The Broads’ Story Project

The concept for the Broads’ Story Project came alive in 2020, when the nation was in lockdown to due Covid-19—and political and racial turmoil was at its peak.

Broads’ board member Suez Jacobson found solace in her memories of a long-awaited trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It restored her connection to nature’s resilience and brought her comfort during this trying time. And, inspired her to seek out stories from others that brought forth hope and resilience.

Suez Jacobson is the executive producer of Wild Hope and a writer who is awed by wilderness and understands its power as a catalyst to think differently about our world

LISTEN TO MEMBERS' STORIES

In this story, Betsy Marston shares how she finds solace (and it helps her sleep too!) by reenacting—through memories—a favorite hike to Lost Lake near her home in Paonia, Colorado. Betsy was the editor of High Country News for 19 years. She currently writes the column “Heard Around the West.” Learn more about Betsy and the history of High Country News HERE.

In this moving story, Cindy Byrne shares how an ambitious hike with a group of great broads helped her let go of fear and embrace the transformation of her transgender son’s transition.

Eleanor Lahr tells an inspiring story of her “walk” to retrace Mary Draper Ingles 500-mile journey along the Ohio, Kanawha, and New Rivers. At the time of this interview, she was 83 and about to finish the last segment of The Long Trail.

Robin Brodsky talks about how a major cycling trip in Baja, Mexico helped her process the death of her mother. (Note: This interview was recorded when the entire world was working remotely, so the sound quality is a bit garbled in places.)

A part of the organization since its early beginnings, Karen shares stories of Broadwalk events she’s attended over the years (24—that we know of!) and how it gave her the opportunity to experience and learn about landscapes across the country that need protection. She shares how she’s honed her advocacy skills thanks to hanging out with Broads over the years.

Learn more about Broadwalks HERE.

Written and performed by Sky and Bobby Chaney and their band The Tumbleweedz from Kanab, Utah for Great Old Broads for Wilderness’ 20th Anniversary event held at Escalante Outfitters in Escalante, Utah in 2009.

A long-time member, Sue shares a sampling of the many outdoor adventures she and her husband have shared over the years, including a Broads’ trip, where they learned about cryptobiotic soils, which changed the way they hiked. During this time of social distancing due to Covid, she emphasizes the importance of getting out into nature to deal with daily stresses.

Jeff Sambur, a writer, blogger, and Great Old Bro, pays tribute to his father, telling a story about a white pine that inspired Jeff’s career path and lifelong love of trees. Visit Jeff’s blog, A Wandering, Wondering Jew at http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com where he writes about trees, travel, and life.

Barbara shares the story of her visits to Africa, and one trip when she volunteered to work with an HIV orphanage as a nurse consultant. She learned listening and humility and saw the amazing resilience of the people she served

Penni shares a story about her road trips through the beautiful Kananaskis region of Canada and how natural places are important to helping people cope with the isolation and constraints brought on by coronavirus.

Susan tells the story of Little Water Canyon, one of the region’s treasures filled with huge old-growth trees, rich bird life, and plant species not typically found in the area. She talks about efforts to protect the canyon and her work identifying invasive species in the Sandia Mountains.

Eliza is encircled in a riot of living color on a hike in the Adirondack Mountains. She sagely advises that we all celebrate “the wild” within us.

Betsy Caplan, now in her 80s, tells the story of when she climbed not just one, but two of Colorado’s formidable 14’er peaks in one day when she was 53.

Valoree tells a story about attending a “Broadwalk” in Escalante, Utah where she made life-long friends who worked together to make a building disappear. She shares the importance of being in nature and bringing wildness into our lives. Learn more about Broadwalks HERE.