S2 : Ep 9: Cameron Loomis | LGBT+ Outdoors Ambassador Spotlight

Summary

Episode Overview

Title: LGBTQ Outdoors Podcast – Season 2, Episode 9: Cameron Loomis | LGBT+ Outdoors Ambassador Spotlight
Release Date: November 4, 2024
Hosts: Justin Yoder and Patrick Thompson
Guest: Cameron Loomis, LGBT+ Outdoors Ambassador from Washington State

In this engaging episode of the LGBTQ Outdoors Podcast, hosts Justin Yoder and Patrick Thompson sit down with Cameron Loomis, a passionate transgender man and dedicated ambassador for LGBT+ Outdoors. The conversation delves into Cameron's personal journey, his role in fostering a diverse and inclusive outdoor community, and the impact of representation in outdoor spaces.

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Cameron’s Background and Love for the Outdoors

Cameron Loomis opens up about his deep-rooted connection with nature, which began in his childhood in Tacoma, Washington. From a young age, Cameron was inseparable from the outdoors, engaging in activities like biking, tree climbing, and building forts. He reminisces:

“I learned to ride a bicycle, walk around outside and just explore and climb trees, building forts… I appreciated the solitude of it and sharing it with friends.”
[00:35]

Despite his early passion, Cameron faced challenges due to social anxiety, which led him to distance himself from outdoor activities during his teenage years. It wasn't until his early twenties that he rekindled his love for the outdoors, finding solace and a sense of community that significantly improved his well-being.

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Becoming an LGBT+ Outdoors Ambassador

Driven by his love for nature and inherent leadership qualities, Cameron decided to become an LGBT+ Outdoors Ambassador. He explains how this role provided him with an avenue to lead positively and give back to the community:

“This has really given me an outlet to not only use those skills but to use them in a positive way and to give back to the community.”
[15:40]

Cameron's first event as an ambassador was a waterfall hike, which became a cornerstone for his ongoing efforts. The lasting connections he made during that initial hike continue to thrive, with participants still attending his events years later.

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Building Community and Overcoming Challenges

Cameron highlights the rewarding aspects of building connections within the LGBTQIA+ community through outdoor activities. He reflects on his first event:

“That's been one of the most rewarding parts for me… to connect with other people, to build the community as well.”
[19:34]

Facing social anxiety, Cameron shares how leading groups was initially daunting. However, his prior leadership experience and the supportive atmosphere of LGBT+ Outdoors events helped him navigate these challenges:

“I get nervous when the first meetup happens, but every single time, it's a natural experience, and it always feels just like a family kind of group.”
[16:13]

This sense of family and belonging not only eased Cameron's anxiety but also reinforced the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces for all participants.

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Creating an Inclusive Environment

Inclusivity is a cornerstone of Cameron's approach to leading outdoor events. He ensures that every participant feels welcomed and respected by initiating introductions and sharing pronouns:

“I try to start with introductions and, you know, ask everybody's pronouns so that we're all on the same page, and everybody feels like it's a safe space.”
[22:39]

By engaging attendees in conversations about their outdoor interests, Cameron builds bridges of commonality, making newcomers feel integrated and valued within the community.

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Upcoming Events and Future Goals

Cameron is excited to announce an upcoming railroad hike scheduled for November 24th in Mount Rainier National Park. This event promises to offer participants a unique experience traversing a historic trail:

“It's going to be a railroad hike… there's going to be a 450-foot long tunnel that will travel through.”
[35:14]

The detailed planning ensures accessibility for all ages and skill levels, reinforcing LGBT+ Outdoors' commitment to inclusivity. Cameron encourages listeners to join and experience the camaraderie and natural beauty firsthand.

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The Importance of Representation in the Outdoors

Cameron eloquently articulates why representation matters in outdoor spaces, emphasizing the comfort and acceptance it brings:

“There's just that comfortability that when people are comfortable, they're more receptive to take in information, to learn to be able to be themselves and all that matters.”
[29:05]

He believes that visible LGBTQIA+ presence in the outdoors fosters a welcoming environment, allowing individuals to embrace their identities while enjoying nature.

