When: August 10, 2024 @ 12:00 pm
Come be “out in the outdoors”!
Calling WNC’s LGBTQIA+ community! Let’s gather to share the company of nature and our fellow community members. On the second Saturday of every other month, we will come together to create a welcoming and inclusive outdoor space as we wander in the woods, connecting to each other and the natural world around us. We’ll take the time to notice, appreciate, and learn about the creatures that call this place home, from the tiny beetles to the mighty trees. Along the way, we will find a spot to stop and enjoy a seasonal treat. This safe space is open to anyone who can use it-friends, family, and allies are welcome too!
This month, we will be Out at Queen Branch Preserve exploring our aquatic biodiversity via a Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail access site! Snorkelers may spot Tangerine Darters and Spotfin Chubs, which are common at this site, as well as other fish, salamanders, freshwater mussels, crayfish, macroinvertebrates, and more. Don’t have a snorkel? We’ll bring one for you! Just indicate on the form below if you will need one.
Spotfin chub Tangerine darter
We will meet at the Queen Branch Preserve parking lot at the intersection of Bryson City Rd and Queen Branch Rd in Franklin at 12:00pm on Saturday, August 10th. There is a 1/3 mile one way walk to reach the access point on a gravel trail that is accessible to mobility devices such as strollers, walkers, or wheelchairs. Register below to RSVP for this event.
Email Skye with any questions. Please leave pets at home. This event is weather-dependent.
2024 Schedule
Saturday, February 10th, 11:00am-1:00pm- Icicle Hike at Whiteside Mountain, Highlands
Saturday, April 13th, 10:00am-12:00pm- Birding Walk at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve, Franklin
Saturday, June 15th, 4:00pm-6:00pm- Flame Azalea Walk at Hooper Bald, Robbinsville
Saturday, August 10th, 12:00pm-2:00pm- Snorkeling at Queen Branch Preserve, Franklin
Saturday, October 19th- Fall Colors Hike, Siler Bald, Topton **Third Saturday**
Saturday, December 7th- Winter Bonfire, location TBD
Meet your leader
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate, Skye (she/her) inspires communities to engage and connect with nature. She is a queer naturalist who is especially passionate about mosses, fungi, trees, and salamanders.
Gillian (she/her) is a queer conservation practitioner who strives to build community by connecting with others in nature and working to ensure that public lands are a welcome and safe space for all.
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