Scholarships and Opportunities for Women in the Outdoor Industry

Breaking into the outdoor industry as a professional guide, ski patroller, avalanche educator, instructor or community leader can feel daunting—especially for women and gender-diverse folks who haven’t always been well represented in these spaces. Luckily, there are a growing number of scholarships, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities designed to help.

Here’s what I’m sure is a very incomplete list of organizations offering scholarships, training, and internships, along with typical application windows so you can plan ahead.

Please double check the application deadlines, some of this list was compiled based on previous years deadlines and could be incorrect or outdated.

Photo by Santiago Leon during a safety drill on the annual group hut trip I run for ~35 people.

Avalanche & Ski Patrol Scholarships

AIARE Scholarships – Covers Intro to Avalanche, Rescue, and PRO courses. Applications usually open August and October each year.
Women of Patrol Scholarships – Support for patrollers looking to advance their avalanche and medical training. Applications typically open in late summer/fall.
SheJumps Snowpack Scholarship – Provides women with access to AIARE avalanche courses. The 2025/26 application window is October 6–24, 2025.
American Avalanche Association Scholarships – Multiple awards, including women’s-specific scholarships. Applications often open November with December deadlines.
Friends of Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center – Multiple scholarships will be available each season to women seeking an Avy 1, Avy 2, or a beginner snowmachine-specific course. Applications open through October 31, 2025.
Coastal Alaska Avalanche Center – Offers awards specifically for women and folks from diverse backgrounds. Deadline is typically October 31, 2025.
EDGE Outdoors Scholarships – Snowsports scholarships for BIPOC women and gender-diverse athletes; program cycles vary.
Women of Winter – Hosts women’s avalanche courses PSIA-AASI and so much more. For example, the 2025 Avy 1 program is March with a December deadline. PSIA-AASI application deadline is October 12, 2025.
Washington Alpine Club - Each time a class becomes open for registration, scholarships become available and are opt in, no questions asked - amazing! These courses span climbing, skiing, medical, leadership and so much more! (Thanks for the deets Shaina!)
Blackbird Guides Scholarships – AIARE and guiding scholarships, including women’s and LGBTQIA2S+ awards; rolling seasonal windows.

Guiding & Climbing Development

AMGA Scholarships – Includes Patagonia Women’s Scholarship and other affinity awards. Main cycle: May 20–June 17; BIPOC Fund: January 17–February 7.
Guide Like Liz Scholarship – Offered through the American Alpine Institute, supporting women and marginalized genders pursuing guiding careers. Deadlines vary, usually January or fall.
Blackbird Guides Scholarships – AIARE and guiding scholarships, including women’s and LGBTQIA2S+ awards; rolling seasonal windows.
American Alpine Club Live Your Dream Grant – Open March 1–April 30 annually, supporting climbing and mountaineering dreams.
American Alpine Club Catalyst Grant – Supports leadership and education projects, also open March–April each year.
Washington Alpine Club - Lee Adams Grant. The WAC Education Committee is offering four scholarships of $400 through the Lee Adams Grant specifically for this course in order to reduce the barriers to this important education.
Ladies Weekend Out Rab Scholarship - This clinic is designed to support climbers in navigating fear, building mental tools, and finding more confidence and joy in their climbing practice — all in a supportive, community-centered space. Opens and ends in June.

Women’s Leadership & Adventure Programs

AWE Summit Scholarship – Mountaineering and expedition funding for women and gender-diverse participants. Applications usually open November–January.
GEA Alliance (formerly The Cairn Project) – Supports girls+ and gender-diverse youth in outdoor leadership. It appears this has merged with the Summit Scholarship Foundation (see link above) and it’s unclear if the GEA Alliance scholarship is separate.
Indigenous Women Outdoors – Six-month mentorships and clinics for Indigenous women. Applications announced seasonally.
The Lady Alliance Scholarships – Gear scholarships, online leadership programs, and adventure access; rolling applications.
Backcountry Scholarships – Partial funding for avalanche education courses; rolling throughout the season.

Outdoor Schools & Expeditions

NOLS Financial Aid – Scholarship and financial aid for expeditions, wilderness medicine, and risk management. Applications are rolling and currently accepted through August 31, 2026.
Outward Bound Scholarships – Need-based, first-come, first-served awards across regional schools.

Regional & Brand-Specific Programs

Weston Backcountry Avalanche Education Scholarships – Offers scholarships through partners like SheJumps; updated seasonally.
Peter Inglis Avalanche Education Fund – Based in Colorado, typically opens in October each year.

Mentorship Programs for Women in the Outdoor Industry

Avalanche, Ski Patrol & Guiding Mentorships

AIARE Professional Growth Network – Cohorts and events for snow professionals from non-dominant gender identities. Provides mentorship, peer learning, and continuing education. Applications open periodically.
Colorado Adventure Guides – Professional Mentorship Program (PMP) – Mentorship for aspiring avalanche educators and backcountry guides. Includes a women’s cohort and BIPOC cohort with virtual and field sessions. Applications typically close in October.
She Moves Mountains Mentorship Program – Supports women and gender minorities working toward outdoor leadership and guiding careers. Provides one-on-one mentor pairings and community support. Application cycles announced seasonally.

Outdoor Industry & Leadership Mentorships

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Women’s Network Mentoring – Pairs women working in the outdoor industry with mentors in small groups (up to three mentees). Runs from September to March each year.
Pinnacle Leadership Program (Outdoors NSW & ACT) – A nine-month leadership and mentoring program for women in outdoor careers (Australia/Oceania). Includes mentor pairing, leadership training, and assessments. Applications open mid-year.
The Mentor Movement (Ladies Weekend Out) – An apprenticeship-style mentorship designed for women pursuing careers as guides and outdoor professionals. Focuses on skill-building, community, and leadership. Applications typically open in summer.

How to Stay on Top of Deadlines

January–February: AMGA BIPOC Fund, some AWE/GEA scholarships, Guide like Liz,
March–April: AAC Live Your Dream + Catalyst.
May–June: AMGA main scholarship window, Ladies Weekend Out.
August–October: AIARE scholarships, NOLS, OIA, SheJumps Snowpack, Peter Inglis, Women of Winter Instructor, Colorado Adventure Guides, Chugach scholarships.
November–December: American Avalanche Association, Women of Winter, regional avy funds.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re pursuing avalanche education, instructing, guiding certifications, or leadership development, there are more opportunities than ever for women to thrive in the outdoor industry. Many programs specifically support underrepresented genders, BIPOC athletes, and Indigenous women.

Pro tip: set reminders for each scholarship’s application window so you’re ready to apply early. These funds are competitive, but they can open doors to lifelong careers and community impact in the outdoors.

In addition, get involved - go volunteer for these programs and if you can, donate! Because more women in the mountains means more friends!

Did I miss a program, scholarship, organization or community you love? Leave it in the comments below!

-xo, mo