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Advice for Aspiring Ambassadors

For those interested in becoming ambassadors, Cameron offers heartfelt encouragement:

“If you're interested, definitely apply. It's definitely worth looking into if it's something you ever thought about doing. And don't be afraid. Just try it out.”
[39:55]

He highlights the personal growth and fulfillment that comes from leading events and contributing to the community, urging others not to hesitate in taking on such roles.

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, hosts Justin and Patrick express their gratitude towards Cameron and all LGBT+ Outdoors ambassadors for their invaluable contributions. Cameron reiterates his commitment to the mission:

“My hope is just to be within and help out where I can for as long as I can.”
[32:53]

Listeners are encouraged to join the LGBT+ Outdoors community by participating in local events, becoming ambassadors, or supporting the organization's initiatives. The hosts also highlight the ambitious goal of having ambassadors in all 50 states by the end of 2025, showcasing the organization's dedication to expanding its reach and impact.

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Key Takeaways

• Personal Growth Through Nature: Cameron's journey underscores the therapeutic and confidence-building power of the outdoors, especially for individuals navigating personal challenges like social anxiety.

• Community Building: LGBT+ Outdoors serves as a familial hub where diverse individuals can connect, share experiences, and support one another in a safe environment.

• Inclusivity and Representation: Ensuring visibility of LGBTQIA+ individuals in outdoor spaces fosters acceptance and encourages more people to engage with nature without fear of judgment.

• Call to Action: Aspiring leaders and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to join the ambassador program, contributing to a growing movement that champions diversity and inclusivity in the outdoors.

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For more information on becoming an ambassador, upcoming events, or to connect with Cameron Loomis, visit LGBTOutdoors.com and navigate to the Trailsblazer Society or local chapter events sections.

Transcript

[Cameron Loomis]

The first one that I did was a waterfall hike, and there's still people that show up at my events now that were at that first event, so. And I've also connected with people and gone on, you know, walks outside of the group as well. So that's been. That's been. I mean, honestly, what I was in it for, you know, to connect with other people, to. To build the community as well. And so that's. That's been one of the most rewarding parts for.

[Justin Yoder]

What do you do when you come out as LGBTQ and love the outdoors? What do you do when you see the outdoor space ruled by older white CIS men and desire a diverse community of outdoor lovers? Accept it, change it, create it. I am Justin Yoder, and this is LGBT Outdoors. Hey, everyone, it's Justin, and I am here with my co host. Co host for tonight's episode, Patrick Thompson.

[Patrick Thompson]

Hey, everybody.

[Justin Yoder]

How's things going over there?

[Patrick Thompson]

You know, it has been. It has been a year so far, and we're coming into the tail end of it. Gonna wrap up with some cool stuff and think happy thoughts about the year that has come to pass, including. Okay, hang on, like, and I'm sure you have stuff that you want to talk about, but I want to talk about this real quick. You were doing some work on the ambassador website or the web page on our website that displays all of our amazing ambassadors from all across the country, and you kept, like, scrolling down and scrolling down and scrolling down, and I was like, holy crap, how many people signed up and volunteered to be an LGBT outdoors ambassador? And there's a lot of them. Like, we've, like, doubled, I think, in 2024 so far. And I know that there's still a lot of people that are lined up knocking on the door and tell me if any of this is wrong, Justin. But I was really, really floored and surprised and super excited to see just because, like, I'm not involved in the day to day operations of the LGBT Outdoors Ambassador program. And to see all these fantastic, amazing, incredible folks volunteering in their local communities to support our mission and get the queer community outside was just like, like, dang, that's so cool. So, like, big applause to you and to Sheree and to Oded, I believe, who are making all of this, you know, making all it work and grow, so super cool. So, yay. Big applause.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah. Well, I was. I was going to say I'm not even sure exactly how many ambassadors we have right now, just because, like, we have a whole team that is running that Department now Shree being the ambassador program manager, and then Oded being on there, and Brody and Krista as well. So we have a whole team of four people that are making the ambassador program run and operate. And super excited because a lot of changes are about to happen to that that's going to help the program run smoother and just a whole lot better. So.

