Kindling Collective

Kindling Collective is a queer-centered gear library creating an accessible pathway to outdoor experiences in Maine. As you know, Maine is a great place to live if you like to play outside, but outdoor equipment is expensive and confusing and many folks have historically been denied access to the gear, knowledge, and skills they need to recreate safely outdoors. Kindling Collective works to reduce barriers to the outdoors through an outdoor gear library and adventure programming based out of Portland. Through our gear library, community members can borrow the gear they need for camping, hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor adventures. You don’t need to be queer to be a member; you just need to be on board with supporting and affirming queer people’s access to the outdoors. Our outdoor programming offers queer people in Maine the opportunity to build community and learn new skills through safe and welcoming outdoor adventures. These events, classes, and trips are for people of all skill levels and abilities: those who are new to the outdoors as well as more experienced adventurers seeking queer outdoor community. Over the past year, Kindling has hosted over 30 events across and beyond Maine for over 400 community members, from packrafting to backcountry skiing to wilderness medicine, foraging, and fly fishing. Check out our events calendar here!