MacKenzie thompson

MacKenzie grew up in Minnesota, spending many of her summers on Mille Lacs Lake catching walleyes with family and was spent time with her dad working on a motorcycle, car, or anything with a motor. Though she didn’t grow up hunting or fishing extensively, her love for the outdoors took shape in other ways. Today, she lives along the Minnesota–South Dakota border where she enjoys waterfowl hunting and travels all over to hike, especially in national parks. One of her big goals is to visit all 63 U.S. national parks.

MacKenzie is the founder of Her Wilderness and also created Little Wilderness. For years she held onto the vision of Little Wilderness, waiting for the right people to bring it to life, and found that in Tia and Angie. While she may not be a traditional mentor in hunting or fishing, MacKenzie’s role is the backbone of the organization, building the systems, branding, and support that make everything possible behind the scenes.

Her heart for both Her Wilderness and Little Wilderness is deeply rooted in who she is, and she is passionate about creating spaces where women and youth can find confidence, community, and adventure in the outdoors.