[Patrick Thompson]

Awesome.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah. Excited for things happening over the next few weeks. Hopefully things will be happening really fast. But. Yeah, but I. I mean, yeah, there are things that I wanted to talk about, too. Being one of them is we. We launched a new program called the Trailblazer Society. Yeah. And it has really taken off. And basically what it is is it's a giving platform for LGBT outdoors. And every successful nonprofit has a given platform. And I know a lot of people maybe, you know, don't like hearing the ask for. For people to join and become members and. And whatnot. But the truth is, I believe that our community really believes in what we are doing. The proof being we launched this just back in September at Outdoor LGBT Outdoor Festival. And the response that we had of people signing up was incredible. Way more than what I was expecting. And so I believe that our computer, our community is going to keep stepping up and help fund this to be able to take it to even new levels. So we have several different levels on there, and there's some cool perks as well. T shirt that you can get a tree planted in a national forest in your honor. Different things. Yeah. So different things in different. Different levels. So if you go to LGBToutdoors.com click on Trailblazer Society in the menu and you can learn all about it there and really help make a big impact in our community and in the outdoors. Yeah. And the other thing that's really exciting that's coming up is we are trying really hard to get our 2025 adventure trips solidified. And our goal is to be able to have Those announced by December 1st on our website. We might not have all the details for them, but we'll have at least the locations and the dates for those by then so people can start planning their 2025 trips with us, which is really cool. We did two this year, Alaska, which I can say for sure Alaska is going to happen again in 2025. And then we just got done with a trip to Big Bend State Park. I'm sorry, Big Bend national park in Texas, which was an incredible trip as well. So keep your eyes open. Good things are happening.

[Patrick Thompson]

I've heard some of the locations and plans Being. Being floated around, and I want to go on, like, all of them.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah, same. Well, we have a GU that is going to be joining us tonight, and I'm glad that you started off with talking about the ambassador program, because our guest today is one of our ambassadors, and we are going to start featuring more and more of our ambassadors on the podcast because they are taking our mission straight to their communities. They believe in the mission of LGBT outdoors and just have the heart, desire, and passion to be able to help lead events in their communities and represent our organization. So tonight we are starting off with Cameron, who is one of our ambassadors in Washington State, and he has been killing it up there with some incredible events that is always making me jealous and wishing that I was up there to be able to go along with them. But welcome to the podcast, Cameron. We're excited to have you.

[Cameron Loomis]

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah, absolutely. So one of the things that we always like to do when starting off a podcast with a guest is get to know you a little bit so we can go as deep as you would like with this, but share a little bit about who you are, like, growing up, maybe where you got your love for the outdoors. Just introduce our listeners to. To you?

[Cameron Loomis]

Sure. Well, my name is Cameron. I'm a transgender man from Washington state. I was born in Tacoma, and I've lived here my whole life. My love for the outdoors started from a very, very young age, probably when I learned to ride a bicycle. Honestly, ride a bicycle, walk around outside and just explore and climb trees, building forts, you know, all the above. Just really I appreciated the solitude of it and sharing it with friends. Just everything about it. Went on one of my first hikes in elementary school and just been wanting to get back into it. Didn't go back until my early 20s. You know, I always struggle with social anxiety and whatnot. So my early 20s, I just decided I wanted to get back out and got into it and just couldn't stop. So it's been a real lifesaver for me.

[Justin Yoder]

Love that. It seems like a lot of our ambassadors got involved with the outdoors at a young age, which is really cool to see. Do you have any, like, memorable experiences you had while exploring the outdoors? Maybe in your youth or. I'm sure you have since becoming an ambassador, and we'll get to that down the road just a little bit. But what are some key, maybe experiences that really solidified your love for the outdoors?

[Cameron Loomis]

Really just exploring the neighborhood. You know, I was always outside from. From the time I woke up. Until the time I went to sleep, I lived next to this, you know, community that was building a recreational complex at the time. And we used to go out there a lot and just explore the, the big mountains of sand and just everything that they were building out there. And it was just a passion that I had and carried with me.

[Justin Yoder]

That's awesome. Do you have any, any adventures or trips or anything that would be the top of your bucket list that you would like to do?

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah, I mean there's, there's a lot that I have on my list. The next one I have coming up is going to be a railroad hike actually. So that one I haven't done but it's a historic site and it's got some nice views and so I'm really excited to share that one.

[Justin Yoder]

That's awesome.

[Patrick Thompson]

I want to rewind just a second. You said that you were, you climbed a lot of trees when you were a kid and like that totally gave me some big time flashbacks. I used to love climbing trees as a kid and I just came thought of the question like why do we stop?

