WHO
Who is Kindling Collective for?
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Queer people who have felt excluded from physical education and athletics, who have felt unsafe or unwelcome in traditional outdoor environments, who feel judged or discriminated against in predominantly heterosexual and cisgender hobbies and activities, and who want to be a part of a queer-centered, queer-led outdoor community.
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Anyone who has felt (or has been) unsafe or endangered because they are the only one of an identity group in a rural or outdoor space—we strive to create affinity spaces and connections where people can develop skills and more safely access the outdoors together.
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Anyone who wants to participate in a sustainable sharing economy, who sees capitalism as an extractive, exploitative system that separates and oppresses people and harms the planet.
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Individuals, friend groups, families (biological, adopted, or chosen), young adults outside of educational systems, and outdoor hobbyists who want to access outdoor gear and try new things.
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People who are seeking a low-cost, low-environmental impact way to access outdoor gear, are interested in learning equipment maintenance, or who want to cheaply store and share their own resources.
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Straight and cisgender people who support, affirm, uplift, love, and/or care about LGBTQ+ people.
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YOU!
Who are we?
Hallie Herz
co-director / CEO minder
A paddler, hiker, runner, baker, goofball, and big dreamer, Hallie can teach you how to bake cinnamon buns over coals, write a poem, eat like a dinosaur, or stand on your head in a canoe. They are a registered Maine Guide who taught middle and high school humanities for 10 years and have led backcountry canoeing and backpacking trips since 2007 in northern Ontario, Quebec, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. Hallie grew up in Damariscotta, Maine.
Eva Fury
co-director / design gremlin
Community builder, facilitator, big picture planner, silly face maker, doodler, and cloud watcher. Can throw a great party with limited resources and no time; would rather tell you a funny story. Eva has 8 years of experience as a project manager, professional development trainer, and community organizer for projects and nonprofits focused on racial and gender justice, public health, and redistributing resources. Eva has spent over 20 years playing and coaching ultimate frisbee.
Our Partners
Outdoor Empowered Network
Mission.Earth
The Equality Community Center
Maine Outdoor Brands
Portland Gear Hub
Maine GearShare
Packraft Maine
Inclusive Ski Touring
Confluence Collective
Backcountry Pulse
Kaneel
Auburn Nordic Ski Association
Want to work with us? We’d love to chat! Send us an email at info@kindlingcollective.org.