When asked about herself, Laura Donovan says “two things run in my blood–hiking and teaching.” Several years ago, after moving up to New York, Laura found herself teaching music in the schools during the week and traversing the hiking trails of the Adirondacks during her weekends.

For years, she had done lots and lots of hiking, in Georgia, South Carolina, and Vermont, much of it solo. While she had heard of Trail Dames while living down South, it wasn’t until she moved back home that she decided to merge her two passions and start a Trail Dames chapter of her own.

In addition to being an advocate for Body Positivity, and LGBTQ issues, she wanted to help other women find the same joy in the outdoors that she does. These days, more often than not, you will find her weekends spent surrounded by other women, laughing and learning together.

She is not only bringing her talent for leadership and love for adventure to the table but an ability to inspire, motivate and create a safe place for women to find their own love for the outdoors. All of us, her students, her friends, and her Dames, are lucky to know her!