Something incredible happens when you join gay and gay friendly men on an adventure.
You bond. Quickly.
GayOutdoors trips are designed for one simple purpose: to connect you with a fantastic community of adventursome, friendly, laid-back, gay and gay friendly men. Since we began 25 years ago, our trips have launched hundreds of new friendships...and a few marriages!
We summit mountains, walk city parks, enjoy camping excursions, climb rock faces, backpack wilderness areas, cycle country roads, paddle scenic rivers, explore swimming holes, connect at social events, and much more! We teach you the skills you need to safely maximize living in such an awesome outdoor playground while connecting you to other adventure-loving outdoorzy men. GayOutdoors is the premier gay and gay friendly men's adventure club in New England…find outdoor activities nearest you and get outside! With activities year-round, it’s always the perfect time to become a member.
We are living in a moment when many of our connections are virtual. Someone might claim to adore your social media, yet have no idea what your laugh sounds like. At GayOutdoors, we're about the exhiliration of the real world. Real friendships. Physical thrills. Unforgettable memories that mean more than anything you can buy.
We focus on developing rich, long lasting frienships. The gay outdoor enthusiasts who join our trips have one main goal: to make new friends and have a great time.
HOW GAYOUTDOORS WORKSGayOutdoors is the premier gay and gay friendly men's adventure club in New England. Members volunteer to host social events and group trips for all skill levels. The level of difficulty will be noted in the trip description. Our social events are open to everyone, however some will be restricted to our sustaining members who financially support us. You must be a member of the club before signing up for a trip.
GayOutdoors guest membership is free. Our founder, Mike Boisvert, began trip leading for Boston’s Chiltern Mountain Club in the 1990’s, leading over 200 hikes/adventures in that period. It was a period where most of us were still closeted, even when encountering straight people during our hiking adventures. With the explosion of the internet in the late 1990’s, Mike decided to create a visible gay and gay friendly men's adventure community that has become one of the world’s largest gay outdoors group. Mike is often referred to as the “Father of the GayOutdoors movement." Mike Boisvert began our simple Internet Bulletin Board in 1999 with a simple goal: to bring gay and gay friendly men together to experience the incredible fun of outdoor adventure and to create an atmosphere that leads to life-long friendships. Two years later Mike met Jon Normand thru GayOutdoors and together they took our community to the next level! Since our beginning, Mike and Jon have easily run 400 outdoor adventures on top of what all other GO members run. [Jon Normand left with his partner Mike Boisvert.]
STEP ONE: Register for a GayOutdoors membership.GayOutdoors guest membership is free. Members receive invitations to our trips and special events, volunteer to run trips and search for members who live near them with similar interests. In some cases, we are able to get group discounts and we pass those savings onto our members. You must be a member to join our trips. Membership is open to anyone 18 years and older. It's quick and easy to register online. Simply click on the button below.Join Now
STEP TWO: Sign up for a GayOutdoors trip. As a member, you can sign up for any trip on our calendar, no matter where you live. Sign Up For A Trip
STEP THREE: Gay and gay friendly men join GayOutdoors to meet people. We are transforming lives, building a community and promoting visibility through outdoor recreation for gay and gay friendly men. We are devoted to helping build life-long frienships both on and after a trip. Connect with other GOers - both before and after a trip - in a few fun ways: Social EventsMembers post Social Events to meet other GOers. Members [that means you!] regularly post gay bar meet ups, holiday parties, potlucks, cook outs, campfires, etc. to meet the outdoorzy guys who you'll be enjoying adventures with. Reconnect with existing friends and the new friends you've made recently through GayOutdoors. It's a come-as-you-are, relaxed event, and it's the perfect way to check out GayOutdoors and get a good sense of what we're all about. After many trips, participants will get together for a celebratory meal. Members post potlucks, cook outs and campfire social events at their home for members to get together. GO Gatherings, are our summer camping weekends with a big turnout, where we hike, paddle, swim, etc.; with campfires each night and a Saturday night potluck. Avalanche is our most popular social event where we meet at a local gay bar. We get involved with Pride Events by running "Pride Hikes", manning a table, marching in a parade and hosting pride parties. Our social events are open to everyone, however some will be restricted to our sustaining members who financially support us. Social NetworksEvery trip has a message board to ask questions and adjust plans as needed. We also have a Facebook Group to discuss an upcoming trip; and to share photos, stories, hints, tips, insights and more! You must be a GO member to join our Facebook Group.Join Our FB Group
STEP FOUR: Prepare for your trip. While you dream about your upcoming adventure, keep a few things in mind as you prepare for the trip. Outdoor Skills WorkshopsOccasionally we provide beginner workshops to include hiking, backpacking, winter hiking, map & compass, cross-country skiing, trip leading and more. Gear up Proper clothing and gear is essential. What To Bring Check your email Trip leaders may send very important trip announcements in the days leading up to the trip. These will also be posted on the trip message board.
