Women and LGBTQ+ Programs
AMG’s Women and LGBTQ+ programs are led by our rock-star team of certified female-identifying or non-binary guides. Our goal is to support those who have the same passions and interests as we do, and to encourage individual growth and learning within the sport by providing instruction and mentorship in an accepting environment.
These programs are a preliminary effort to bridge the gap in outdoor education and leadership by creating intentional and dedicated learning spaces for underrepresented groups. We realize there is still a large gap in representation and mentorship within the outdoor climbing and guiding community, and want to do what we can as a company to narrow it. We seek to share our experiences with you, and help you achieve your goals as climbers and outdoor enthusiasts.
2025 Program Schedule
- Who’s it for? Women and Queer Folks Looking to Climb Rocks with Community
- Where do we go? We most often utilize the amazing terrain in Acadia National Park and sometimes we offer experiences in New Hampshire in the White Mountains or at Rumney! Scroll down for our October LGBTQ spooky campout in Rumney!
- No Pre-requisites!
September 12th – September 14th, 2025 | Women and Non-Binary Rock Climbing and Yoga Retreat Acadia National Park, ME | $333.00 |
- Campground fees Friday night-Sunday morning
- Snacks + Tea on the evening of Friday September 12th
- Breakfast and Dinner on Saturday September 13th
- Breakfast on Sunday September 14th
- Home-made Marshmallows and tea Saturday night
- Guided Rock Climbing on Saturday and Sunday (harness, helmet and shoes provided if needed)
- Guided Yoga (bring your own mat, Jess will have a few extra blankets)
- Possibly guided hiking and a trip to a local swim spot depending on weather and group interest!
- Personal camping gear (rentals available at a 25% discount)
- Personal fork, knife, spoon, bowl, plate, mug (bring your own mess kit!)
- Chalk bag and chalk
- Personal yoga mats
- Lunch on Saturday and Sunday
- Additional snacks for Saturday and Sunday
- Dinner on Sunday (we will wrap up by 4:30/5pm)
- Transportation (we encourage you to carpool)
- National Park vehicle pass (only need one per vehicle)
- Guide gratuities (Tip your guides if you have a great time!)
- Show up at camp anytime after 5pm on Friday September 12th, opening circle at 8pm
- Wrap up by 4:30/5pm on Sunday September 14th
- From novices to experts, all people are welcome. No climbing experience needed. No yoga experience needed. We are able to set up climbs for a variety of ability levels.
Friday:
Come any time after 17:00 to set up your tent and integrate into the space. Potluck style dinner: Jess provides tea and snacks. Opening circle at 20:00.
Saturday:
Sunrise at Otter Cliffs! Breakfast at Fabbri Picnic Area. Climb a bit more into the afternoon.
Late afternoon yoga before dinner.
Evening dinner around the fire
Possible additional activity:
Swimming
Ecstatic yoga/Dancing
Sunday:
Morning yoga + breakfast at Camp
Break down camp
Climb for the afternoon
Closing circle around 16:00/16:30, wrap up by 17:00.
October 24th – October 26th, 2025 | LGBTQ+ Spo0o0ky Climbing Campout Rumney, New Hampshire The weekend before Halloween, costumes encouraged 😉 | $250.00 for the whole weekend $150.00 for half of the weekend |
Despite the shorter days and the colder temps, the stoke for a queer gathering of climbers is high. The goal of this event is to offer some movement medicine and an early Halloween celebration for the queer climbing community in New England and beyond. Jess is so excited to offer yoga/mobility practices, a playful Ecstatic Yoga Practice and two full days of rock climbing on glorious, sparkly rocks in Rumney. When the rocks have built in glitter, the gays must climb them (you have the mineral, Mica, to thank). Rumney is an excellent venue for chilly season climbing as there are tons of cliffs that get direct sun during the day to keep you nice and toasty on the wall.
If you are new to climbing, we will show you the ropes. If you are a seasoned climber looking to lead, we will assess your knowledge and then cut you loose to play if you know your stuff!
No experience with yoga/dancing or climbing necessary, just an open mind and desire to be in community.
