About Us

Adventures Are
Waiting For You

Knowledge

Events

Community

GPOR is a treasure trove of knowledge and experience. Members include seasoned offroaders who can provide invaluable advice on vehicle modifications, maintenance, and trail navigation. This collective wisdom can help you make informed decisions, avoid common mistakes, and improve your offroading skills. Additionally, GPOR offers workshops and training sessions on various topics, from basic driving techniques to advanced recovery operations.

GPOR frequently organizes group trail rides, charity events, and social events, providing structured and safe opportunities to explore new terrains. Participating in these activities allows you to experience different types of trails and challenges under the guidance of the experienced GPOR leaders. These organized events also emphasize safety, as you'll have the support of fellow members and access to shared recovery gear and tools, making your offroading adventures more secure and enjoyable.

Joining GPOR fosters a sense of community and belonging among like-minded enthusiasts. It provides a platform to meet new friends who share your passion for offroading and Jeeps. The camaraderie within GPOR can lead to lasting friendships and a supportive network. Additionally, GPOR engages in community service and charitable activities, allowing you to give back while enjoying your hobby. This sense of community can enhance your overall offroading experience and provide a support system both on and off the trails.

The GPOR Story

Girls Play Off-Road was created to empower women and increase the female presence in the off-roading world. Girls Play Off-Road (GPOR), formally known as Girls Play at AOAA, was founded by Jaimee Stecker-Betts.

Years ago, Jaimee was going through a divorce, becoming a single mom, and dedicating herself to new-found sobriety. During this challenging time, she needed to find herself; and what better way to do that than find a hobby. She kept hearing about off-roading, so after doing some research, she signed up to take a class at Northeast Offroad Adventures located in Ellensville, NY in August 2016. She became empowered and learned many things along the way. One of her biggest memories is how to pick a line and most importantly, “If you see a rock, put your tire on it.” (This is one of the first lessons she teaches during GPOR’s monthly Newbie Days.)

The experience made Jaimee realize there was nothing she could not do. Obstacles in front of her now became a fun challenge rather than scary. On New Years weekend, December 2016, Jaimee and her daughter joined a Jeep group for a weekend of wheeling in Pennsylvania. It was at this weekend Jaimee was completely bitten by the offroad bug. She could forever be found on the trails once a month with her newfound friends.

After attending two annual women’s wheeling day events held at a local offroad park, Jaimee realized there needed to be more than one day a year to get women on the trails. With this vision, she created an event called Girls Play Day at AOAA. There were 18 Jeeps at this event, 13 of them were driven by women that Jaimee had never met before. This event was also the first time Jaimee was to guide newcomers to the trails. Watching them go from nervous and anxious in the morning to excited and all smiles by the afternoon, she was reminded of her first day on the trails. Each woman was amazed at what they were able to accomplish with their Jeep. They felt EMPOWERED! These women continued coming back to hit the trails with Jaimee.

By May 2018, the original group, Girls Play at AOAA (GPAA), was formed. The name coming from the fact all the events were held at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area “AOAA” in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. The group was comprised of women based out of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The group continued the New Years weekend wheeling tradition going. Part of the tradition included them staying in a hotel together and celebrating over dinner. The members began developing a special bond and it starting feeling like a family.

As the group grew, the thought was that girls have families, too, so they should be included. It was also realized that people might drive vehicles other than Jeeps, so GPAA became an all-inclusive group/family where all people and all vehicles are welcome. The group feels that it is important to go back to old school values: families spending time together; disconnecting from electronics; and, encouraging kids (of all ages) to play in nature…splash in mud puddles…climb rocks…have a picnic lunch.

With the power of nature, Jaimee felt she found herself in the woods of AOAA. It was where she truly felt connected to her Higher Power. With her sobriety recovery in mind, “you can’t keep something unless you give it away”, giving back to the Shamokin area and various charities became a focal point of Girls Play at AOAA. The group donates clothing, food, money and gifts for the Purple Elf program in the Shamokin school district. They also donate clothing to local sober houses to help women in recovery get a fresh start in life.

In addition, GPAA created an annual offroad charity event called the Prom Event. At this event, prom dresses are donated for underprivileged teens in the Shamokin area. Over the last three years, the group collected over 700 dresses to give back to the local community. The group also donates to Jeepers Back the Blue annually, and have recently chosen Breast Cancer Research Foundation and A Soldier’s Child as additional charities to support.

In December 2021, the group officially changed its name to Girls Play Off-Road. Since May 2018, the group has expanded throughout the United States. As the group began riding in more offroad areas and attending or hosting events across the state and country, the name needed to be changed to be more inclusive. There are currently chapters throughout Pennsylvania, one in North Carolina, and Illinois/Iowa, and looking to expand into other states. Membership continues to grow as women and families gain awareness of and appreciate the mission of GPOR. We have members within miles of headquarters, and as far away as Hawaii.

It is paramount to the team that runs GPOR that it is a safe environment for everyone. Drama is not allowed. Everyone is encouraged to be nice. Laughter is important. The banter on the radios in the vehicles during a ride is priceless. Lessons are taught. Jokes are being told. Bonds are formed. Everyone walks away knowing that they are not alone. They have people to conquer life’s obstacles with together. We are Girls Play Offroad and proud.