Outdoor Skills: It’s Good to Be Bad

Learn it from bad women.
We all start out bad. We’re bad at talking, walking and eating. We’re bad at everything.
Somewhere along our journey of life, we start becoming okay—or even good—at certain things. Some of us have a knack for singing; others are impressive ice skaters. And as time goes on and ‘being bad’ stops being our normal, we become increasingly uncomfortable at sucking.
The Bad Academy, a Vancouver, BC-based organization, produces workshops for women, taught by women, that encourage participants to try something they’re bad at. In Vancouver, there are lots of workshops for skills typically associated with femininity—homemaking and crafty courses like embroidery, floral arrangements and cheesemaking—which are wonderful, but very few women’s-only courses explore non-traditional and esoteric skills. The Bad Academy teaches skills that are uncommon, practical and fun like skateboarding, climbing, car and bike maintenance. Complete beginners are welcome without judgement. Many participants sign up alone, looking to share a new experience and possibly make a new friend.

Amanda Kao, founder and CEO of The Bad Academy, started the organization to build community and create unique workshops for women and gender-non-conforming people. “If you feel comfortable at our workshops, then you belong there,” she says. “I want as many women as possible to know that they belong and that they have value.”
It can be intimidating to try something new in certain spaces. We don’t always feel able to admit our lack of skills or knowledge. Kao and I talked about how co-ed groups can create dynamics that make it harder for women to feel safe trying and failing without shame—that women are often told, “see, you can’t do it,” if at first, they don’t succeed.

“Historically, it’s been really difficult for women to [do things] without caring what other people think, because of the patriarchy,” Kao says. “The outdoors is for everybody, and it’s really important to keep it that way.” A safe, accessible environment is needed to learn, grow and accept being bad (and be badass).
“When you are around people who are like you and starting from the same level as you—we’re all bad at something, and we’re all bad together—that’s the vibe of Bad Academy. Everyone can show up as their true self and be vulnerable in the fact they don’t know what we’re about to learn, and there’s no shame around that.”

I joined The Bad Academy for Summer Foraging 101 last July. I’ve always wanted to be the girl who wanders through the forest barefoot, branches in my hair, nibbling on berries and brewing tea from evergreen needles. I’ve just been too afraid to eat something poisonous and end up like the guy in Into the Wild.
Our workshop’s meeting point is at Jericho Beach Park. Eighteen participants gather in a lopsided circle, nervous like the first day of kindergarten. Kao begins with a land acknowledgement and introduces Chef Robin Kort, who will be leading the workshop.

Kort passes around a mason jar with sea asparagus she harvested from Salt Spring Island. I grab a herb to taste-test; it’s salty and delicious. Next, we try Scots pine syrup. I audibly murmur my approval—it’s sticky, less sweet and more flavourful than maple syrup on my tongue. Finally, I dip my spoon into a jar containing Douglas fir syrup macerated with brown sugar.

Kort has been teaching foraging for 15 years. She cooks Coastal Pacific Northwest-based cuisine. “A lot of people have trouble being comfortable with wild things,” she says.
As we walk the trails through the park, Kort reminds us to be aware of our surroundings and to step lightly. She tells us that we won’t be taking anything with us from the land today; that there’s a responsible way to forage. “Take only what you can actually process, that’s a respectful portion,” she says. “Maybe 20 per cent of what I find, I’ll harvest.”
We find hairy cat’s-ear, which looks like a dandelion. Kort recommends scattering it in salads. “We can use our stomachs to rebalance nature,” she says. She is a wealth of information as we roam the land, smelling, touching and tasting the plants.

Maples. Elderberry. Burdock. Cattail. Birch. There’s a feast in the outdoors, if you learn how to see it. Our group of women grows bolder, leaning towards the leaves, flowers, trees—and each other.
“I truly believe that inspiration is the most beautiful byproduct of education,” Kao says. “Not only are you learning something new, but you’re seeing someone who is like you, who started where you are currently, and now they’re an expert at what they do.”

“I think all women have a skill to teach or learn. Knowledge is power, and power is something that women have not typically been given, or when we do ask for power, people don’t like that,” Kao says. “I want us to start from the beginning—let’s learn together—then figure out how we can help each other moving forward. It’s very wholesome and exciting.”
I was bad at recognizing edible vegetation when I arrived; now I’m a little bit better. A little bit more badass.
Love it! Bad academy events are so fun.