Queer Walk

The Walking Space Queer Walk is a safe, inclusive space designed to inspire and connect participants in a nature-drenched, adventure-driven weekend. Here, our shared queerness acts as a connecting point to deep relationship and transformative experiences. Through our guides and special guests, you will be given access and led through outdoor adventures, workshops, and activities built to give you agency in a space not always welcoming to queer folks.

Based in Lanesboro, Minnesota, over three days and two nights, this event will bring you closer to your natural, untamed self, in order to better craft and step into your everyday life with clearer purpose and intention.

There is a place for you here.

Queer Walk – Trip Details

Location: Root River Trail, Southeastern Minnesota.

This walk will be based out of Lanesboro, MN

Root River Trail Map

Walking Length: 18 miles – 3 days/2 nights

Who? :

This walk is for anyone who identifies themselves as a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Next Walk Date:

TBA

Cost

Bunk Bus Rate: $449

• Bed in Bunk Bus
• Narrow, spring twin mattress
• Privacy Curtain
• Light
• Outlet for charging
• Drawer or locker for belongings

Bunk Bus sleeping accommodations.

Private Tent Single: $549

• Private tent with bed, light, fan, chair and electricity.
• Bed is a superior twin air mattress
• Tent and furnishings are set up and taken down for you.

Private Tent Double: $1,049

• The rate includes two people
• Private tent with 2 beds, light, fan, 1 stool and electricity.
• Beds are superior twin air mattresses
• Tent and furnishings are set up and taken down for you

*A shuttle to and from the Rochester, MN or LaCrosse, WI airport is available for an additional $65

Book Now

More Information

Trip Includes:

The Queer Walk includes the following:

3 days and 2 nights of fully supported walking
Access to daily sessions, activities, and meditations designed to help you unwind, unleash, and connect to yourself and the queer community
3 Guides for the duration of the walk
A unique workshop with Laura Gentry, laughing yoga and sound bowl practitioner, who will lead us in a unhinged session of laughter yoga.
A conservation workshop with guide Adam Janke on wildlife identification and education
An afternoon of tubing/ kayaking/ canoeing down the Root River
Daily, long-distance walking
Campfire Activities
Possible visit to the Commonweal Theatre in Lanseboro (show dates still to be released)
A community of fellow seekers and like-minded schemers
Access to small kitchen area and lounge in the bespoke Bunk Bus
Access to campground shower and bathroom facilities
All bedding (sheet, comforter, pillow) and a towel
Camping equipment and accessories – i.e. campfire chair, lantern, etc
Transportation to and from any activities

Laughing Yoga Workshop Description

Laughter Yoga is a practice developed by a medical doctor from India that combines playful group exercises with deep, pranayama breathing to enhance wellness and joy. There’s nothing quite like the experience of laughing boisterously together. As laughter researcher, Dr. Lee Berk, says, “If you bottled up all the healthy effects of laughter into a pill, you’d need FDA approval!”

Laura Gentry (she/her/hers) – our Laughter Yoga Workshop Leader – is a reckless purveyor of joy. Known as Laughing Laura, she is a Master Teacher of Laughter Yoga and was named a Laughter Ambassador by Laughter University in Mumbai, India. She has presented laughter and motivational programs on six continents and developed a number of resources including a book, a film and seven albums. She’s an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as well as a faculty member of the world’s longest running Clown Camp in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Most of all, however, Laughing Laura loves to frolic in the woods and that’s why she and her husband have built their own trail system at their homestead in Northeast Iowa. Learn more at LaughingLaura.com.

Food

Throughout the 3 days, food is catered, made fresh, or the group will have a meal at a local restaurant. Packed lunches and food provided at the overnight locations are included in the rates listed. Walkers are responsible for covering the cost of food when we eat out.

Two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner are included in the cost. One dinner will be an additional cost the participant.

Snacks and beverages are available at overnight location and in the support vehicle during the walk for the day.

The highest quality food is essential for participants to remain strong and healthy for their walk. Alcohol is not provided (no license), however, participants are allowed to bring drinks with them or purchase them along the way. Dietary requirements will be taken into consideration wherever possible.

Accommodation

Walkers have one of two options for accommodation. The first is having a bed in our specially made Bunk Bus. Please take a look at our Bunk Bus gallery! Each bunk area has a narrow twin spring mattress, outlet, light, and privacy curtain. Bedding and a towel is provided – you are more than welcome to bring your own. A small locker or drawer is provided for each participant to use for their belongings. The bus has air-conditioning and heat when needed. There is a small kitchenette and seating area for relaxing and congregating.

In addition, we offer private tents that can accommodate one, two, or four people. They are furnished with a bed(s), electricity, a light, fan, and stool. These are set up and furnished for you and as such, have an additional cost.

Health and Safety

Before you undertake a walk with Walking Space it is recommended that you consult your doctor and be sure you are in good health to walk the length of the event.

It is important that you do some training before your walk so your body is not overwhelmed. A recommended training program is given to you before your walk. Each person’s endurance is different and we want you to be strong and healthy for your walk.

One of the most important things you can do to have a happy and healthy walk is using comfortable and supportive shoes. Take some time to find the right pair and wear them before you come on your walk. New or ill-fitted shoes are the number one cause of blisters.

Two or three guides (depending on the size of the group) will be provided for each walk. Guides are First Aid and CPR trained. A first aid kit is available at stopping locations. One of the guides also carries a first aid kit and follows the group so when someone needs help they will come along to assist them.

Our guides are not medical professionals. In case of an emergency, 911 will be called.

All participants and guides are asked to adhere to the Code of Conduct. Please read through it and be sure you are able to uphold this policy as a participant.

