplicity:

  "It doesn’t have to be complicated. There’s so many simple adventures that are really amazing, like full moon hikes and just hiking and doing an orienteering class." (Beth, 55:54)

• Beth’s Motto:

  “Just go. The hardest part is just getting out of the house. So say yes.” (Beth, 57:46)

Practical Advice: Starting Your Own Adventure Club

Beth’s System in a Nutshell:

• Frequency: Once a month “big” adventure, plus monthly “connection” days
• Commitment: Advance, seasonal payment helps build consistency
• Mom-Child Participation: Builds bonds, role models adventurous spirit
• Keep Activities Affordable: Utilize free/natural resources and local programs
• List Ideas Ahead: Start with a list of 9 core adventures for the year

“If you just sit down and get your list…if you're just going to do a once-a-month meetup...you really only need like nine activities.” (Beth, 39:55)

Leadership Guide:
Beth is preparing a downloadable guide at thegirlsadventureclub.com to help others start local clubs, with practical tips, activity lists, and group structure ideas.

Adventure Club’s Community Ethos

• Support for Moms:
  Mom’s nights out—beyond wine culture—e.g., meditation in a salt cave, bungee workouts, and creative classes, focusing on real bonding and self-discovery.

  “Nothing bonds you faster than just…being and looking as silly as you are.” (Beth, 49:14)

• Inclusivity:
  Adventure is accessible and adjustable for all ages; even little ventures (“toe dips”) count.

Notable Upcoming Events & Resources

• Adventure Trips (2026):
  • Guatemala (January)
  • Belugas, Polar Bears & Northern Lights in Churchill, Canada (August)
• Monthly & Annual Local Adventure Options
• Leadership Guide (Coming soon): Resources for starting your own club.

Beth’s Favorite Outdoor Childhood Memory

“We had this big wooded area next to our house and we would go out there for hours...make forts and just adventure through the woods. There was a lot of freedom.” (Beth, 56:11)

Final Takeaways

• Committing to adventure means stepping out of your comfort zone as a family and as a community leader.
• Even if others don’t show up, you are modeling adaptability and resilience for your children.
• Invest effort and intention; “just go”—the rewards for your family and your local community will stretch far beyond the activity itself.

How to Connect/Start Your Own Adventure Club

• Visit: thegirlsadventureclub.com
• Explore leadership resources, upcoming trips, and ideas for local meetups.
• Remember Beth’s advice: Commit, show up, and don’t sweat imperfection—adventure is in the doing!

In Beth’s words:

“Just go. The hardest part is just getting out of the house. So say yes.” (57:46)