LGBTQIA+ Leaders Retreat
Recognizing the need for respite and community for LGBTQIA+ leaders
The Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ADI), in partnership with the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks at Great Camp Sagamore, presents a program designed to provide LGBTQIA+ leaders with the respite and sense of community needed to sustain their work and inspire their journeys during this especially challenging time.
We aim to bring together queer leaders to create a supportive space for peace, empowerment, and healing.
- 100% of participants reported an extremely positive experience
- 100% of participants reported a deeper connection to nature, a stronger commitment to self-care, and a stronger support network
How the program works
Our program begins with a transformative 3-day retreat in the Adirondacks, where we create a space for rejuvenation, connection, and empowerment, utilizing nature as our healer.
We then invite participants to networking and leadership development opportunities throughout the year to support and nurture growth.
What to expect
Below is a sample list of helpful information and activities to give you a sense of what to expect during the retreat. Participants accepted into the program will receive a detailed schedule, including full workshop descriptions, prior to the retreat. We carefully craft a schedule that balances the importance of time for rest with the community-building and resource sharing needed to sustain it.
Mindfulness & Nature-Centered Activities
- Guided Journaling and Meditation Practices
- Art-Based and Creative Exploration
- Guided Nature Walks and Outdoor Discovery
- Hiking and Paddling Adventures
- Essential Wilderness Skills: Compass Navigation and Fire Making
Self-Care Workshops & Activities
- What Do I Have? What Do I Need? What Can I Give?
- Finding and Following Your True North
- Diversity in Nature Discussion
- Tackling Our Limiting Beliefs
In participants’ words
This has been a life-changing experience - and I do not say that lightly. I am still in awe of what transpired at Sagamore.
The Retreat is very necessary and absolutely life-transforming. Leaders do not always have an opportunity to be a participant...
This was definitely a highlight in my career.
My biggest takeaway is the profound sense of shared purpose and authentic connection. I'm leaving with a renewed sense of confidence and a deeper commitment to leading with empathy and vulnerability. This retreat wasn't just about professional development; it was a deeply personal journey that has forever changed how I see my role in the world and how I plan to support the women around me.
I am recommitted to pairing compassion with accountability, holding myself and my community responsible for creating tangible, lasting change.
Facilitators
Jaime Collins
Communications Manager, Olympic Regional Development Authority
About Jaime
Jaime is a Communications Manager at the Olympic Regional Development Authority. With four decades of experience in marketing and communications, she has gained diverse expertise in healthcare, business ownership, research, education, consulting, community organizing, and writing. She’s been a volunteer in many capacities throughout her career and currently serves on boards of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association and John Brown Lives!.
Though born and raised in the Midwest, she fell in love with wilderness and mountains early in life and sees the Adirondacks as home. Life in the High Peaks has long fueled her passions for mountain running in summer and Nordic and alpine skiing in winter. Committed to her partner of 38 years, she is also a transwoman, parent, and grandparent.
Kim Sorensen
Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks at Great Camp Sagamore
About Kim
Kim joined Great Camp Sagamore because its mission—to share the outdoors and its history—speaks to her heart. She has spent her career helping people connect to nature and culture through outdoor education, most recently serving 11 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife in roles ranging from Outdoor Education Diversity Specialist to Boater Education Manager.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Kim has always felt most at home in the mountains. Some of her most meaningful memories come from camping under the stars, paddling wild rivers, or casting a fly on quiet waters. A passionate outdoorswoman and educator, she brings that same joy and curiosity to Sagamore, where she loves inspiring others to discover adventure, history, and a deeper connection to the Adirondacks.
In collaboration with
Tamara Jolly
Community Initiatives Manager
tjolly@adirondack.org
518-891-6200 x102About Tamara
Tamara serves as the Community Initiatives Manager for the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, where she brings together her expertise in biology, ecology, teaching, and DEI to foster more inclusive and resilient communities in the Adirondacks. She is a passionate advocate for making nature accessible and inclusive for everyone. Tamara has confronted the challenges of exclusion in outdoor spaces, fueling her mission to broaden access and foster a sense of belonging in nature for marginalized communities.
Tamara fell in love with the Adirondacks after taking a sabbatical from teaching high school science in Baltimore City to attend the SUNY ESF Ranger School, where she was honored to graduate as valedictorian. When she is not working, you will find her outdoors birding, soaking up the arts, or adventuring with her husband and daughter on hiking trails, at campsites, and in everyday moments of joy. Recently relocated to Troy, NY, the family also treasures time on their property outside of Star Lake, NY, a place that continues to deepen her connection to the North Country she loves.
Lucienne Nicholson
Retreat facilitator
About Lucienne
Lucienne is the Spiritual founder of Cultivating Community Leadership, who brought us all together with her love of people and nature. Lucienne is an enthusiastic gardener, a beach lover, and a wholehearted admirer of nature and its power to heal. She is the former founding director of Woods and Us.
Lucienne believes that a relationship with nature is essential for all persons; equitable access to the outdoors for children, families, and communities of color with lower socioeconomic standing is a way to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual health of vulnerable populations.
Where you’ll stay
Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks at Great Camp Sagamore
1105 Sagamore Road, PO Box 40, Raquette Lake, NY 13436
315-354-5311
Rooming: During the retreat, participants will be thoughtfully paired with a roommate. Each room features beautiful views, and our cohort will share several spacious, fully equipped bathrooms. Wi-fi will be available in our rooms and lobby areas, but not throughout the camp.
Please note that we cannot ensure single-occupancy rooms due to the size of our group.
Costs: This retreat is free for accepted participants, which includes all lodging, meals, programming, and activities. Each participant is responsible for their own travel; however, we will assist in arranging carpool groups.
Historic Great Camp Sagamore offers a variety of immersive experiences that encompass a wide range of interests and pursuits, including programs focusing on traditional Adirondack arts, music, outdoor recreation, history, wellness, family options, and more.
As an all-inclusive destination, multi-day programs include lodging, meals, expert instruction, access to various activities, and the opportunity to simply relax and enjoy Sagamore's rustic, historical beauty. Activities comprise a historical tour of Sagamore’s buildings and grounds, bowling in the historic open-air bowling alley, campfires in the historic lean-to, launching kayaks and canoes from the historic boathouse, and access to over 12 miles of hiking trails.
To ensure all participants' comfort and safety, we guarantee arrival and departure occurs with ample time to drive during daylight in the region.
We will do everything possible to ease travel-related worries and support participants' specific needs whenever we can.
Photographs
Join the interest list
Our next cohort's application will be available in early 2027. Leave your name and email and ADI will write when it opens.
From ADI’s calendar
ADI gatheringFriday–Sunday, September 4–6, 2026
LGBTQIA+ Leaders Retreat
Great Camp Sagamore, Raquette Lake