Grit, Grace, and Gunpowder: The 2025 Wild Women’s Rendezvous

If you think the wilderness is still a man’s world, think again. This June, Idaho’s rugged backcountry will play host to a crew of wilderness-savvy women who are redefining what “ladies’ night” looks like. Spoiler: it involves campfires, camo, and a whole lot of grit.

When I joined the Wild Women’s Rendezvous in 2024, I expected just another outdoor retreat. What I found instead was a powerhouse gathering of capable women sharpening skills in everything from archery and bushcraft to elk hunting.

If you’ve been craving time in the wild alongside strong women, this is your sign. Once you’ve experienced this mix of adventure, camaraderie, and raw empowerment, you’ll never look at the backcountry the same way again.

Spots are limited, so here’s what you need to know about this year’s event—and why you’ll want to grab your ticket fast.

2025 Wild Women’s Rendezvous

Mark your calendar for June 9–14, 2025, in Ashton, Idaho. This isn’t your grandma’s Girl Scout camp. The Wild Women’s Rendezvous, led by Tana Grenda and her seasoned crew, brings together women ages 16 and up who want more than a weekend getaway. The mission is clear: build friendships, sharpen outdoor skills, and empower women to own their place in wild country.

Workshops run the gamut from bushcraft to ballistics. You’ll learn to spark a fire without matches, build a shelter from nothing but what’s around you, and put your marksmanship to the test with rifles and handguns. Archery—both traditional and compound—gets plenty of focus too, with hands-on coaching until you’re stacking arrows tight.

This Year’s Highlights

• Four elk hunts and one bison hunt throughout the week with full field and butcher shop processing field to freezer
• Hound hunting
• Trapping and fur handling, and self-tanning process
• Horseback riding
• Hiking
• Fishing
• Silversmithing jewelry workshop and wildlife art painting
• Self-defense
• Outdoor cooking and wild game preservation with Karie Lee Knoke, Alone runner-up
• 3D archery course sponsored by the Rokman Games
• 60 incredible prizes by amazing companies like Montana Knife Company, onX, Ollin, Rokman, KUIU, Peax, Peak Refuel, Crispi, Wilderness Athlete, YETI, Silencer Central, and more
• Country music with Kristen Kelly, Kristy Lee Cook, and Katie Austin, along with a songwriting workshop where we will write our own group/camp song throughout the week

… and more.

The Hunts

Not to pick favorites, but let’s be honest—the hunts are the real stars of Rendezvous. This year’s lineup includes elk and even bison, giving women the rare chance to trade theory for boots-on-the-ground experience.

If you’ve ever been “hunt curious,” or you’re just itching to learn alongside seasoned hunters, this is as beginner-friendly as it gets. No gatekeeping. No judgment. Just a hands-on crash course in what it really means to take part in the hunt.

And it doesn’t end when the shot’s taken. You’ll roll up your sleeves and learn how to field dress and process an animal with pros who will walk you through every step. It’s the kind of experience that takes you from observer to participant in a single week.

For many women, stepping into the hunting world can feel intimidating. At Rendezvous, it’s the exact opposite. You’re surrounded by hunters who are genuinely invested in helping you grow, who want to see you succeed, and who’ll bend over backwards to get you there.

The Wild Women’s Rendezvous isn’t just about teaching skills—it’s about rewriting a narrative. For too long, the wilderness has been framed as a man’s world, with women cast as afterthoughts. This event flips that on its head. Here, women claim their own space in the backcountry, building rugged confidence that’s tough to find anywhere else.

Tickets Are Going Fast

Spots at the Rendezvous are filling fast, and once they’re gone, that’s it. If you’ve been itching to sharpen your outdoor skills and soak up a week of backcountry living, now’s the time to lock it in.

So, pack your bags, lace up those boots, and throw a few extra broadheads in your quiver. Come June, a crew of wild-hearted women will gather in Idaho to swap stories, break stereotypes, and leave a trail of busted myths (and maybe a few overconfident fellas) in the dust.