- Campground fees Friday night-Sunday morning (we will be camping in the outdoor spaces of the Barn Door Hostel in Rumney, car camping okay)
- Snacks + Tea on the evening of Friday October 24th (potluck style dinner/BYO dinner)
- Warm breakfast + tea on Saturday and Sunday
- Big ol’ pot of soup + bread for Saturday night dinner! (GF bread will be available)
- Home-made Marshmallows on Friday and/or Saturday evening (GF but not vegan)
- Guided Rock Climbing on Saturday and Sunday (harness, helmet and shoes provided if needed)
- Guided morning movement (yoga/mobility) on Saturday and Sunday
- Guided Ecstatic Yoga practice on Saturday evening to a spooky playlist: Ecstatic Yoga is a playful fusion of yoga and ecstatic dance that rides an energetic bell curve. We start with a slow flow and gradually move into higher energy movement and I set you loose for about 20-30 minutes of free form dance and then we wind down to a more mellow yin-style practice on the floor. Warm layers will be a must to have nearby for the wind down. Blankets encouraged.
- Personal camping gear (rentals available at a 25% discount)
- Personal fork, knife, spoon, bowl, plate, mug (bring your own mess kit!)
- Coffee/a way to make coffee
- Chalk bag and chalk
- Personal yoga mats + extra blankets to be cozy during practice
- Lunch on Saturday and Sunday
- Additional snacks for Saturday and Sunday
- Dinner on Sunday (we will wrap up by 4:30/5pm)
- Transportation (we encourage you to carpool)
- National Forest vehicle pass (only need one per vehicle)
- Guide gratuities (Tip your guides if you have a great time!)
- Show up at camp anytime after 4pm on Friday October 24th, opening circle around 8:30pm
- Wrap up by 4:30/5pm on Sunday October 26th
- From novices to experts, all people are welcome. No climbing experience needed. No yoga experience needed. We are able to set up climbs for a variety of ability levels.
Friday:
– Come any time after 4pm to set up your tent and integrate into the space. Car camping is allowed
– Potluck style dinner/BYO dinner: Jess will provide tea and some snacks. Opening circle at 8:30pm
Saturday:
– Morning movement: yoga/mobility practice to wake us up and warm us up to start the day
– Warm breakfast + tea
– Climb for the sunniest/warmest part of the day! Woo!
– Back to camp, free roam time while Jess/Ryan prep dinner:
Big community pot of soup and bread! Soup will have a home-made, locally sourced bone broth.
* GF/vegan options can be available upon request with at least a weeks notice
– Evening fire + Ecstatic Yoga Practice
Sunday:
– Morning movement: yoga/mobility practice to wake us up and warm us up to start the day
– Break down camp for those who are leaving Sunday night
+ $12 to register for one more night and avoid having to break down camp Sunday AM if you’d like.
– Climb for the day!
– Closing circle around 4/4:30pm, wrap up by 5pm
Your own camping equipment (we can provide rentals at 25% off if needed with at least one weeks notice): sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, rain fly, ground tarp or car camping setup
Fork, knife, spoon, BOWL, mug – please do not only bring a plate, you cannot eat soup with a plate and don’t forget a mug for warm tea!
Snacks and lunches for the day Saturday/Sunday
Refillable water bottle + extra water (Jess + Ryan will bring 19 gallons of water but the more the merrier with a big crew)
*Headlamp or flashlight*
Harness, helmet, rock climbing shoes, chalk (we can provide rental harness, helmet, shoes if needed; we do not rent chalk)
Bring your climbing rope and quick draws if you have them and want to lead – the more the merrier!
Warm blankets and a yoga mat
A camp chair if desired
A journal if you like that sort of thing
Plenty of warm layers and some hand warmers (a hand warmer in a chalk bag goes a long way, Jess will bring extra just in case)
Cozy hat, cozy socks, etc… It will be chilly at night and in the morning
A way to make coffee if you need that fix – Jess doesn’t have a coffee making apparatus and will not buy one
These programs would not be possible if it was not for the ambitious activism from the guide staff at Acadia Mountain Guides. We would like to take a moment here to thank them for their hard work and the brain power they put into this project. It is near and dear to our hearts, and it makes us proud to know our staff members are committed to the growth of the company, as well as the inclusion of under-represented groups into the outdoors.
Please thank our staff when you work with them!
AMGA ACCREDITED
• Since 1994 •
AMGCS is one of 32 AMGA accredited programs in the US and was one of the earliest to pursue and achieve accreditation. AMGCS is the only climbing school in Maine to remain continuously AMGA accredited. We have had one or more AMGA rock guides on staff each year since 1994.
PCIA ACCREDITED
• Since 2007 •
AMGCS has the distinction of also being accredited to the highest standards of the Professional Climbing Instructors Association. The PCIA requires all staff to be individually trained and certified.
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