STEP FIVE: Relax and have fun! We've taken care of all the details. You've got a fun-loving itinerary ready and waiting; all you need to do is show up and enjoy yourself. It's important if you cannot make it, to cancel your participation on the trip page. The focus is on the fun Trip leaders plan their trips on the sheer fun of adventure with safety in mind. There's nothing better than adventuring with us!
Granted there's a breed of experienced outdoorzy members who are independent- minded and adventurous, who enjoys discovering and exploring natural areas alone or with a friend. But GayOutdoors meet the needs of many of us who have limited free time and may not be inclined to venture out by ourselves (because of safety considerations, and/or a preference for sharing with others the pleasures and fun of a nature-based activity).
Our activities include:
* Hiking
* City Walks/Strolls
* Trail Maintenance
* Peak-Bagging
* Backpacking
* Camping
* Outdoor skills workshops
* Adventure Vacations
* Snowshoeing/ Winter Hiking
* Nordic/ Cross-Country Skiing
* Social Events: Gay Bar Meet Up, Potluck, BBQ
* Road/ Mountain Biking
* Paddling
* Whitewater Rafting
* Zip Lining
* Rock/Ice Climbing
* Fishing
* Trail Running
* Yoga
GO really is nothing more or less than the sum of the energy and enthusiasm that ALL our individual members contribute - the greater and broader that energy, the greater and broader will be the enjoyment that we derive from GO. In addition to seconding your personal goal of participating in a GO trip sometime soon, another thing to consider doing is to actually organize and post a GO trip yourself, in your area. Whether it's hiking, camping, backpacking, or something else, there are many GO members in your area who might be interested in meeting and joining you. As you likely would surmise on your own, the key to a rich calendar in your area lies with those first few people who are able to step out in front and get the ball rolling in their area.
Members like you post them on our website and email invites are automatically sent to any member who lives within 150 miles or 300 miles from where you live. Thus, if you don’t see any hiking trips posted in your area, it’s upon you to step up and fill in the gap! The active nature of our trips makes it easy to get to know others in the group — and to make new friends. Volunteers run us, and volunteers run our outdoor trips and activities. You don't have to be an expert to run a hike and everyone who participates pitches in. Our members have found trip leading to be a fun, positive experience where they can share their favorites hikes/places, and meet up-beat, friendly people to hike with! It's an opportunity for members who have participated in previous trips to give back a little and organize one of their own. Our outdoor trips and activities are extremely casual and loosely run, and we offer an extensive trips schedule. We do have to pass along a ton of thanks to ALL the members who post and run events (without you where would we be?).Post A Trip
WHY BECOME A MEMBER?
* "GO has definitely had a positive effect on my life. Not only have I enjoyed the social interaction with many other gay men, but I have also established a few very solid friendships with other GO members with whom I get together on a regular basis."
* "I've made some great friends through GO, and I've explored places I otherwise would not have seen. I'm glad GO is available and I'm happy to support it with my presence and membership."
* "It's been nice to meet other gay men who are kind, respectful, polite and friendly."
People join GayOutdoors for one overwhelming reason: to make new outdoorzy buddies. Maybe in the past that wasn't such a difficult thing, but in the age of internet dating and mobile-powered meetups, it can be surprisingly difficult to meet the kinda people who you simply want to hang out with. Spending a trip with a group of other GO members who care for each other's safety and ready to assist should anyone stumble or fall, provides a powerful sense of inclusion and trust with the other members of the group. Many members say GayOutdoors is like a family. And it's true, it is. You'll never be left wanting for buddies again. You've just come across a group who'll be your friends for life!
FIND AN OUTDOORZY BUDDY
Besides our outdoor activities, we serve the gay outdoorzy community with the largest registry of gay outdoorzy men throughout the United States! Our search parameters allow you to find members who live near you with the same outdoorzy interests. It’s one of our more popular programs. It's a fantastic way to meet someone with the same interests and enjoy an outdoor activity together.
The Board of Directors are volunteers who devote a great deal of their time and energy to the organization. This includes communications, website development, social media, finance, membership growth, organizing activities/social events, strategic planning and setting policies.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on the button with answers to our most commont questions. FAQ
GayOutdoors guest membership is free. Sign up today to receive invitations to our trips and special events, volunteer to run trips and search for members who live near them with similar interests.It's quick and easy to register online. Simply click on the button below.Join Now
GET MORE TRIP TIPS
We've got lots of smart tips for members including how to choose the right trip for you, how to get in shape, packing tips, how to dress, and more. Read Our Tips
