Shared Path: Queer Ecology with City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks
Registration Deadline: October 11, 2026 @11:59pm MT
Come spend a day with Women’s Wilderness and City of Boulder OSMP Education & Outreach staff to learn and build your knowledge about queerness in nature! This 4-hour adventure explores beautiful Open Space and Mountain Parks trails and ecology in a moderate 3 mile hike. Guided by experienced leaders who blend outdoor knowledge and passion with community building and creating space for the rainbow of diversity we see in nature.
In this program, we’ll unpack the many ways we can share stories about nature and our connection to our understandings of gender through the lens of some of the local species, including our bears, whiptail lizards, and more! Friends and allies are welcome, as we are promoting the positive influence community learning offers!
Details
👥 Who: Adult women and non-binary people
🗓️ When: 9am-1pm, Sunday, October 18, 2026
📍 Where: Boulder, CO (meet at Women’s Wilderness HQ)
🎟️ Price: $15 suggested donation
⛰️ Activity level: beginner-friendly– some prior experience recommended but not required; be in good physical condition for minimal physical and/or mental effort.
➕ Included:
- Ecology knowledge
- Free hiking gear rental
- Snacks
What to Wear & Bring
Registered participants will receive a detailed checklist, including guidance on what to wear and bring.
FAQ
- No pets are allowed on courses, with the exception of ADA service animals being welcome.
- For any questions email support@womenswilderness.org
Your Instructors
Basil (he/they) is a lover of nature, of learning, and of making people feel welcome. From queer ecology and history to invasive species, they specialize in stories that don’t often get told in nature programming. Basil is proud to serve the LGBTQIA2S+ community through accessible and kindly created programming that celebrates queerness in nature as a City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks naturalist.
Melanie (she/her) is a lifelong lover of the outdoors and especially enjoy exploring Colorado’s trails, wildflowers, and natural landscapes. She enjoys participating in Women’s Wilderness hikes and am grateful for the opportunity to support an organization whose mission helps people build confidence, connection, and community in the outdoors. In August, she earned her Native Plant Master Certificate through CSU Extension, deepening her love of Colorado’s incredible plant diversity. She works with the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Education & Outreach team. She’s excited to share her love of nature and continue learning alongside others in the outdoors.
Alexa (she/her/ella) grew up in Colorado, but her passion for the outdoors, conservation, and wildlife truly began when she attended the University of Colorado Boulder in 2020. Living near the Flatirons and the many natural landscapes surrounding Boulder, and being among the relatively small percentage of women of color who experienced those spaces, helped broaden her perspective on belonging, access, and impact in the outdoors. Since then, Alexa has had the honor of using her perspective and skills as an outdoor enthusiast to encourage and support others in her community in discovering what the outdoors has to offer. In her free time, she enjoys climbing both indoors and outdoors, reading, birdwatching, and spending quality time with friends and family. She is excited and grateful to work with Women’s Wilderness, an organization whose values are deeply meaningful to her. The mission inspires her not only to see her own potential in the outdoors, but also to help ensure that people from all communities have the opportunity to experience these spaces.
Additional Details
Price - $15 Suggested Donation
