Upcoming Events
Our day programs are added 3-4 weeks out from the event date.
Summiting Outdoor Accessibility
Community members with disabilities can access this summit at no-cost. Sliding scale $40 - $80 per person pending financial capacity. Join Queerly ME, BRIDGE Maine, and Outdoor Access Solutions for a day-long summit at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Summiting Outdoor Accessibility examines the unique intersections of outdoor access, Queer identity, and disability, encouraging community dialogue and introspection around how outdoor accessibility can be improved for all people, especially for those holding multiple marginalized identities. Summiting Outdoor Accessibility is organized and led solely by people with disabilities to present a pathway towards progress that is centered on lived experience. We hope you will join us for our summit which includes keynote speaker, Geronda Wollack-Spiller; an outdoor accessibility audit walk led by Outdoor Access Solutions; and a community “fishbowl” discussion emphasizing sharing and listening to the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities.ACCESSIBILITY INFO: The main campus of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is ADA accessible—ramps are available anywhere there are stairs. The gardens can provide wheelchairs and scooters to participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is accessible parking right outside the Education Center where the summit will be. There are shuttles available from the entrance of the gardens to the Education Center upon request. For more information on the Gardens’ accessibility, visit mainegardens.org/visit/inclusion-and-accessibility/
In-person and virtual options available! If you join virtually, you will be able to access the keynote and the Listen To Lived Experience community discussion. Both in-person and virtual participants will be able to access CART captioning.
ASL Interpreters will be present all day. CART Captioning will be provided for the keynote and the Listen To Lived Experience community discussion. All speakers will wear mics and visual descriptions will be given.
There are a limited number of gas cards available to community members in need of travel cost coverage—you can reach out to info@queerlyme.org to request one.
Schedule:
10:15AM - 10:30AM Opening Remarks
10:30AM - 11:30AM Keynote Speaker, Geronda Wollack-Spiller: “You’re Not Broken: Rewriting the Story of Queer, Neurodivergent Adults.” Geronda helps mid‑level leaders at mid‑size companies grow teams that thrive from the inside out, rooted in belonging, trust, and accountability, grounded in lived experience. With over a decade of work across inclusion & belonging, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership, she’s guided leaders who lead from the heart of the team, not above it. Her signature talk, Rooted in Us, shifts how people see culture, connection, and performance. Connect on LinkedIn or book a session via her website www.gerondaws.com. There will be a Q&A after Geronda’s keynote!
11:30AM - 12:30PM Grab lunch at the cafe or bring your own! There are GF, Vegan, and Vegetarian options available. During lunch, mingle at a Topic Table aimed towards bringing aligned organizations, businesses, and individuals together to connect and converse.
12:30PM - 1:30PM Activity Options:
Outdoor Accessibility Audit Walk with Outdoor Access Solutions. Take a tour through the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ paths and learn about what goes into auditing outdoor spaces to enhance accessibility. Outdoor Access Solutions partners with organizations by providing accessibility assessments for trails and other outdoor spaces, identifying physical, cognitive, sensory, visual, and auditory challenges. Outdoor Access Solutions evaluates site infrastructure against ABA / ADA standards and delivers an assessment report which provides detailed information and actionable insights to guide their partners in accessibility enhancements.
Trail Mixer with Queerly ME. Trail Mixers are casual, connection centered trail walks, and our flagship program. Periodically during our walk, we will propose conversation prompts to participants. Each time a conversation prompt is introduced, we encourage participants to “mix it up” and find a new person to talk to. These walks help participants build support networks from the ground up!
1:30PM - 2:30PM Rest and explore the gardens.Visit Garron Dorr in the Sensory Garden! Garron Dorr is a Registered Horticultural Therapist, HTR and program manager of the horticultural therapy program at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens that focuses on improving the emotional, physical and psychological well-being of groups and individuals with disabilities, illness, and life situations. His work highlights how meaningful connection with plants and nature can provide immensely positive impacts on human health and wellness. In 2025, he received a Community Impact Award from Mobius, Inc. for creating a program and therapy garden which provides access and inclusivity for people of all abilities. He continues to grow the external outreach programming and build community collaborations to expand the knowledge and therapeutic value of nature-based interventions.
