March 8 is International Women's Day (IWD), a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. IWD has been observed since the early 1900's and was recognized for the first time by the United Nations in 1975. The elevation of digital content has brought IWD to a new level, where we can lift up women through our own networks and contribute to a global dialogue about women's equality.

Today we’re celebrating Granite Outdoor members that are women-owned businesses and women-driven organizations, from guiding companies to education-focused nonprofits. We encourage you to support women-driven businesses in your communities, and support policies that help reduce gender barriers in the workplace including good family leave policies, equal pay, and more work-life flexibility.

Check out these incredible organizations!

ADAPTIVE SPORTS PARTNERS

Adaptive Sports Partners empowers individuals with disabilities by building community, confidence, and skills, through sport, recreation, and adventure. Programs span the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and the North Country of New Hampshire. From mountain trails to serene lakeshores, Adaptive Sports Partners bring the joy of adaptive sports to these beautiful regions.

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB

AMC's mission is to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. This conservation non-profit that connects people and the outdoors is led by President and CEO Nicole Zussman.

CROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVENTURE TRAIL

The mission of the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail is to provide a scenic and pleasurable, mostly off-road cross state bicycling route. The xNHAT connects communities, promotes safe bicycling and walking for locals and visitors, and introduces cyclo-tourism as a business opportunity to the North Country.

FRANCONIA BASECAMP

Franconia Basecamp is an independent, local outdoor consignment and retail shop in Franconia, NH, aiming to increase access to the outdoors, reduce impact on the environment, and give back to the community. Franconia Basecamp also seasonally houses a ski tuning shop, a full service bike shop, and rents e-bikes.

GREAT GLEN TRAILS

Great Glen Trails and the Mt. Washington Auto Road events team consists of three talented women. These two sister businesses host a full suite of large scale events including the iconic Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race, North America's Toughest 10k (Ski, Shoe, Fatbike to the Clouds), Moat Mountain 24 Hours of Great Glen mountain bike race, and more! It's not often that you see a women-driven events department for this scale of events!

HILARY MCCLOY PERFORMANCE PHYSICAL THERAPY

Hilary McCloy Performance Physical Therapy serves as a resource to the Mt. Washington Valley and surrounding New England by educating and treating people to keep them healthy, active and engaging in their passions. Hilary, a Physical Therapist and endurance athlete, said about her business and impact: “It is a joy to be able to share my passion for movement and the outdoors with others. We only get one body so why not do everything you can to make it the best it can be?”

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBING SCHOOL
The International Mountain Climbing School (IMCS) is a guide service specializing in rock and ice climbing, backcountry skiing, mountaineering, and avalanche education in North Conway, New Hampshire. Our certified guides provide safe access to technical climbing in the White Mountains, offer a progression of instruction from beginners to experienced climbers. IMCS rents climbing gear, camping equipment, and outerwear/accessories. Located within International Mountain Equipment, we outfit our clients with proper gear for their outdoor experiences. We organize the Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest, the largest ice climbing event in the northeast.

MOUNTAIN KULA YOGA

Mountain Kula Yoga an inclusive community yoga studio located in the Mount Washington Valley. The studio is a resource for physical, mental, and emotional well- being.

NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESSES FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR) convenes, inspires, and supports businesses and their community stakeholders to build a more sustainable and prosperous state for all. We convene a robust network of businesses and their diverse stakeholders that share a desire to "Do Well And Do Good."

NEW HAMPSHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS

New Hampshire Environmental Educators is a network of individuals and organizations working to inspire connection to our natural world by supporting high quality environmental education and advancing environmental literacy. We envision a NH where all people value and feel connected to our natural spaces, are environmentally literate, and act as social and environmental stewards in their communities.

NEW HAMPSHIRE’S OFFICE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT (ORID)

ORID advances strategies that leverage New Hampshire’s vast outdoor resources to drive economic development and workforce development, healthy communities, and sustainable land use. Working with state and industry partners (including GOA!), ORID coordinates outdoor recreation management and promotion through strategic planning for outdoor recreational amenities, benefits, assets, and partners.

ON BELAY

On Belay is a nonprofit that provides free adventure programs for youth impacted by a loved one's cancer. On Belay's programs are intentionally designed to utilize outdoor adventures as a vehicle to provide a supportive community of peers, uncover one's inner resilience, and provide a space of fun and relief from the everyday challenges of having a loved one with cancer.

REVISION ENERGY

A 100% employee-owned Certified B Corp solar company, ReVision Energy is on a mission to make life better by building our just and equitable electric future. Through their internal resource group for women-identifying co-owners, Revision aims to create a safe and productive space to grow, train, and lift the historically marginalized voices of women and nonbinary people in construction.

SARAH LAMAGNA

Sarah Lamagna is an ecologist-turned-freelance writer curating incredible stories that span from truth to fantasy. Her day job focuses on sustainable, slow, and adventure travel stories from around the world. She is the author of several Falcon Guides including Hiking with Kids New England, Swimming Holes of New England (out May 2024), and Haunted Hikes of New England (coming fall 2025). At night, she fills her head with slaying dragons and fantastical magic systems as an aspiring novelist.

SKI NEW HAMPSHIRE

Ski New Hampshire is a not-for-profit, member-based trade association that supports 30 alpine and cross-country ski areas throughout the Granite State through advocacy, education, and promotional efforts, led by Exetuvie Director Jessyca Keeler. For guests, SkiNH.com is a valuable resource for getting information about our ski resorts, trail conditions, events, deals, learn-to-ski/ride programs, and much more.

WILD ROOTS

Wild Roots specializes in small business and nonprofit branding, logo design and web development in New Hampshire and Maine. Wild Roots is owned and operated by Meag Poirier, a business school graduate and accounting major who found out early in her career that her true passions lie in lifting up others and bringing ideas to life. Meag has immersed herself in external and internal branding for 10+ years as a web developer and brand designer, prioritizing transparency and authenticity in all client work.

WOMEN’S RURAL ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORK

WREN was founded over 30 years ago, powered by rural women committed to the mission of supporting better lives and livelihoods in New Hampshire’s North Country. Today, WREN is a community organization open to all, providing educational and cultural opportunities in a supportive network. WREN provides technical assistance and educational opportunities for entrepreneurs, and administers the CDFA’s CDBG program. The Store and Gallery at WREN provide market access for local and regional artists and makers, and cultural experiences for locals and visitors alike. WREN organizes educational, cultural, and social events for the entire community, contributing to the vitality of the North Country.

Women-Owned, Women-Led in New Hampshire

Finding my North Country Community