[Cameron Loomis]

I don't know, fear of heights I guess. I climbed some tall trees with no gear and I think back now like man, I was lucky but like I.

[Patrick Thompson]

As a kid, I guess you don't know better and, and it's wild and it's untamed and, and you just go and you do it. But I guess the burden of reason, you know, as an adult like ah, I might get hurt or people might look, I don't know. But that's kind of sad I think for, for me anyway like yeah, to.

[Cameron Loomis]

An extent it can be.

[Patrick Thompson]

Yeah, like I don't know.

[Justin Yoder]

But that's because you never want to grow up to begin with. So true.

[Patrick Thompson]

100% accurate.

[Cameron Loomis]

Who does?

[Patrick Thompson]

Yeah, that's cool. No, I just wanted to ask you about that because I feel like that's such a staple and so many people, whether they are like big time outdoors folks or not, you grow up and you climb trees or I don't know us people in our 40s did anyway. Like you know we had Nintendo was about like the biggest toy like when I was like a kid kid and I guess youngins have like their tablets and their phones and all that stuff so maybe they're not out climbing trees. I know.

[Justin Yoder]

Probably accurate unfortunately but maybe we could have change that a little bit. Cameron, you did mention that you are, are trans and one of the things about us is we are so welcoming to all of the queer community and want all the queer community and believe that visibility is super important. And we have a lot of people that listen to this podcast and some that email us saying, like, I, I live kind of through your podcast because I never feel like I'm going to be able to truly accept myself or be able to come out. Can you share or okay with sharing some of your journey about self accepting and, and what that looked like to you?

[Cameron Loomis]

Sure. I mean, you know, I've, I known that I was different for, from a very young age too, and wasn't until my probably early 20s where I really started meeting people in that side of the community. And I guess once I, once I learned what my resources were and what I could do, there just really was no question that that's truly how I felt. And I was terrified to start, of course, because I do have social anxiety, but I just knew that it was something that I had to do and it's probably one of the best decisions I ever made.

[Justin Yoder]

That's awesome. There's no, no better feeling than being true to yourself, that's for sure. And like, you know, even when thinking about when I came out in 2010, it felt like my whole world was imploding at the time, but little did I know, like it was leading to the road that would make me the happiest I've ever been in my life.

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah.

[Justin Yoder]

And I, I want that so much for everybody. And so totally breaks my heart when we get messages. When people feel like they never will be able to fully come out because of either where they live or family won't accept them or whatever the case might be. But if, if anyone is listening and that's, you know, that there is a path to, to be able to fully be yourself out there. And everybody's path definitely looks different, but it is, it is so freeing to be able to be you, you know, for sure. Love to jump in a little bit. With your role as being a LGBT outdoors ambassador, what kind of inspired you to become an ambassad LGBT outdoors?

[Cameron Loomis]

Well, a couple of things. You know, my, my passion for the outdoors was definitely a big one. And then I've always had kind of natural leadership qualities just because being an older child, I'm not sure, but just kind of struggled to find the right outlet to use those skills too, because, you know, employment, it wasn't really my thing to be in a leadership role there. So this, this has really given me an outlet to not only use those skills, but to use them in a positive way and to give back to the community. And I Just, I love what you guys are doing, and I'm really grateful for the opportunity.

[Justin Yoder]

That's very cool. Love it.

[Patrick Thompson]

Question for you, and this kind of gets a little bit personal. As someone with social anxiety, how do you deal with leading groups? That's a challenge, for sure, I think.

[Cameron Loomis]

Sure. I mean, I just go with it, though. I mean, I've led crews. I've been a leader at work before, so when I have that role, I'm able to step up in the right situations.

[Justin Yoder]

Sure.

[Cameron Loomis]

Of course, I get nervous when the first meetup happens, but, I mean, every single time, it's a natural experience, and it always feels just like a. A family kind of group. So it's. It's kind of been easy for me in a way.

[Patrick Thompson]

Awesome. And I like hearing that, because when we do LGBT Outdoor Fest or even our local events here, we get that a lot. Like, strangers come together, and within a very, very short amount of time, it's like we've known each other forever. Like, it's something about our community and the people that join up, you know, at our events. There's just something natural about everybody, is very disarming everybody. Like, it's just an instantly safe kind of scenario.

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah.