Trail Difficulty

The majority of the trail is a converted railway and as such, is more or less level for the majority of the time. The entire distance is paved allowing for safe, unobstructed walking. The trail weaves over the Root River, through valleys, quaint towns, and along bluffs providing an idyllic setting. Much of the trail is shaded by large trees, providing excellent protection on hot summer days. Distances will vary each day and can range from 5-13 miles.

FAQ

How many miles do we walk in a day?

We walk between between 5-8 miles a day.

What happens if I need to stop before I reach the stopping place for the day?

Throughout the walk during the day, a guide will make themselves available to help you. A vehicle is parked at various locations throughout the day, so if you need to rest, cool off, or be taken off the trail the option is always there.

Can I bring alcohol?

Walking Space is not allowed to provide alcohol (no liquor license) but you are allowed to bring alcohol or purchase it yourself on the trip. Excessive drinking or drunkenness is not encouraged and any threat to the safety or comfort of other guests will be taken seriously and may result in your dismissal.

What other sorts of things will we be doing that I need to be prepared for?

There are a handful of activities that might be included on the itinerary (we say “might”, because the weather can dictate a lot of what we are able to do) including, river tubing/kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, ropes course, working in the dirt, creating a monologue – amongst other options. Be ready to dive in!

Why is this only for queer people?

Historically, queer people and voices (much like women and BIPOC populations) have been left out of being a part of communities where the outdoors are the connecting factor. This walk creates a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for queer humans to convene, connect, and dig-in for an adventure-driven, wonder-filled weekend where we can share our queerness in common. This sort of space is rare and Walking Space is committed to offering that option to our queer community.

Is there financial assistance available?

There are a handful of $100 scholarships available upon request. You can indicate your need for this during the registration process. In addition, we are happy to provide the option to divide the total cost of the walk over monthly payments.

Questions? Contact Us

Your Guides

Adam Janke, Walk Leader and Guide

Professor Adam Janke studies and conducts education on wildlife and wildlife-habitat relationships primarily in intensively farmed landscapes like the U.S. Corn Belt at Iowa State University. He is particularly interested in understanding opportunities to promote the persistence and abundance of wildlife and wildlife habitat in these working agricultural landscapes. Stated simply, he studies where birds live on farms and conduct education to champion those places. It is his hoped that this research can improve the prospects for sustainable wildlife populations in working agricultural landscapes in the Midwest for generations to come.

Additionally, Adam is involved in bringing awareness and diverse perspectives through outreach with LGBTQ+ organizations and communities to create more inclusive spaces in the outdoors. He is co-organizer for Out in the Field, an organization that builds community and visibility for LGBTQ+ outdoor professionals. Adam is excited to share his passions with the queer community on this three-day event!

Andrew Boddicker, Walk Guide and Founder

Andrew Boddicker

Andrew Boddicker, founder of Walking Space, had his first long-distance walking experience on the Camino de Santiago – a 500-mile pilgrimage in Northern Spain. With this experience in hand, he spent the next four years planning to open a space where walking and nature are the main catalysts to adventure, healing, reconnection, and rejuvenation.

During Walking Space trips, Andrew facilitates and supports the walkers and other guides by taking care of all the things so you don’t have to! From food prep, to camp set up and take down, to meeting you on the trail with water and snacks – all details are considered so that you can take full advantage of the time you chose to take for yourself to rediscover, reinvent, and reconnect. As you ponder a walk, be sure to remember the possibilities, and not the limitations. We are here for you 100%.

Laura Gentry, Laughing Yoga Workshop Leader

Laura Gentry (she/her/hers) is a reckless purveyor of joy. Known as, Laughing Laura, she is a Master Teacher of Laughter Yoga and was named a Laughter Ambassador by Laughter University in Mumbai, India. She has presented laughter and motivational programs on six continents and developed a number of resources including a book, a film and seven albums. She’s an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as well as a faculty member of the world’s longest running Clown Camp in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Most of all, however, Laughing Laura loves to frolic in the woods and that’s why she and her husband have built their own trail system at their homestead in Northeast Iowa. Learn more at LaughingLaura.com.

Ian Zahren, Walk Guide and Support Guide

Ian is our all around positive-vibed, cheerleader, cook, heavy-lifter, and support guide for many of our walks. Together with his partner Andrew (Walking Space Founder), they encompass and enhance the walk through hospitality and support from beginning to end. He is a professional singer and actor and teaches 7-12 music in Iowa when he is not on the trail or on stage. We are always grateful to see Ian at the end of the day and in the morning with coffee to serve!

Testimonials & Reviews

“No matter where you are in life or your queer journey, the Queer Walk welcomes you. Andrew and Ian have created a space unlike any other. It’s so well organized, you don’t even realize the underlying structure and attention to detail that ultimately allows everyone attending to be their most free and fluid selves.” Renata, 2022, Queer Walk Participant

“So satisfied. The food was amazing. The care was above and beyond. The bus was fun and made me feel like a kid at camp.” Joyce, 2021 Walk Participant

“Exceeded expectations. I imagined I would make connections with the other Queer walkers, but I didn’t think it would be to such a great extent. Andrew and Ian were like the Flash when it came to taking care of everything.” Nik, 2022 Queer Walk Participant

“Completely exceeded my expectations in all areas – absolutely blown away by the attention to detail and focus on making the trip special for each of us. I had no idea sleeping in a tent could be so comfortable! The food was amazing – prepared on site with fresh ingredients. The thoughtfulness and care that went into every moment of the trip was exceptional – I cannot imagine how many hours were spent planning and preparing, but it showed and was worth it!” Jama, 2021 Walk Participant