During this time, we will also be offering outdoor adaptive equipment demos! Keep an eye out for more details added here soon.
2:30PM - 3:30PM Listen to Lived Experience: A community “fishbowl” discussion emphasizing sharing and listening to the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities. Participants will be invited to engage in various conversation prompts, or actively listen outside of the circle.
3:30PM - 4:00PM Closing Remarks
Summiting Outdoor Accessibility Program Partners
Funded in part by the Onion Foundation.
Queering The Coast: LGBTQIA+ Marine Biology Weekend
Join Queerly ME in Dennysville for a weekend of activities centering connection between people and place, and marine biology! Our activities will include tide pooling with Marine Biologist, Rene Francolini; coastal birding; an Indigenous history walk with Geo Neptune representing Cobscook Institute; a marine family systems lecture; a book club to discuss Sabrina Imbler’s novel, “How Far The Light Reaches”.
This weekend is an LGBTQIA+ affinity space for those who are 21+. Our sliding scale is $100 - $200 per person for the weekend pending individual financial capacity. We are committed to reducing financial barriers to all of our programs. If you are in need of financial assistance to attend Queering The Coast or have any questions before submitting pre-registration, please email info@queerlyme.org.
Amenities:
Bunkhouse Beds, 2-4 per dorm or tent camping. Queerly ME can provide any outdoor gear you need through Maine Gearshare including a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, or camp stove.
Equipped kitchen. Participants bring their own food for the weekend.
Shared shower house.
Kayaks & canoes available based on tidal charts. PFDs supplied and required.
Wifi in dining hall.
Campfire ring.
Marine lab classroom / lab tables.
Accessibility:
The road up to campus is a wide and mostly flat dirt path that loops in the middle of the main lodge and bunkhouses. The way to the main lodge and bunkhouses is grassy and unpaved. There are 1 to 2 steep steps into each building. Neither the bathrooms or bunkhouses are ADA compliant, but organizers are happy to work with participants to develop an adaptive plan in order to navigate the campus. Tide pooling will occur on a rocky, shallow beach inlet adjacent to campus.
Queer Bug Weekend
Join Queerly ME, Mahoosuc Land Trust, and OUT Maine for Queer Bug Weekend, dedicated to all the insects across Maine who play big and small roles in our ecosystem!
LGBTQIA+ people who are 21+ are welcome to join us for the overnight portion of our weekend where we will block print bugs onto bandanas while watching a bug-themed film outdoors near our tent camping site. All materials are provided + we can lend you camping gear at no-cost via Maine Gearshare.
If you would like to join us for just the entomology walk or just the Cultivating Connection training, you can! Check out the registration link above to select which parts of Queer Bug Weekend you want to engage with. Overnight spots + all activities are $75 - $100. Individual activities vary from no-cost to sliding scale. Queerly ME is dedicated to offering programs without a strict financial barrier to entry. If set costs are a financial barrier to your participation, please reach out to info@queerlyme.org!
Schedule:Saturday August 29th 5:30PM - 7:30PM: Cultivating Connection at Mahoosuc Land Trust Valentine Farm Conservation Center. Queerly ME’s touring community training entitled “Cultivating Connection” examines the decline of community spaces, the loneliness and isolation epidemic, and how we can revitalize opportunities for affirming, inclusive social connection to improve societal well-being. This training encourages community conversations, and will be a great way to connect with fellow bug weekend participants! Food will be provided.
Saturday August 29th 8:00PM - Overnight: Our Bug Weekend overnight begins! The exact location will be sent to registered participants. We will block print bug silhouettes onto bandanas which we can wear to the entomology walk the next day! Registered participants will vote on a bug film they wish to watch outdoors near the tent camping site.
