Community Guidelines & Sole Circle Safety Disclaimer

 

Connecting and empowering women in midlife and beyond one Ramble at a time. Everywhere is in Rambling distance with Sole Sisters.

Our Core Values

These values sit at the very heart of Sole Sister Ramblers. They guide how we make decisions, how we treat one another, and how we steward our community. They keep us grounded in what matters most and remind us why Sole Sister Ramblers exists.

They reflect who we are at our best and shape the culture of our community, helping guide us back whenever we lose our footing.

Most importantly, they represent what every Rambler can expect when she participates — whether online, on a local Ramble, or on an adventure across the world.

Community — Building thriving communities where women support and uplift one another.

Connection — Real friendships formed both online and in real life.

Empowerment — Confidence that grows with every Ramble, as women discover their strength and independence.

Vital Aging — Nurturing mental and physical vitality through movement, exploration, and engagement with life.

No Judgement — Come as you are, always. This is a space where women are welcomed and accepted without criticism or comparison.

Friendship — Meaningful bonds that enrich life’s journey and often last far beyond the trail.

 

Community Guidelines

Who Can Participate in our Community?

To attend a Ramble (any event posted within a Sole Circle), participate in a travel adventure, or engage in our online community, you must identify as a woman and be in midlife and beyond.

We do not set a strict age limit — the general guideline is 45+ — and we certainly do not check ID. What matters most is that members genuinely feel they belong in this stage-of-life community.

We also do not make one-off exceptions. While it may seem harmless to allow a single exception, experience shows that one exception can quickly become many. Over time, this can gradually shift the nature of Rambles so that they regularly include people who are not women in midlife and beyond.

Sole Sister Ramblers was created very intentionally as a space specifically for women in this stage of life, and we work hard to protect that focus. Many members join precisely because they are seeking connection with peers who share similar life experiences, transitions, priorities, and perspectives.

Maintaining this guideline helps ensure our community remains welcoming, relatable, and supportive for the women who choose it for exactly that reason.

Promotions and Selling

Advertising businesses, services, or products — whether your own or someone else’s — is also not allowed, with the exception of official Sole Sister Ramblers offerings.

Sole Sister Ramblers is not a marketplace or promotional platform. Our groups are designed to focus on connection, friendship, and walking together. Allowing advertising or promotional posts can quickly shift the tone of the community and create clutter, pressure, or confusion about what is appropriate to share.

For the same reason, we do not allow posts that simply promote outside events, or posts linking to other Facebook groups, clubs, or outside communities.

These guidelines help keep our spaces clear, focused, and centered on what Sole Sister Ramblers is all about: walking together and building meaningful connections.

Financial or Personal Assistance Requests

Asking members of our community for work, money, food, or other personal assistance — whether in our online communities or during in-person Rambles — is not permitted.

Sole Sister Ramblers is built around friendship, walking, and connection. It’s important that members never feel pressured, responsible, or uncomfortable in that space.

Requests of this nature can unintentionally place other members — particularly those who may be vulnerable themselves — in a difficult position, which is why we maintain a clear boundary around this guideline.

Financial Benefit Within the Community

Organizing, promoting, or participating in activities within Sole Sister Ramblers — including Rambles, posts, events, or conversations on our community platforms or during in-person gatherings — that may result in financial profit for a member, Ramble Leader, or their friends or family members is not permitted.

Our activities and spaces are intended for connection, community, and walking together — not for promoting businesses, generating sales, or directing members toward paid services.

We recognize that this can sometimes be a nuanced distinction. Natural conversation between members is, of course, completely fine. For example, it is perfectly normal for someone to ask, “What were those shoes you said you loved while we were walking today?” Organic sharing between friends happens naturally in any community.

What we aim to avoid are posts, events, or conversations that intentionally steer members toward purchasing products, booking services, or supporting a business connected to the organizer or their personal network.

Politics and Religion

Politics, religion, and other potentially inflammatory topics are not permitted in our community spaces or during Rambles.

