Connecting on the Rail Trail
Hosted in beautiful partnership by Finca Luna Búho and Mixed Faces Wild Spaces
Building Connection to the outdoors and one another! Hosted by and for historically underrepresented identities in the outdoors in the Berkshires!
Finca Luna Búho is an Afro-Indigenous nourished collaborative carespace, centering and holding the voices and decision making of those living in strategic marginalization and at the intersections of these lived experiences.
Mixed Faces Wild Spaces is a Trans Non-Binary Multiracial led liberatory outdoor organization centering intersectional experiences. Our mission is to empower Mixed Race Gender Diverse folks with the resources and community to create a sense of belonging in outdoor spaces.
When are these events?
Each event is on Saturday, beginning at 9:00 am and ending at 11:00 am, for a total of 2 hours of programming.
Important Steps to Register for All Events!
Where on the Rail Trail is the Event?:
Unceded Mohican Land along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Details of the specific meeting location will be distributed to participants through the event registration process
Who are these events for?
These events are geared towards underrepresented communities in the outdoors.
Each event within the series will be an intentional affinity space for underrepresented communities in the outdoors.
Each event session will specify the affinity space.
These events have no age limit, unless indicated otherwise.
All people under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone over the age of 18.
What can I expect during these events?
Join Finca Luna Buho and Mixed Faces Wild Spaces as we explore all the beauties of nature the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail has to offer! Together, we will go biking, riding, walking, birding, or engage in various forms of plant identifying!
Each event session will specify what the event activity will be.
The rail trail is more busy on the weekends, with a mix of people biking, walking, roller skating, walking their dogs, scootering, pushing baby strollers, and more.
While pets are allowed along the rail trail, we ask that participants of this event leave their furry friends at home.
Service animals are always welcome.
What is the physical accessibility of the location and event?
The Ashuwillticook Bike path is an old railroad track converted into a 10-foot wide paved trail. The trail runs 12.7 miles through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough and Adams. Cheshire Reservoir, and the Hoosic River offer outstanding views of the scenery and wildlife.
The path is a paved and level surface, with very slight inclines or declines throughout.
There are picnic tables and benches dispersed throughout each section of the trail.
We are intentional to choose a section of the trail that has bathroom access, and there are wheelchair accessible bathroom stalls at each bathroom location.
There is wheelchair accessible parking at each section of the trail.
Each event session will specify what the event activity will be.
Our facilitators carry with them a first aid kit for all events, and we have facilitators who are medicinal herbalists, and certified in Wilderness First Aid.
More questions? Check out the Ashuwillticook Website to learn more about the location, or reach out to us at either mixedfaceswildspaces@gmail.com or finca.luna.buho@gmail.com.
What is the language accessibility for this event?
We will have Spanish Speaking events led by Finca Luna Buho’s Spanish-Speaking, Indigenous Ecologist; Fran
For non Spanish-Speaking events, we have the availability to have a Spanish translator with us for language accessibility needs. This can be indicated during the registration sign up form. All forms, and any educational materials are offered in both English and Spanish.
We are working to expand our language accessibility, and, currently we are only able to support with Spanish translations.
What is the goal of this event series?
The goal of this recurring event series, Connecting on the Rail Trail, is to increase connection with the outdoors for historically underrepresented communities in the outdoors.
Why are these events important?
These events seek to increase connection with nature for historically underrepresented communities in the outdoors.
We designed the structure of these events with deep intentionality, nurturing the most fertile circumstances to encourage a reciprocal relationship with nature within these communities, our communities.
How are we accomplishing our goal?
Through a very beautiful collaboration, this labor of love came to be with the partnership of Finca Luna Buho and Mixed Faces Wild Spaces.
By making all Connecting on the Rail Trail events completely free, we reduce the financial barrier to access.
We say reduce, because we wholly recognize that getting to the actual event takes time, labor, and can cost money. We look forward to being able to provide compensation to participants, which would support with any lost time, labor, or money expended to attend our event(s).
By having a Spanish Translator for language accessibility needs, and hosting Spanish Speaking only events, we reduce the language barrier to access for those who Speak Spanish.
We look forward to one day being able to support the language accessibility needs of all languages spoken in the Berkshires.
By providing bikes and helmets to borrow at each of our bike and ride events, we reduce the gear barrier to access for those who do not have a bike or helmet to bring with them.
We look forward to being able to give bikes and helmets to participants to keep as their own, so they can continue to foster deep connection with the outdoors on their own, and hopefully pass that love onto others.
By the labor and love of all the folks who dreamed, planned, created, and now facilitate these events. Our deep care for community and nature has been poured into every aspect of these events. We are excited to bring this dream to life!
Sponsorship information!
Our current sponsors:
M.O.O.R.
DCR
DEI Outdoors
Love what we are doing and interested in becoming a Sponsor? We invite Berkshire County organizations, businesses, and other entities to support our pilot year!
Sponsorship Tiers:
$100 - Listed in the Sponsor Section of the Website
$250 - Previous Benefits plus; Featured on social media story
$500 - Previous benefits plus; Featured on social media post and shout out from facilitators on day of event
$1000+ - Previous benefits plus; Featured logo on merch/ educational materials given to participants
Potential merch
Water bottles
Stickers
Curriculum Handouts
Interested in donating materials or services? Amazing! Reach out to us at mixedfaceswildspaces@gmail.com or fincalunabuho@gmail.com to see what our current needs are!
Want to make a personal donation or need documentation for your taxes? Our fiscal sponsor, Sonrisas Inc, is a Non-Profit with 501(c)(3) tax status! Send us an email at finca.luna.buho@gmail.com or mixedfaceswildspaces@gmail.com for documentation requests!
