Meet Kaylene Macias | Founder, CEO Women’s Adventure Club

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaylene Macias and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaylene, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The Women’s Adventure Club is a nonprofit dedicated to improving women’s mental health through movement, sunshine, and connection. My thought process behind starting it came from a simple but powerful belief: movement, sunshine, and connection can change a woman’s life. I saw how many women around me were carrying heavy mental loads, feeling isolated, or unsure how to prioritize their own wellness. I wanted to create a space where women could show up just as they are, step outside into nature, and realize their strength—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

For me, founding WAC wasn’t about starting a business in the traditional sense—it was about building a community. We began with free weekly adventures and quickly grew into training programs, monthly excursions, and team challenges, all designed to empower women and improve mental health.

But getting here hasn’t been easy. I went from a decade as a stay-at-home mom to suddenly stepping into the role of CEO—often battling imposter syndrome and learning in real time, with hundreds of members watching. My beginnings were as humble as they come: my sister literally sat me down to teach me what Google Drive was and how to create a hyperlink. From there, I just kept showing up, learning one skill at a time—designing flyers, building partnerships, developing programs—and reminding myself: Why not me?

What I’ve learned along the way is this: you don’t have to know everything to begin. You can feel unready and still say yes—in fact, I recommend it. Growth happens outside your comfort zone, and every time I pushed past mine, I uncovered new strengths and opened the door to new opportunities.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets the Women’s Adventure Club apart is that we’ve redefined what wellness looks like. In a culture that often frames exercise as a way to change how you look, we focus on how it makes you feel. Every hike, bike ride, training program, or adventure is designed not just to build physical strength, but to improve mental health and create friendships that last far beyond the trail. For us, movement is not about speed or calories—it’s a tool for healing, growth, and connection.

I’m most proud of how accessible we’ve made this lifestyle for local women, and I’m even more excited about what’s ahead. This February, we’re launching a new chapter of WAC—something I’ve dreamed about from the very beginning. Women already come together here to move their bodies for mental health—now they’ll also have the chance to learn and practice real-life skills that deepen that impact. Through seminars and workshops, experts will guide us in tools like setting boundaries, saying no, and building resilience, and we’ll practice them together in teams. It’s the natural next step in our mission: helping women feel strong, capable, and supported in every area of life.

None of this happens alone—we’ve built WAC through the support of sponsors, partners, and community members who want to see women thrive, and we’re excited to grow that circle as we step into this next chapter.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my best friend comes to visit, I don’t feel the need to pack the week with big outings. The magic, for me, happens right at home. I love setting up neighborhood fun—maybe a water balloon fight, a cul-de-sac soccer game, bunco night, or a smoothie-making contest.

One of my favorite things is harvesting from my garden and sharing it with neighbors. Sometimes one of them will host a cooking class with the kids, turning what we grew into something delicious and sharing it back with everyone on the street. Those little moments—sitting in the front yard, chatting with neighbors, watching friendships spark—are what I love most.

That’s what I’d want to show my family and friends: that if you put the time into knowing your own neighbors, you can discover incredible friendships right on your own street. You don’t have to spend a dime to create something meaningful. The joy comes from inventing fun together and building community where you are

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest shoutout goes to the women of The Women’s Adventure Club. They are the heart of this movement—their courage, joy, and willingness to lift each other up is what makes WAC so powerful. From the very beginning, Kelly Phillips, Michele Gratt, and Anne Sevilla believed in this idea and stood beside me as it grew from a dream into a community.

I also want to thank all of our current volunteers, coaches, and directors who pour their time and passion into making WAC thrive—including Liz Konley, who has stepped up as our event director. What makes this especially meaningful is that it’s all volunteer-driven. Every hike, every training program, every adventure is led by women who choose to give their time and energy so others can feel supported.

And to every single member—thank you for showing up ready to support one another. It is such a beautiful thing to have a place where you know you are seen, heard, and known by name. That doesn’t come from me alone—it’s the women themselves choosing, again and again, to make sure no one feels alone.

WAC is proof that when women stand together, magic happens. And the fact that we are only a year and a half old as a nonprofit—and have already grown to over 1,300 members—shows just how deeply this movement is needed.

Website: https://www.womensadventureclub.org

Instagram: wacparker

Facebook: Women’s Adventure Club