LGBTQ+ Eco-HIke: Spring Peepers Sunset Hike (Great Barrington, MA)

4 Experienced Naturalists, Charlotte Hood, Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) Outreach Manager, Taylor Staubach, BNRC Community Engagemenbt Senior Manager, Bart Church, Q-MoB's Executive Director & Wilderness First Responder, and Mitch McCue, Q-MoB resident naturalist, will lead us on a relatively easy hike from CHP Great Barrington to a series of wetlands, meadows, and forests that play home to an amazing symphony of Spring Peepers (frogs), beavers, bats, birds, & if we're lucky the first fireflies. If we have time we'll make our way up to Fountain Pond State Park, and end with an optional after-hike dinner at Barrington Brewery. Please register separately for the After-Hike Dinner so we will have an accurate reservation count.

This hike is part of a series of easy hikes and bike rides & a Pride Paddle planned by Q-MoB and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission that will explore some beautiful but climate-change affected eco-systems in the Berkshires, and help us appreciate the many factors that are providing climate change resiliency to these eco-systems, and the factors that are threatening them.

ABOUT THIS SERIES OF ECO-HIKES, ECO-BIKE RIDES, & PRIDE PADDLE:

This hike is part of a series of easy hikes, bike rides, and a canoe paddle designed to provide an opportunity for participants to learn about and participate in community conversations about climate change while enjoying a variety of eco-systems. This series is a part of the larger Western Massachusetts Regional Unpaved Roads project funded by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP).

These competitive MVP grants support communities in identifying climate hazards, developing strategies to improve resilience, and implementing priority actions to adapt to climate change. The MVP program funds community-driven climate resilience planning and action. Nearly 100% of the Commonwealth’s municipalities participate in the program and over $180 million has been awarded for local climate resilience planning and projects since its inception.

WHAT TO BRING:

• $10-$20 Tax-Deductible Donation Paid Online, in cash, or check made out to "Q-MoB Inc" (Q-MoB is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit), or JOIN Q-MOB so you never have to donate at any regular Q-MoB event, or just come for FREE if this is the very 1st Q-MoB event you have ever attended or you want a low-income work-exchange or scholarship.
• Rain-gear,
• Appropriate footwear for hiking in potentially wet, muddy portions of the trail
• Snacks & Water
• Headlamp (although we can provide these if you don't have one)
• Trekking poles if you use them (they make it safer in mud, or ascent or descent)

WEATHER: On the morning of the hike, please check the weather for the hike location before you leave home so you know current conditions and how to dress for them. Please let us know your cell phone number when you register so we can text you 2 hours before the event should an unexpected weather threat arise that causes us to have to cancel or postpone the activity.

CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARE: If you need a ride or are open to carpooling, please indicate that when you are registering, & our ride coordinator will try to match you with people nearby who are interested in carpooling or offering rides.

DONATE OR BECOME A MONTHLY SUSTAINING MEMBER: Please donate $10-$20 to help assure Q-MoB can continue to offer more than 20 activities & multiple resources & services to rural queer men all over the region. If you attend 2 or more Q-MoB events/month, please consider becoming a monthly sustaining donor member. By donating $25, $50, $75, or $100/month you can help to sustain the incredible variety of activities, services, and resources Q-MoB provides and assure all of these activities are accessible to men regardless of their age, income, or ability, and best of all you can avoid having to donate at each and every event you attend. Monthly Sustaining Members pay only once a month and then can attend all our activities with no further donation.

HOW TO REACH US THE DAY OF THE HIKE: If you have trouble finding us, will be late, or can't make it, please call/text Bart at 503-734-6508.