Queers in Nature: Little Tract trail

Queer Nature Pals! It’s spring!
There’s spring ephemerals! Birbs! Sneks! Salamaners and newty bubs!
Peepers and other froggy friends! Come join us for a wander through Little Tract!

Our main goal with Queers in Nature is to bring folks from the LGBTQIA+ community together in the outdoors to foster a deeper individual connection with our natural world while simultaneously growing stronger community bonds

We will meet at 10:00 am (*please arrive on time friends!) at the Little Tract Parking lot ( 6710 Wellington County Rd 34, Cambridge) Click here for exact location. We will hike until around 12:00 pm (end time may vary depending on group needs/how many cool things we stop to poke).

We will be walking around the trail network at the Little Tract. The total trip is approximately 6 km, and we are estimating about 2 hours to complete it. We will be moving at a very casual pace with lots of breaks to appreciate the awesomeness around us.

COVID Policy

If you have been feeling unwell prior to attending this event, please stay home.

Though this is an outdoor event, we are still mindful of the ways that illness spreads when folks gather together and want everyone to feel safe attending. We STRONGLY encourage those who are carpooling to wear masks while travelling together.

We also ask that all attendees do a rapid test before attending, as well as stay up to date on their vaccines and boosters. We hike together for our mental and physical well-being, so let's be mindful of keeping our extended communities safe too!

Accessibility

This event is considered low impact. We will be hiking over relatively level terrain along a well used trail. The path itself has many wide sections with minimal elevation changes.That being said, trail conditions can be variable, especially with the added element of *hand sparkles* SPRING!!! Will there be rain? Maybe! Will there be mud? Almost certainly! Will there be snow? Who knows! If for some reason there is ice, we do have a few extra pairs of boot cleats if anyone would like to borrow them.

• This trailhead is not accessible by public transit. Carpools may also be available from within Guelph. Please reach out to Queers in Nature admin, by email or on instagram, if transportation is a barrier for you and we will HAPPILY try to assist in coordinating rides! There is a large parking lot located at our meeting point, as well as roadside parking.
  
• Please keep an eye on the weather. Depending on the weather we experience leading up to the event, the trails may be wet, muddy, icy, snowy, or slippery and more difficult for some attendees. In the case of extreme winds or not so lovely weather, the hike may be cancelled or postponed. If this is the case, you will be notified via email and we will also post on updates on our instagram page (@queerz.in.nature).
  

• We ask that all participants are dressed appropriately for the weather (including but not limited to: appropriate hiking footwear, hiking poles/ other trail aids, layers for temperature variations, rain gear, etc).
  
• We ask that all participants help to make this an accessible event by not wearing scents/perfumes and please refrain from consuming drugs or alcohol during the hike or before the hike.
  

• There are no washroom facilities located along the trail. Please use the washroom prior to arriving, and be prepared to make a stop along the trail (in the woods) if necessary.
  

• While kiddos are welcome on this hike, the event is catered towards adults, and will move at (nerdy outdoorsy) adult pace.
  

• Some snacks may be provided but we ask that everyone bring adequate water and snacks to fuel your body through the hike. There are no water refill stations on the hike.
  

• We might encounter bugs (mosquitos, ticks, other creepy crawlies), as well as plants that cause rashes (poison ivy, etc). Please be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions.

There are risks involved in these hikes.

By signing up for this event, you are agreeing that you will be responsible for your own care and safety, and to be mindful and respectful with regard to the care and safety of other participants. Queers in Nature is a volunteer-led group, and we are not liable for anything that may occur to participants during or surrounding this event.

We are so excited to see you out in nature!