Menstruation & Rainbow Inclusive Practices

Menstruation & Rainbow Inclusive Practices

‘Going with the flow’ is a multi-media resource about gender equity in the outdoors. It aims to inspire positive changes to outdoor practice and culture. 

Designed for youth, educators, and outdoor practitioners

It includes: 

  • a print resource 

  • a four-part video series 

  • lesson plans suitable to use with young people who are 10-15 years old (Years 6-10) 

  • diverse stories of menstruation and rainbow experiences in the outdoors 

  • practical tips and information about gender inclusive practices. 

This resource will help you to have a better understanding about the needs of those who menstruate (including people from the Rainbow community), and the things we can all do to create a more inclusive outdoors. It contains contributions from Ngahuia Murphy, InsideOUT, Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, and Warrior Princess Workshops. 

Print Resource

The print resource has two sections: 

Part A: ‘Knowledge is power’ – This section aims to challenge the misinformation, and missing information about periods, and about people who menstruate. It offers in-depth information about four key topics and is written so that it is accessible for everyone (including young people). Topics include:   

  • Menstruation myths, perceptions and stories 

  • Beliefs and practices around menstruation 

  • Supporting gender diversity and variations of sex characteristics 

  • Period management: tools and strategies 

Part B: ‘A toolkit for change’ – The toolkit includes five lessons plans appropriate for ten- to fifteen-year-olds (students in Years 6-10). The lesson plans can also be adapted to suit different age groups and used by anyone working with young people in the outdoors, such as Scout and GirlGuiding leaders, outdoor instructors and sport coaches. 

The toolkit also provides specific advice and guidance about inclusive outdoor practices. 

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Going with the flow: Menstruation and rainbow-inclusive practices in the outdoors

Context: Inclusion & diversity

Type: Wider reading, Teaching and learning resource

Description: This resource is about gender equity in the outdoors. It provides in-depth information gender-diversity and period management.
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Video Series

The four-part video series addresses key topics with engaging content designed for youth and educators. 

Video Topics: 

  1. Menstruation Myths and Perceptions 
  2. Rainbow Experiences of Menstruation 
  3. Menstruation Management in the Outdoors
  4. Advice for Educators and Outdoor Practitioners 

Available multiple languages: 
Te reo Māori, Sāmoan, Mandarin, and Hindi.

Watch Videos Here

Diversity and inclusion on school camp

Following the release of the ‘Going with the flow’ resource, we heard from schools that they wanted advice about how to communicate their inclusive approaches to EOTC and school camp with whānau and caregivers.  

This led to the development of the ‘diversity and inclusion on camp’ letter. Schools can use the letter template to communicate how they will manage and support diversity and inclusion on school camp (and EOTC). The letter is relevant for all students and their whānau, not just female students of menstruating age. 

Primary school guidance and letter

Guidance and a template letter for primary & intermediate schools

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Secondary school guidance and letter

Guidance and a template letter for secondary schools

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Advice for providers

Information and advice for outdoor and camp providers working with schools.

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A note about language

A diverse range of people contributed to this resource. However, the main writers and editors are Pākehā and cisgender women (a cisgender person is someone whose gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth). Great care has been taken to ensure that this resource empowers and includes everyone. 

This resource uses language that was best practice at the time of publishing. As the terminology evolves alongside the outdoor and Rainbow communities, some of the language used in this resource may no longer be accurate. If you spot something that isn’t right, please get in touch and we’ll revise it. 

Acknowledgements

EONZ would like to acknowledge and show our gratitude to our funding partners: the Ministry of Education, Sport New Zealand, the University of Canterbury, PPTA, and Leave No Trace Aotearoa. 

We would also like to thank all the people who shared their experiences with us, contributed in some way towards content or provided supporting material that sits alongside the resource.