[Patrick Thompson]

So I'm thrilled that that's going on, that that's the deal in Washington as well.

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah, for sure.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah. And the key word that I love that he said in there was the family part of it, because, like, we do always talk about this being a community, but so many of our chapters turns into family. Like, these are the people that they end up becoming lifelong friends with. They end up going and hanging out outside of. Of LGBT outdoors events, and they've just become great friends and family, and. And it's really cool. I got an email the other day from somebody, and he was like, I interested in getting involved, but I'm wondering if you have. I'm older and wondering if you have anything just for older people. And it was a great question, but my response to him honestly was, no, we. We don't, because we look at this as a big queer family. And some of us are older, some of us are younger, some of us are black, some of us are white, some of us are gay, some of us are bi. You know, there's just this whole big mix of family. And his concern was about slowing people down on the hike. And I'm like, look, the speed of the hike is not what it's about. It's just about us getting together in this beautiful group and getting outside together. So sometimes our Hikes are, are go really slow and that is 100 fine. And sometimes they go a little bit faster and you know, depending on the event, you know, same thing. But the key thing is we're together outdoors because there's so much that we can get from each other as younger people. There's things that we can get from the older ones and different life experiences and everything. And just this magic happens together when we're outside together. So, so no, we don't, we don't split things up as far as ages or anything that's specifically for men or, or trans or non binary or gay or lesbian. We, we keep everything together because we are just this beautiful, sometimes awkward, weird, beautiful family. What curious. Like you've done quite a few events by now. What have been some that has impacted you personally or maybe something that has happened that has impacted you personally while on one of the events.

[Cameron Loomis]

I mean all of them have been memorable. But I would say just the first one, the first one that I did was a waterfall hike and there's still people that show up at my events now that were at that first event, so. And I've also connected with people and gone, you know, walks outside of the group as well. So that's been, that's been, I mean, honestly what I was in it for, you know, to connect with other people to, to build the community as well. And so that's, that's been one of the most rewarding parts for me.

[Justin Yoder]

Love that, that. I mean that's so much about what we're about right there.

[Patrick Thompson]

That's exactly what we're about right there. It's working.

[Justin Yoder]

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[Cameron Loomis]

No. I mean, some of. Some of them I did, but the first. The very first one, no, it was all. It was all new people. I believe there was maybe just three of us, and those two came on events after that one. Sometimes friends that I know will be able to make it, and they've attended, but there's been a mix of new people as well.

[Justin Yoder]

Awesome. Speaking of, like, new people, like, is there things that you do to help create, like, an inclusive and welcoming environment to new people that are coming? Obviously, we try to reach out to. To people that may not even know that they like the outdoors yet. I mean, we have a wide variety of people that can come to the events, and hopefully we're introducing new people to the outdoors, which can be intimidating, especially when you're thinking about being. Identifying as a queer person and getting into the outdoors. Anything specific, maybe, that you do to help make them feel welcome into the environment?

[Cameron Loomis]

I mean, I try to start with introductions and, you know, ask everybody's pronouns so that we're all on the same page, and everybody feels like it's a safe space. I tend to try to ask everybody questions to make them feel like they're included. And then I also like to ask, you know, what other outdoor activities that they're into so we can kind of bridge any similarities with those things.

[Justin Yoder]

That's awesome.

[Patrick Thompson]

Like, one of the things that I'm acutely aware of just because I am terminably awkward and I get nervous in new situations, but we are all aware that showing up to an LGBT outdoors event for the first time, you know, can be really uncomfortable. Who are these people? Why are we all going walking in the woods or whatever we're doing together? And, like, I'm hoping and I'm believing that the bulk of it, like I was saying it, is, like, instantly disarming it and welcoming and warm. But, like, sometimes showing up is very much an act of bravery, but, like, you know, convincing yourself to drive to the trailhead, convincing yourself to get out of the car and walk and meet a bunch of strangers, like, that's a bold move. And I'm hoping that the payoff. When people are allowing themselves to be that brave, I'm hoping that the payoff is well worth it and that they instantly feel, like, safe and welcome and wanted. And it sounds like you're doing that, and you've got some fantastic techniques to include people right off the bat. So that's all.

[Cameron Loomis]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah. Yeah. What about some challenges maybe that you face? Have you. Have you encountered any that. Any challenges or barriers in outdoor spaces? And if so, how did you overcome them?

