IOL Free Webinar series
Findings from research into LGBTQIA+ outdoor community groups - WEBINAR
Findings from research into LGBTQIA+ outdoor community groups - WEBINAR
Findings from research into LGBTQIA+ outdoor community groups - WEBINAR
7 January 2026
This presentation shares findings from research into LGBTQIA+ outdoor community groups, exploring how they create spaces of safety, belonging, and connection to nature. Using the lens of queer ecology, the study shows how these groups challenge exclusionary narratives in outdoor learning and re-imagine relationships with the more-than-human world. Participants described the mental health benefits of being outdoors in affirming communities, as well as the empowerment that comes from engaging with nature in ways that reflect diverse identities and experiences. The session will consider how outdoor educators can draw on queer ecology to develop inclusive practice, supporting LGBTQIA+ people to feel represented, valued, and able to thrive in outdoor spaces. It also introduces neurotransecologies as a distinct framework for valuing the unique experiences of neurodivergent trans people and their relationships within and with nature.
https://www.muddypuddleclub.co.uk/indigoraewild
This is based on my published research in the JAEOL.
Here's a link:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14729679.2025.2486841#abstract