Many of us encounter plenty of these topics in our daily lives, and they can quickly lead to disagreement, tension, or discomfort — even among people who otherwise enjoy each other’s company. Sole Sister Ramblers was intentionally created as a space where women can step away from those kinds of divisions and simply enjoy connection, conversation, and time together walking.

Keeping political, religious, and other polarizing discussions out of our groups helps ensure that everyone feels welcome and comfortable participating, regardless of their personal beliefs. This guideline helps protect the friendly, inclusive atmosphere that makes our community special.

Charity and Fundraising

Members can organize Rambles to support non-political and non-religious charities. 

However, members of our Sole Circles cannot solicit donations or recruit volunteers for charities on our platforms.

We do not allow Sole Circle members to organize or post Rambles (or any other activities) that request charitable donations. Our Circles are meant to be inclusive, pressure-free spaces where every woman can participate without feeling obligated to contribute money or support a specific cause.

We do allow Ramblers to organize and post Rambles for events hosted by a charity, such as a community fun run or cook-off with an entrance fee, as long as donations are not being solicited within the group.

Personal Transactions

Posts about giving away free items, selling personal belongings, or seeking services such rentals, or new homes for pets are not permitted in our community. There are many other platforms online specifically designed for these kinds of transactions.

Sole Sister Ramblers was created as a space for friendship, connection, and walking together. When posts about buying, selling, or exchanging items appear in the group, they can quickly shift the focus away from community and toward transactions.

Allowing these types of posts can also create pressure on members to participate, respond, or feel obligated to help. Over time, even occasional exceptions can lead to the group becoming cluttered with marketplace-style requests, which changes the tone and purpose of the space.

To keep our community welcoming, simple, and focused on connection, we keep commercial or transactional posts outside the group and encourage members to use the many other online platforms that are designed for those purposes.

The Spirit of our Community

We ask that you avoid discussing divisive, sensitive, or controversial topics and engage always with respect, care, and kindness.

This is a welcoming and inclusive community. Please treat everyone with respect and kindness, without judgment.

We encourage you to seek and embrace the magic that emerges from cultivating, renewing, and deepening female friendships in midlife and beyond.

We ask you to support and motivate our mutual efforts to move our bodies more often while exploring the world with creativity and passion.

We hope you will share generously. We have lifetimes of experience, and we hope you’ll share yours and ask for support or advice when you need it.

Sole Circle Safety Disclaimer 

Before you join a Ramble with a Sole Circle, please read and agree to the following:

You Ramble by Choice (and at Your Own Risk)

All Sole Circle activities are entirely voluntary, and participation is at your own risk.

Your Health and Safety Matter

If you have a health concern, it’s your responsibility to take the steps needed to keep yourself safe.

If you have any medical condition that could affect your ability to participate safely — including (but not limited to) mobility, balance, heart conditions, breathing concerns, or anything else — we kindly ask that you check in with your doctor before joining a Ramble.

Ramble Smart

Please:

• Walk at your own pace

• Stay hydrated

• Dress for the weather

• Wear appropriate footwear

• Skip a Ramble if you’re not feeling up to it — there will always be another one

Personal Responsibility

Each Rambler is responsible for her own safety during a Ramble, including:

• Staying with the group when appropriate

• Letting someone know if you’re leaving early

• Speaking up if you’re falling behind or need support

By joining a Ramble, you ack nowledge that there are inherent risks involved and that you accept full responsibility for your actions and well-being.

Insurance

If you would like insurance coverage, you must arrange this for yourself.

Equipment and Preparation

You are responsible for ensuring you have the appropriate instructions, preparation, and equipment for any activity you choose to participate in.

Injuries and Liability

You assume responsibility for any injury to yourself while participating in a Ramble.

Sole Sister Ramblers is not liable for injury, loss, or damage caused to you or to any third party during a Ramble.

If any participant (including yourself) offers suggestions — such as recommending a route or sharing general advice — this does not create any responsibility or liability for that person.