[Cameron Loomis]

You know, I thought about that one pretty hard. It's kind of tough to think about barriers because here with the. With the social anxiety thing aside, getting out there, we have a really welcoming community here of people that are outdoors. In my experiences at least, everybody's been very helpful and very welcoming. Even strangers on trails have been very nice and found that, you know, kind of comforting. And that's also what keeps me into this kind of stuff as well. But, yeah, my. My main challenge has just been this social, you know, just overcoming and building connections, mainly for me.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah. Washington definitely seems to be a more open and progressive state than a lot of others, for sure. So I love hearing that for. For you guys and that it is a place that can be a little more welcoming than some other states and some other areas that we have ambassadors.

[Patrick Thompson]

So I. I can also speak. Well, I got to go on one event. It was over a year ago just outside of Seattle with Brooke. Brooke Viscous leading. It was a miniature golf. It is a really cool setting. Like, gorgeous out outside, like mountains in the background. But had I not known better, I would have sworn that that group had been, like, super duper besties for years. Like, they had the vibe of brother and sister, but also best man at the wedding. Kind of like, we are this close and we're just out cutting up, having a blast. So I just remember that the Seattle area LGBT outdoors group just seem, like, super. Just chill and, like, really friendly. So that tracks with your comment about Washington.

[Cameron Loomis]

That's awesome.

[Justin Yoder]

I think you kind of elaborated a little bit, too, on, like, personal growth and sense of, well, being in the outdoors. But is that something that you've noticed since becoming an ambassador? Even more so maybe about how being in the outdoors can affect your sense of well being?

[Cameron Loomis]

Not necessarily. It's something that I knew I would say over the notice over the last 10 years or so, and when I came across this group, it was just. It was kind of. It was. It was nice because I had never seen anything like it before, and it was kind of exactly what I needed. So it just kind of. The pieces just fell into place at the right time.

[Justin Yoder]

That's awesome. Love, love hearing everybody's story as ambassadors and a lot of them, like, because of where we're at right now and we have such a big team that's helping with the ambassador program. I don't get to talk to all of them, as much as I would like to, and get to know them on the level I'd like to, but just hearing people's different stories and where they're all at, I. I think it'd be amazing someday if we could just bring all of our ambassadors together for like, a retreat or a trip or something. Just because there's such diversity and such amazing stories among all the ambassadors, and I think that that would be incredible to be able to do.

[Patrick Thompson]

So if you're a grant writer and you want to help us fund that, please let us know.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah, that would be incredible for you personally, why is representation in the outdoors important? Especially, like, among our community?

[Cameron Loomis]

Well, it's definitely important, like, for the reason, like you said, like, it feels like family. There's. There's a difference that I've not getting outdoors. And not that I segregate communities. I have, you know, all friends of all different walks of life. But there's a difference when it's in. Within our community. And it's hard to really explain why that is or how it is, but there's just that comfortability that when people are comfortable, they're more receptive to take in information, to learn to be able to be themselves and all that matters.

[Justin Yoder]

100%. I. I could have said that better. And like, one of the. When we started this, I think it was in 2020, when we started with the ambassador program with just two ambassadors. We had one that was down in Houston, and his first event, he did a fishing event, and they were all hanging out underneath a bridge fishing together. And I think there was about 10 to 12 of them. And I know that there was a lesbian couple. There were some gay guys. There was an. I think a non binary person. There was a guy that was not out yet. Some were fly fishing, some were conventional fishing. And they were all underneath this bridge listening to Britney Spears, of course. And the ambassador, Jacob, asked them, how many of you have ever gone fishing with another queer person before? And every single person said that they never had.

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah.

[Justin Yoder]

And is it okay to go fishing with straight friends? Absolutely. Of course it is. Obviously. But it might not be as fun. No. But when you get to do that kind of thing with your own community, that can relate to more of the struggles and who you are as a person. There's just a sense of belonging, happening and connection that just takes things to another level.

[Cameron Loomis]

So definitely.

[Justin Yoder]

How do you feel LGBT outdoors is helping to kind of navigate who belongs in the outdoors?

