A Guelph group is helping make it easier for young members of the area's queer community develop a lifelong love of the outdoors.
Queer Scouts Guelph helps to inspire children and youth from ages four to 18 identifying as two-spirit and LGBTQIA+ to grow, explore and experience a sense of belonging in nature.
Organized through Community Rainbow Mentors, the scout group meets once a month and offers an experiential, informal education program emphasizing outdoor skills and community building.
The group is not officially affiliated with Scouts Canada.
Program coordinator Kieran Deshevy says the idea behind Queer Scouts Guelph is ‘queer role models for queer youth.'
“I grew up as a queer youth with no queer role models,” Deshevy said.
“And so being able to fill that gap, now that I am a queer adult, means a lot to me, and I think it means a lot to the kids too. It feels good to be able to do something like this.”
Rainbow Mentors aims to connect two-spirit and LGBTQIA+ young persons to positive adult mentors. Team leaders have experience working with youth at camps, schools, cadets, Scouts and Guides.
Deshevy has run Queer Scouts Guelph programming for the last eight months.
“This had been an amazing experience so far,” Deshevy said. “On average, we have between four and 10 participants take part at our monthly meetings.”
Last month, participants learned how to tie knots. This month, the goal was to build a fairy house, with material found only in nature.
“This was about creating with nature. And part of that was teaching participants how to ethically do so,” Deshevy said.
“And along with fire-starting, we offer a variety of activities at Queer Scouts. We try to keep things in the same type of direction as Boy Scouts or Girl Guides.”
Deshevy said activities help to build skills but are also aimed at bringing a fun experience for all participants.
“One month, it was all about bugs and other creepy crawlies, identifying them and where you might find them,” Deshavy said.
“That was my introduction into the program. I love bugs, so I was asked to volunteer and teach the group about them."
In the warmer months, Queer Scouts meets at the Guelph Outdoor School and in the colder months, the group will get together at a local community centre where they take part in a variety of indoor activities such a sewing and other crafts.
Rainbow Mentors aims to be inclusive and current with the ever-changing identities and terms used in the community. It is inclusive of asexual, homosexual, multi-sexual, trans and intersex individuals, and all those who identify on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, creating room for change and growth.
“We need mentors because growing up can be so confusing,” Deshevy said.
“We do our best to teach new skills and also to make this as fun as we can. The kids always have a great time and feedback is always so positive.”
For many parents, Deshevy says they are happy their child is able to be in a safe space where they can socialize, learn new skills and have fun.
Anyone interested in joining Queer Scouts Guelph can visit the Rainbow Mentors on Instagram, Facebook page and its website.
Deshevy encourages anyone who wishes to experience a sense of belonging to join.
“You can be around people who are in a similar situation as you, and in a broader setting, not just work or school where you might not have other youth around you and in that same type of situation,” she said.
“For many parents, if you have a child who is under the 2SLGBTQIA+ umbrella, and you think they might be having a hard time, have a look at what we offer. Your child might be interested. This is a place where they will have friends and an extra support system."
For Deshevy, being a mentor for others is a dream come true.
“Being able to do this, is definitely fulfilling emotionally, to fill a role that I didn’t have when I was young,” Deshevy said.
“For queer youth, being able to see someone who was once a queer youth, and is now a queer adult and doing ok, that means a lot.”
