Quiet Queer Hike

So, you're part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community but parades and parties seem too overstimulating? You've come to the right place. It's low-stim, it's mildly social, it's giving... Hobbiton.
LSPIRG is planning a soft landing place for our many neurodivergent queer pals who would like to celebrate their queer identities - without suffering from overstim and burnout as a result. Bring friends, family, and allies. EVERYONE is welcome. We're going to walk the Wilkes Dam Trail at the Brant Conervation Area - it's a short ~1 hour hike that's very flat and easy, even for novice nature-enthusiasts. Come wearing all your rainbow/pride swag and prepare to socialize...quietly!
Itinerary:

• 12pm-12:15pm Arrival at the meet-up spot near the Wilkes Dam Trail at Brant Conservation Area. You'll pull up to the Brant Conservation Area Gate and they'll ask you to pay to enter. Tell them you're with the Quiet Queers Hike and we're going to cover your entry fee. The exact meetup location will be emailed to you upon registry. Bathrooms with flush toilets are available.
• 12:15-12:30pm Ice breaker activity: "Introducing..." (no pressure to participate). Introductions can be hard, so we'll help introduce each other! We each write our names, our proud identities (eg. lesbian, queer, asexual, ally), and something we’re passionate about on a piece of paper. We put the paper into a box and then we’ll each take turns pulling out a piece of paper and introducing someone else to the group by saying “This is ___, they're ____, and they're passionate about ___”. You then wave to reveal who you are!
• 12:30pm Hike starts. This hike will be non-verbal, so we can immerse ourselves in the sounds of nature. We’ll keep a casual, slow pace so everyone is comfortable. Please let us know if you have any health or mobility issues and we'll do our best to accomodate. FYI No bathrooms are available once we are on the trail.
• ~1:30pm Hike ends. Finish time depends on our group walking pace, it should be about an hour.
• ~1:30pm - 3pm Picnic time! We return to our meet-up point, and this is where we'll have our picnic. The silent portion of the event is over and we can now chat about what we heard and saw on the trail. Bathrooms are again available.
• 3pm Event ends, optional Free Swim: The Brant Conservation Area pool will be open until 9pm. Pack a swimsuit to cool off after your hike in one of the province's largest swimming pools!
  Packing List

• Sunscreen*

• Bug spray, if desired*
  *Warning, smell may be irritating for others. Apply when you're a good distance from the group.
• Water
• Pack a picnic. We'll provide some snacks like granola bars and grapes. Let us know if you have allergies!
• Shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. The trail is very flat, wide, and mostly grass.
• Brimmed hat
• Sunglasses
• Fidget toys or anything that helps you feel comfortable
• Optional: Nature hobby items like binoculars for birdwatching, nets for bug catching, etc.
• Optional: Swimsuit for a dip at the Brant Conservation Area pool afterwards.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Brant Conservation Area, Brant Conservation Area, Brantford, Canada