Out and about: LGBTQ+ hike with Mattapoisett Land Trust
Mike Hugenin is the president of Mattapoisett Land Trust and joined the group for a hike, sharing facts about the area. Photos by Mari Huglin
Harvey, a hiker, takes a photo of a mushroom.
Mike Hugenin shows hikers the area they will be exploring.
Some of the trees hikers were looking up to.
Hikers head to the salt marsh and take a look at a hand dug well.
Many seabirds were spotted in the marsh and overhead.
Hikers take photos and use binoculars to identify birds.
Three Yellowleg birds hop along the marsh.
Mike Hugenin points oyster farms and osprey bird nests out.
Mike Hugenin is the president of Mattapoisett Land Trust and joined the group for a hike, sharing facts about the area. Photos by Mari Huglin
Harvey, a hiker, takes a photo of a mushroom.
Mike Hugenin shows hikers the area they will be exploring.
Some of the trees hikers were looking up to.
Hikers head to the salt marsh and take a look at a hand dug well.
Many seabirds were spotted in the marsh and overhead.
Hikers take photos and use binoculars to identify birds.
Three Yellowleg birds hop along the marsh.
Mike Hugenin points oyster farms and osprey bird nests out.
MATTAPOISETT — The rain didn’t stop 10 hikers ready to explore Brandt Island Cove on Saturday, Nov. 8 hosted by The Mattapoisett Land Trust and Queer Hikes organization.
Mike Hugenin, president of the Mattapoisett Land Trust, joined the hike and shared facts about the area and the Trust.
“I always want to get more people of all kinds on the land, but anything we can do to reach out to the LGBTQ+ community so we can just help build some solidarity.”
Robert Stack of Providence, a returning hiker, enjoys being outdoors, getting exercise and meeting new people along the way.
“I don't necessarily have contact with younger people or gender fluid people so it's just interesting to mix with more people than I wouldn’t normally meet in my everyday life,” said Stack.
The group identified trees, mushrooms, birds and a variety of plants throughout the hike.
“These particular woods are very holly heavy. I was surprised by that and I also like that we got to see some interesting seabirds,” said Stack.
Elliot Henderson of New Bedford is a Queer Hikes volunteer and hike leader. He explained that Queer Hikes’ goal is to get like minded people outside, enjoy nature and build community.
“I want to show that not only that there are queer folks out here, but we're out here for the environment and for Mattapoisett and the surrounding towns,” Henderson said.
Queer Hikes hosts events across Massachusetts and Rhode Island four times a month in the summer and twice a month in the winter.
“Just the fact that there's like a group of us together, even if it's just for an hour or two, it's a physical manifestation of the fact that the community actually exists,” said Stack.
Jeremy Soucy, from Rhode Island, joined the group for the first time to support the queer community and be outside.
“I've just been an ally my whole life and I'm finally like it's a high time I get involved,” said Soucy.
Stack recommends the hikes for everyone, but especially for people who are more introverted since there is no pressure to talk.
“The focus is on the hike and the nature and seeing the interesting trees and birds, so for me that's a perfect kind of thing where there's an activity that you're focused on and you almost meet the people by accident.”
Henderson hopes more people will come out to hike and said, “I hope that doing even small things like this allow people to feel like they're more connected to other human beings.”