[Cameron Loomis]

And I think it's super cool Just watching everything that you guys are doing and how fast it's growing and whatnot. It's really cool seeing it all come together and seeing everybody from all different parts of the world and then, you know, realizing how. How big it really is when you see everybody together. It's like. It's like when Pride Fest comes around, you know, everybody's there, and it's kind of cool.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah, definitely. You know, one of these times, too, we're going to have to be sure that you can make it to LGBT Outdoor Fest, because I don't think you've made it to one yet, right?

[Cameron Loomis]

No, no. My. My finances are pretty tight, but, yeah, it looks like fun.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah. Now I totally get that. But that's kind of just a really cool experience to be able to even see things kind of on another level and on a. Another level, but also a different level, because the Ambassador program, we always say, is the heartbeat of LGBT outdoors. And I will always stand that by that, because 100%. So many people around our country that's being impacted directly by the Ambassadors, people that we would never see or know about. LGBT Outdoor Fest kind of brings people all together in one area, and it's just an incredible time, for sure. I'm curious, do you have any hopes for the future of LGBT outdoors in the Ambassador program?

[Cameron Loomis]

I mean, just to continue helping out would be my hope. I'm not sure. You know, I don't have any. Any ideas necessarily, but my. My hope is just to be. Be within and help out where I can for as long as I can.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah.

[Patrick Thompson]

Wow.

[Justin Yoder]

And what I mean, and these events that you're doing, I mean, that's exactly it. And that's fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

[Cameron Loomis]

Thank you.

[Justin Yoder]

Anything that you think that we could do or ways to support LGBTQ people in nature, and I know that Washington is a little different state than a lot of other places, so it's kind of maybe kind of goes back to the other question that I was asking. But obviously, visibility is an important thing. But I'm just wondering, from your point of view in being an ambassador in Washington, what that could look like.

[Cameron Loomis]

Well, one thing I've noticed is just different skill levels, because there's all different skill levels and different activities. And something I've heard doing this is some people maybe aren't sure if they can make it on some of the hikes, or they're afraid they might be too slow or different things like that. And so just being supportive of different people's abilities, think, and skill levels makes a big difference, too.

[Patrick Thompson]

Yeah, absolutely. And I think that there, there's a balance there. To be accessible to as many people as possible, but also on occasion, you know, having an event that is more physically challenging or more rigorous than like most people might be down with. But I think as long as those things are clearly labeled and that way we give everybody the opportunity to, you know, have their, their skills challenged while still being able to safely dip their toes into new skills and whatnot.

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah, definitely.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah. I know that you have an event coming up. You want to share with everyone what event that is in case there's anyone in your area that's interested.

[Cameron Loomis]

Sure, yeah. It's going to be a railroad hike and we're going to be going on November 24th. Gonna be starting at 8:00am it should go till about roughly 12:00. And yeah, we're gonna meet at the trailhead. There's restrooms at the trailhead. It's open to all ages. Pets are welcome. It may or may not rain. We're hoping for a dry day, but nonetheless it's still going to be a well maintained trail. And bring an umbrella, bring a headlamp, there's going to be a 450 foot long tunnel that will travel through. So I'm excited to see that. It should be pretty exciting.

[Patrick Thompson]

Is this a closed track?

[Cameron Loomis]

Closed by. What do you mean?

[Patrick Thompson]

Like it's not in use anymore. It's like a retired.

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's, it was actually, it was intended for, to help with World War I and then it was the war ended. They didn't no longer need the service by the time the railroad was finished completed. So then they opened it up to a trail, so. Oh, very cool to explore.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah, that sounds awesome. How far. Do you know how long the trail is?

[Cameron Loomis]

I would have to go back and look at my notes. I believe it was about 11 miles or so round trip. It's not a loop, it's an out and back. So it's about four and a half or so each way.

[Justin Yoder]

Okay.

[Cameron Loomis]

I think it was about good hiking.

[Justin Yoder]

Shoes and some water.

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah, Maybe waterproof. Maybe waterproof shoes. Definitely waterproof jacket and maybe an umbrella if you want camera. But try to stick to just the basic necessities and not carry too much.

[Justin Yoder]

Yeah, love that. And if anybody's interested, you're up in the area or you want to travel up there for the event. If you go to our website, LGBT Outdoors and then click on Events, local chapter events, you can search for the events in Washington and be able to check it out. And get signed up for that. And there's also a Washington State Facebook group, and you can just search for that on Facebook, which is LGBT Outdoors Washington, and should pop up for you. Cameron, if people want to get connected with you, what's the best way they can do that?

