Outlandish! FAQ

Empowering LGBTQIA+ youth and fostering stewardship of the outdoors

Is outlandish! a therapy program?

Outlandish! is not a therapy program. Though we operate under the umbrella of Queer LifeSpace, it is not meant to serve as formal therapy for the participants.

Do you do private trips?

Yes! Does your school have a Gay/Straight Alliance or other related group? Are you part of a queer youth organization? We can definitely lead a trip with just your group. Please reach out to Max at msovine@queerlifespace.org for more information.

is parental/guardian permission required?

Yes, if the participant is 17 and under, we will email a waiver that needs to be signed by both the participant and the parent/guardian of the participant.

where do we meet up/drop off?

For most trips that involve leaving the city, we will be meeting here. If there is a different meetup spot or if the trip is happening in the urban areas, the meetup location will be listed on the Upcoming Trips page.

can my parent/guardian come on the outing?

Certainly! Please let staff know ahead of time. You can email Max at msovine@queerlifespace.org.

i’m an lgbtqia+ youth going on a trip. can I invite my straight allied friends?

Yes! Youth who are allies and supporters of their LGBTQIA+ friends are welcome. And youth who are Questioning (aka exploring whether or not they are LGBTQIA+) are welcome as well.

What kinds of activities will happen on these outings?

The outings will primarily consist of hiking but we also will include periodic conservation projects such as trash pickup and light trail work in addition to activities such a fishing, gardening, and water sport. There will be games, ice breakers, facilitated discussions, and ecology lessons.

“As the young spend less and less of their lives in natural surroundings, their senses narrow, and this reduces the richness of human experience.”

— Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods”

What sort of equipment will the participants need?

A backpack (like a day pack or school-sized backpack)
Sturdy shoes (no flip flops)
Water bottle
Packed lunch and snacks (we will be able to provide some supplemental snacks)
Sunblock
A jacket or extra warm layers (An example of layering could include a t shirt, a fleece or warm hoodie, a light jacket like a rain jacket or wind breaker, and possibly a warm hat—that Bay Area fog can roll in very quickly!)
Rain jacket (if the forecast calls for rain)
Any personal medications (the young adult must be responsible for taking their own medications as prescribed)

Where will the outings happen?

We are so fortunate to have amazing outdoor recreational areas here in the Bay Area! Some of our trips will go to the Marin Headlands, Muirwoods, Mt. Tam, the Oakland Hills, Roy’s Redwood Preserve, and possibly further afield for longer day trips.

How many outings a month will there be?

We aim to host 1-2 day long outings per month, on Saturdays.

How much does an outing cost?

We believe that every young adult should have access to the outdoors, regardless of their background. Thus, we will have a sliding scale cost of $0 to $40. Any amount greater than $40 will be deeply appreciated and it will help ensure the program remains accessible to youth from all walks of life. Most importantly, these trips are FREE. If you aren’t able to currently donate, no worries!

does your program have wheelchair accessible outings?

There are many great locations in the Bay Area that have wheelchair accessible pathways. We must know at least three weeks ahead of time if someone with a wheelchair will be signing up for a day trip so we can make arrangements for transportation.

How Many outings can a youth participate in?

As many as she/he/they/etc would like! However, we ask that you keep in mind that the available spots are limited and we want to make sure that every interested youth gets an opportunity to go one at least one outing per year.

how many participants go on an outing?

Once we launch, we will have openings for up to 15 participants. We may be able to grow that number in the near future!

In the event that more than 15 young adults sign up for an outing, we will have a waitlist.

what is the adult/youth ratio on an outing?

We plan for 1 adult for every 5 young adults. Each adult volunteer must fill out an application and be willing to submit to a criminal background check. We recruit adults based on their experience and enthusiasm in working with youth in the LGBTQIA+ community.

How can I get involved?

We also appreciate any efforts to get the word out about our program, other Queer LifeSpace programs, and Queer LifeSpace as a whole. We would be happy to send you materials such as fliers and articles to share with your community. Please reach out to Max at msovine@queerlifespace.org if you are interested.

how is outlandish! funded?

Mostly by donations! We operate under Queer LifeSpace, which is a small mental health non profit based in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. We rely on the support of our community to make this all happen.

If you are interested in supporting us, please make a tax-deductible donation. The donation goes towards helping queer youth get outside to enjoy this spectacular natural world that we live in. Thank you!

More Resources

Here are more articles exploring the importance of queer representation in the outdoors as well as the benefits of time spent outside.

How Queer Groups Are Finding Their Spaces In the Great Outdoors

How LGBTQ People are Breaking Down Barriers to Take on the Great Outdoors

Queering the Earth, and Earthing the Queer: A Radical Conversation

Mental Health Benefits of Outdoor Adventures: Results From Two Pilot Studies

Ecotherapy Benefits All Humans

Ecotherapy: the Benefits for Young People

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You may contact us at info@queerlifespace.org to learn about our privacy policy and how we collect, keep, and process your private information in accordance with these laws.