"Queer Hikes" takes a walk through Dartmouth
The group looks for creatures in the water. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Elliot Henderson describes the grape plant. 
A bumblebee pollenates a flower. 
A passing group had a dog, who was as excited as the hikers to see each other. 
The group passes over the boardwalk. 
A catbird hidden in the trees. 
Elliot Henderson points out a bird flying overhead.
A toad hiding in the grass. 
The group passes over the boardwalk. 
The group explores the foundation laid and abandoned over a hundred years ago. 
The group walks over the boardwalk into the woods. 
A butterfly rests on a clover flower. 
The view from the boardwalk.
The group looks for creatures in the water. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Elliot Henderson describes the grape plant.
A bumblebee pollenates a flower.
A passing group had a dog, who was as excited as the hikers to see each other.
The group passes over the boardwalk.
A catbird hidden in the trees.
Elliot Henderson points out a bird flying overhead.
A toad hiding in the grass.
The group passes over the boardwalk.
The group explores the foundation laid and abandoned over a hundred years ago.
The group walks over the boardwalk into the woods.
A butterfly rests on a clover flower.
The view from the boardwalk.
Dartmouth residents aren’t the only ones enjoying the Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust trails with pride, the group "Queer Hikes" comes around to proudly enjoy nature.
“Getting people outside, fresh air, exercise,” said volunteer Elliot Henderson, “For me, I think it’s a cool way to meet people and have a little community organization.”
The group was founded after COVID-19 by a woman named Mel, who wanted to go outside and enjoy nature after being isolated.
While Mel has since stepped down, four volunteers have stepped up to continue the organization. Three are from Rhode Island, and plan hikes there. Henderson is from New Bedford and plans many hikes in Dartmouth.
During Pride Month on Saturday, June 20, Henderson chose to have one of the hikes at Frank Knowles/Little River Reserve. During the hike, he offered free headshots of all of the participants.
“I think it’s important for people to have community,” he said, “And it’s pride month, so we’re out here.”
On the first "Queer Hikes" hike that Henderson participated in five years ago, a masters student was offering headshots in exchange for interviews for a project. He loved the photos of himself he got, and wanted to offer current participants a similar experience.
Henderson stated he offered photos also as a “shameless self-promotion” for the organization. He took photos of the landscape and group during the hike as well.
During the Pride Month hike, seven hikers showed up to form a community with other queer people and allies.
“It’s hard meeting people when you’re an adult,” said Melanie Ducharme.
The hike started at Cornell Farm, and continued to an old foundation hidden in the reserve. The group hiked a bit over two miles.
Henderson is an avid birder, with a bit of knowledge on plants. During the hike, the group would stop to listen to catbirds and woodpeckers, or learn a bit more about the wild grapes growing throughout the reserve.
Many of the hikers stopped to take photos of the plants and birds Henderson pointed out, or held conversations. Common photos taken were of frogs, birds, butterflies and interesting plants.
“I worked in a very male-dominated field for years, and they were all great. I loved my coworkers but that level of inherent difference was kind of unintentionally lonely in a way, to not have someone who kind of gets what it felt like,” said Libby Mostert, “Just having people understand what that can mean is really nice.”
The group meets once a week in various spots around Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The hikes are free, and are open to queer people and allies.
“I like being around like-minded individuals and going outside,” said Henderson, “And so my motto is, as long as people keep showing up, we keep doing it.”