[Cameron Loomis]

You can find me on Facebook. I'm Cameron Loomis on Facebook. If I don't pop up that way you can join the Washington State LGBT outdoors group and you can definitely find me there.

[Justin Yoder]

Okay, cool.

[Patrick Thompson]

I'll put links to those on the show notes.

[Justin Yoder]

Instagram as well or just Facebook.

[Cameron Loomis]

You can do both. I don't really use Instagram too much. I do try to promote the events there, but I'm not active on there a whole lot.

[Justin Yoder]

Gotcha. Okay. Very, very cool. Patrick, do you have any other questions for Cameron as we start to wrap up?

[Patrick Thompson]

I don't. Well, I'll ask. Kind of my. Go to that. I love asking people. And this can be about your experience in the outdoors in general or as an LGBT outdoors ambassador. But have you had an experience that was, like, just surprised you and like, in. In a good way, maybe like, it took you back and just made you kind of stand there in awe or something funny or just something that, like, kind of stands out like you were not expecting?

[Cameron Loomis]

Well, I mean, the last one of the last events I did was the Skyline Trail. We went for a sun site sunset hike, and on the way out, we happened to see this very full, bright moon and got some really, really good pictures of that. Ended up hiking out in with moonlight in the mountains, Mount Rainier National Park. So that was pretty cool. First time ever doing that, so it was awesome.

[Patrick Thompson]

Wow, that sounds awesome. Jealousy is real.

[Justin Yoder]

That's the worst thing about our positions is, like, seeing all these amazing events happening around the country and not being able to go to them all. But that's incredible. Well, as we wrap up, I have one last question for you, which is, what message would you like to share with anybody that might be interested in becoming an ambassador for LGBT outdoors?

[Cameron Loomis]

Yeah, I would say if you're interested, definitely apply. It's definitely worth looking into if it's something you ever thought about doing. And don't be afraid. Just try it out.

[Justin Yoder]

Excellent.

[Patrick Thompson]

Awesome.

[Justin Yoder]

So to everybody that's listening, you've got kind of inside look from one of our ambassadors and the ambassador program. We basically ask for a year commitment of doing some events in your community and being an ambassador Ambassador in representing our organization. If you're interested in learning more about that, again, you can go to our website, LGBToutdoors.com and then click on Become an Ambassador. You can read more about it, request an application. If you want, you can connect with Cherie, who is our ambassador, program manager, or myself, and would love to answer any questions for you. Our goal is by the end of 2025, to have ambassadors in all 50 states. So we are well over halfway there and excited to see it continue to grow.

[Patrick Thompson]

So hang on real quick. And this is to Cameron and all of our LGBT Outdoors ambassadors genuinely like, from the depths of my heart, thank you for what y'all are doing. I know that this is a volunteer position and this takes time and effort, but the impact that you're making with your local community, I don't think you will ever fully see the depths of how you're touching people. And so if nobody ever tells you, thank you. I want to make sure that you, Cameron, and all of our ambassadors know how not only how crucial you are to like our mission in our organization, but how grateful we are for everything that you all do. So thank you very much.

[Cameron Loomis]

Thank you. I appreciate that. And we couldn't do it without you guys, so thank you.

[Justin Yoder]

Love it. Cameron, thank you so much for joining us for sharing your passion for the outdoors, for being an ambassador. I hope that more people will learn about our Washington chapter up there through this and get involved. So again, like Patrick said, thank you for everything that you're doing for us.

[Cameron Loomis]

Thank you. It's been a pleasure.

[Justin Yoder]

Awesome. Well, everyone, thank you for tuning in again to this episode of the LGBT Outdoors podcast. We hope that you enjoy it, and until next time, get out there. Thank you again for joining us this week. If you have a campfire conversation story you would like to share, please email it to [e-mail] follow us on Instagram GPT outdoors and join the community at facebook.com groups LGBToutdoors. For more information on today's episode, check out the show Notes. For information about LGBT outdoors, LGBT Outdoor Fest, local chapters, or to sign up for our newsletter, visit LGBT outdoors.com and if you're enjoying the show, please rate, review and follow wherever you listen to podcasts.