I Am Woman,

Michele Rapp’s club insipires women to live their dreams now, not later

Hang from a flying trapeze. Learn to belly dance. Go dog sledding. Hold a baby tiger.

For many, these activities are entries on the bucket list – some of which may never be crossed off. But for Michele Rapp and a growing group of women, these are monthly activities, thanks to the Ladies Explorer Club.

Rapp, 43, is the founder of the organization, which strives to get women to bond and do outside-thebox activities, all while increasing self-confidence and self-worth.

It all started just over a year ago when Rapp and a group of five of her girlfriends got together for a “no fish, no fowl, no meat” dinner party. The idea was that each participant would plan an adventure as a way to bring balance to the group’s busy, working-mother lifestyles. Rapp’s dinner was their first adventure.

The meal included exotic vegetarian foods from Whole Foods and other natural, organic places. The women didn’t know they weren’t eating chicken. But when it was the other women’s turns, they were stumped as to what they should plan. Rapp started getting phone calls asking for help planning the next big adventure.

“I love planning; I could see it coming to fruition,” says Rapp, who lives in Upper Arlington with her