Nature as a Disruptive Force for Queer Youth: Elyse Rylander

Elyse Rylander is the founder and executive director of OUT There Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to empower queer young people through their connection with the natural world. Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force for queer youth and hopes to foster their identities and love of the outdoors.

Women featured in this episode: Elyse Rylander

Hosted by Gale Straub

In this episode, you'll hear

• What Elyse is working on right now


• How partnering with other established nonprofits like Outward Bound is helping spread the mission of OUT There Adventures


• Why it can be uniquely hard for a small nonprofit to do outreach for queer kids for outdoor programs


• Why role models are so important for queer youth in the outdoors


• How working at an outdoor store and getting into guiding positively impacted Elyse as a teenager


• Why Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force


• How nature mirrors queer identities


• How OUT There fosters inclusiveness on trips


• What Elyse hopes the youth take with them when they leave


• Hurdles to growth for OUT There


• Elyse's vision for the future


• About the second annual LGBTQ Outdoor Summit


• What Elyse is looking forward to

Sponsored by BetterHelp and Bombas

Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group

Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering

Resources

• OUT There Adventures: Website & Instagram


• LGBTQ Outdoor Summit


• Outside Online Article on Elyse Rylander

Sponsor Websites and Codes

• Betterhelp: Get the first week free by heading here and using offer code 'explores'!


• Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase by using code 'explores' at checkout!


• Get 20% off an Escape Campervan rental by using code 'WOMEN20' at checkout

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Lee Rosevere, Jason Shaw, Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Music is also by Kay Orange