Sunday August 30th 8:00AM - 10:00AM: A group breakfast will be provided and we will pack up, leaving no trace behind, before heading back to Valentine Farm for our entomology walk and the Monarch Festival.
Sunday August 30th 10:30AM-12:00PM: Our entomology walk will be led by Dr. Katherine Burns, an ecologist and science communicator currently based in Midcoast Maine. Dr. Burns has worked in the fields of ecology and conservation for over 13 years, focusing mainly on native insect pollinators. She is deeply passionate about introducing folks to the miniature worlds that surround us, but so often go unnoticed! During our entomology walk, we will explore the pollinator garden and learn all about insects. At the same time, OUT Maine is partnering with us and Mahoosuc Land Trust to offer a youth centered entomology walk—families with kids also interested in learning about bugs can register here.
Sunday August 30th 12:00PM-4:00PM: The Monarch Festival begins! Strengthen your connections with fellow participants by engaging in the festival activities and having a free community lunch provided by Mahoosuc Land Trust. Festival activities are located here.
Questions? Reach out to info@queerlyme.org.
Camp Queerly
Join Queerly ME near Acadia National Park for Camp Queerly, our flagship overnight camp for LGBTQIA+ adults in search of connection and community belonging! Our activities will include team games (think Water Balloon Toss, Modified Capture The Flag, Fairy House Building, etc.), expressive art projects, outdoor skill building, a low and high ropes course, an open mic night, and campfire stories.
This weekend is an LGBTQIA+ affinity space for those who are 21+. Our sliding scale is $100 - $200 per person for the weekend pending individual financial capacity. We are committed to reducing financial barriers to all of our programs. If you are in need of financial assistance to attend Camp Queerly or have any questions before submitting pre-registration, please email info@queerlyme.org.
Amenities:
Bunkhouses and tent camping options. Queerly ME can provide any outdoor gear you need through Maine Gearshare including a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, or camp stove.
Equipped kitchen. Participants bring their own food for the weekend.
Shared shower house.
Kayaks & canoes available. PFDs supplied and required.
Campfire ring.
Accessibility:
There is a network of main paths on campus which are paved with additional paths made up of packed dirt or forest trails. While the main campus is advertised as ADA compliant, elevation of paths vary from slight to steep. Our point person reports that staff have been able to adapt the campus to people in manual wheelchairs before.
Flower Crown Workshop
Join Queerly ME, Georges River Land Trust, and Cardinal Gardener for a A LGBTQIA+ centered workshop teaching you all the tips and tricks of flower crown making including sustainable harvesting led by Dana Stern of Cardinal Gardener!
This program is LGBTQIA+ centered, and allies are welcome. Queerly ME primarily serves those in their 20s to 60s, but we welcome all ages; note that minors must be accompanied by a guardian at all times.
The sliding scale for this gathering is $15 - $30 pending individual financial capacity. If the sliding scale is a barrier to attendance, please reach out to info@queerlyme.org.
Cardinal Gardener provides professional, experienced design, coaching, and creative workshops for landscapes in Southern Maine & beyond, striking a balance between beauty and ecological consideration while helping you connect to your environment. For more information, check out their website at https://www.cardinalgardener.com/.
Cultivating Connection at Langlais Art Preserve
Join Queerly ME at Langlais Art Preserve for our touring community training entitled “Cultivating Connection”. Cultivating Connection examines the decline of community spaces, the loneliness and isolation epidemic, and how we can revitalize opportunities for affirming, inclusive social connection to improve societal well-being.
There will be several breakout group discussions during Cultivating Connection. Participants will learn about the impacts of social connection on all facets of life including physical and mental health, local economies, civic engagement, and safety and well-being. Participants will take away action steps specific to their professional and personal roles in life as well as several community organizing models they can apply to creating community spaces local to them.