They're young and single. Married with children. Widows, divorcees, and grandmothers 10 times over.

And rain or shine, heat-wave or deep-freeze, these gals just wanna have outdoors fun.

Maybe a little peace and quiet, too, and a glimpse of a wild wolf or moose. Toss in a challenging hike up a steep, rocky precipice or a gentle stroll, surprised at the end with a rainbow glistening above a stunning, sudden waterfall.

Oh, yes ... and some of these moms, grandmas, teachers, homemakers and professionals would definitely like a hot shower, delicious meal and comfy featherbed at the end of the day's trail.

Meet Sisters of the Earth Adventures, where your wish for a great Michigan outdoors experience is Jan Ferris' command.

A Three Oaks native who cut her serious wilderness teeth camping in the Colorado Rockies, Ferris, 50, is founder, owner, trip planner, nature guide, supply clerk and chief cook-and-bottle-washer for this uniquely women-oriented recreation organization.

The avid outdoors-woman and Michigan travel and nature writer admits to giving new meaning to the time-worn admonition to "make your living doing what you love."

"I've camped my whole life, love to travel, and just love the outdoors experience," says Ferris, who formed Sisters of the Earth some six years ago, and now spends much of her time "on the job" in some of Michigan's most spectacularly beautiful natural sites.

She also teaches backpacking and outdoor skills, and works part-time at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve in Buchanan, where she's involved in children's educational activities. For Fernwood, she's penned two "Habitat Happenings" activities books about wildlife habitats for young visitors to the nature preserve.

With Sisters of the Earth Adventures, her clients are women -- "all ages, all shapes, all different professions, and they come from all over," she said from her Buchanan Township home, where Sisters of the Earth first took root.

She likes to limit her groups to no more than six, to ensure personalized attention that will give each traveler the most enjoyment possible out of every day, she says.

"Some are physically fit and pretty adventurous," she says of her Sisters of the Earth clientele. "Many are beginners, at a place in their lives where they want to get back to the Earth, to have some of those experiences and interactions with nature that maybe they missed in their earlier years."

A 1972 Buchanan High School graduate and a dedicated backpacker since 1987, Ferris herself hasn't missed much of the outdoors experience in her lifetime, and has camped, hiked, canoed and kayaked all across Michigan. She's also explored, hiked and camped the Grand Canyon, all over Colorado, and escaped a rare but terrifying attack by a female moose on Isle Royale.

But in running Sisters of the Earth Adventures, she lives the adventurous life differently now, as a trip organizer, manager and guide.

"I used to be able to climb up onto a beautiful ridge, take in the glorious sunset, and record my experiences in my journal," she recalls. "Now, I do all the work so that other women can have that experience for themselves. It's very rewarding."

Before each excursion, Ferris provides each participant with a short list of exactly what they should -- and should not -- bring along for personal use, reminding the women that they will be carrying what they bring on their backs.

"Sharing is important, because we do have to carry our own things," she said. "I'll ask them, 'Do we all need our own shampoos and conditioners? Or, 'ok, I have bug spray and you have bug spray. Can we share?' So often, you think you'll need something, but trust me, you won't need it, and don't need to carry it."

Women don't need any expertise or even equipment to join a Sisters of the Earth adventure, Ferris points out. She rates each planned excursion on its difficulty, and offers a number of "easy" trips for beginners or the less fit.

There are plenty of opportunities for all types of adventures, she says, and she'll even custom-design trips for those with a special place in mind.

Want to spend a week hiking the rugged length of Isle Royale National Park, an island wilderness some 50 miles north of the northern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula? Ferris is your gal-guide, planning, organizing, providing equipment and supplies, food and drink, cook-stove and drink purification system.

She'll arrange for the necessary ferry boat or small plane to fetch you to and from Isle Royale, since no motor vehicles are allowed. Then, once you've disembarked from the flight or the nearly four-hour ferry boat ride, she'll set up and strike your camp, guide your activities, cook your meals, clean up your dishes and keep you safe, secure and up-to-date on nature's progress on this gorgeous, remote, scientifically important island.

For beginners, or for women who think a week sleeping under the stars sounds like too much of a good thing, Ferris offers day-hikes and trips from a simple but comfortable housekeeping cabin "home base" at Isle Royale's beautiful Rock Harbor, among other Michigan excursions and adventures.

Just back from a three-week wilderness trek to Isle Royale early this summer, Ferris was soon hoisting her backpack and heading out to guide a weekend trip to North Higgins Lake. There, the Sisters of the Earth day-hike forest trails and kayak the gorgeous Au Sable River as it slices across the lush Mason Tract Wilderness.

Later, she led an "easy" excursion to the waterfalls of the western Upper Peninsula. Each winter, the ladies become "Sisters of the Chocolate Order," as they fend off the cold and snow with ample, shared offerings of chocolate goodies to revive them after their chilling outdoors exertions.

Raised on a Three Oaks farm until she was nine years old, Ferris moved with her family to Colorado for two years where she became immersed in the rugged Western outdoors experience. She holds an Applied Science Certificate in Environmental Studies and is a member of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program.

She's also a member of Michigan United Conservation Club (MUCC) and earned outdoor leadership credentials with Woodswomen, Inc. She's also certified in CPR and as a Wilderness First Responder.

Kate Sheridan is a Michigan freelance writer, photographer and homesteader whose writings on the fun and foibles of country living may be found at http://www.gardenandhearth.com/RuralLiving.htm.