introduced to the wild adventures waiting outdoors through YMCA John Island Camp as a kid. She looked up to outdoors-savvy camp counsellors and paid attention to how they camped and had a sense of peace in the forests and on the lakes. Holub grew and honed her outdoors skills and expertise in the John Island leadership programs. This included a memorable and lesson-filled 35-day trip on the Seal River in Manitoba when she was 16. These are Holub’s roots and they run deep. From there, Holub worked as a guide for summer camps for years, guiding trips in provincial parks. After teacher’s college, Holub got a call from Wild Women Expeditions to be a replacement guide for an injured guide. The impromptu gig worked out well for all involved and Holub was hired for more trips.
Holub has now been guiding for 16 years overall, and has been a guide for Wild Women Expeditions for eight years. The time spent guiding has been rewarding for Holub’s spirit. She has relished the moments of meeting new people from all walks of life and learning more each time she brings people out into nature.
“I have learned that everyone has a strength in the outdoors,” she said. “I have also seen first-hand everyone can learn how to do things in the outdoors with an open heart and willingness to put the ego aside and try it out, preparing to fail in order to learn. It has also re-affirmed my faith that people can learn new skills at any age. The only
thing stopping you is your fear of failure and discomfort, but those are pre-requisites to learning.”
Holub has lead flat water trips through areas such as Killarney, Temagami, Algonquin and French River. Holub is a lead guide with Wild Women Expeditions. Thanks to her engaging attitude, character, talents and charm, Holub makes for a memorable guide.
“She's so much fun to be around - a wonderful story teller and musician with an incredible voice - and if you end up having her as a guide, campfire circles will be a highlight,” Wild Women Expeditions Adventure Program Leader Jenny Martindale said. “She has such a fun loving and jovial air. As a strong outdoor leader and feminist, Jennifer has contributed much to empowering young girls and women in the outdoors and has shown how much fun it can be to play in the wilderness.”
Holub counts seeing wildlife as the most vivid memories of her trips. Holub also enjoys seeing women take on a stewardship of nature through the trips and how any one trip can have a tremendously positive impact on the lives of those sharing the outdoors with her.
“One of my highlights from guiding Wild Women Expedition trips was a trip in which every participant seemed to come to the trip with a purpose and to figure out something in their life at that time,” Holub said. “By the end of the trip, all of the women were sitting on a rock by the lake talking about their inner-most fears and struggles they were having, and other women were listening, supporting, and suggesting solutions. It was a beautiful moment.”
“I have learned that everyone has a strength in the outdoors,”
-Holub
Thanks to her engaging attitude, character, talents and charm, Holub makes for a memorable guide.
“She's so much fun to be around - a wonderful story teller and musician with an incredible voice - and if you end up having her as a guide, campfire circles will be a highlight,” Wild Women Expeditions Adventure Program Leader Jenny Martindale said. “She has such a fun loving and jovial air. As a strong outdoor leader and feminist, Jennifer has contributed much to empowering young girls and women in the outdoors and has shown how much fun it can be to play in the wilderness.”
Holub counts seeing wildlife as the most vivid memories of her trips. Holub also enjoys seeing women take on a stewardship of nature through the trips and how any one trip can have a tremendously positive impact on the lives of those sharing the outdoors with her.
“One of my highlights from guiding Wild Women Expedition trips was a trip in which every participant seemed to come to the trip with a purpose and to figure out something in their life at that time,” Holub said. “By the end of the trip, all of the women were sitting on a rock by the lake talking about their inner-most fears and struggles they were having, and other women were listening, supporting, and suggesting solutions. It was a beautiful moment.”