Periods are Wild: Keeping Girls in the Game!
Details:
12:30 – 1:20 pm
5th of December
Room: 2E-101
Peta Lawler
In the realm of outdoor camps and experiential programs, menstruation poses a significant challenge for young girls, often leading to discomfort, embarrassment, and exclusion from participation. This presentation addresses the impact of periods on girls’ involvement in outdoor activities, highlighting the physical and emotional hurdles they face. As educators and practitioners, it’s crucial to create inclusive and hygienic environments that support girls through these experiences. Programming for inclusion is essential (particularly in those formative years when girls first start menstruating) , requiring strategies to meet participants’ needs, including equipping ourselves with essential first aid kit items and practical tips. Participants will receive a cheat sheet for initiating open dialogue about periods, reducing stigma and fostering inclusivity. Furthermore, it’s important to recognise that periods affect not only girls but also women, particularly teachers you will have arriving to programs and outdoor guides. Understanding these challenges enables us to create a supportive network that empowers girls and women to engage fully in outdoor activities. Join us as we explore practical strategies for navigating periods in the wild, ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to thrive outdoors without barriers. Let’s work together to keep girls in the game and create inclusive experiential spaces.
About the Presenter
I’ve worked across the Victorian Outdoor Sector for the last 15 Years in a variety of roles and workplaces. The last 8 or so years have been in schools but prior to this was across domestic and international trip leading, expedition and camps freelancing and running residential campsites.
