Application Overview
Course Details:
In its seventh year, the SheJumps Snowpack Scholarship provides avalanche education and certification courses for women who have experienced barriers accessing backcountry education. This year's program will provide (36) full scholarships for the following avalanche education courses:
Utah AIARE 1
- Date: December 19-21, 2025
- Location: Wasatch Mountains
- Guide Partner: Inspired Summit Adventures
- # spots available: 12
Washington AIARE 1
- Date: January 21, 7 PM-9 PM (on Zoom), January 24-25, 2026 (Field Days)
- Location: Stevens Pass
- Guide Partner: Alpine Ascents International
- # spots available: 12
Colorado Rec Level 1
- Date: March 7-8, 2026
- Location: Estes Park
- Guide Partner: American Avalanche Institute
- # spots available: 12
Thank you to our partner Mammut for sponsoring the CO course.
Who Can Apply for the Scholarship:
SheJumps is an inclusive organization. All women aged 21+, transgender and cisgender, as well as non-binary people, are encouraged to apply, with a preference for Women of Color, LGBTQIA+ women, non-binary people, and those needing financial assistance.
Timeline:
- Application opens: Oct 6, 2025
- Application closes: Oct 24, 2025
- Notification to recipients: Week of Nov 17, 2025
- Deposit and acceptance deadline: Dec 2, 2025
- Non-recipients notified: On or around Dec 5, 2025
Skill Requirements:
- Intermediate to advanced downhill ski/snowboard ability in off-piste or ungroomed conditions is required.
- Able to comfortably ski/snowboard blue square terrain (off-piste) in various snow conditions with a 25lb backpack.
- Participants should be comfortable using touring skis/splitboards and transitioning between tour and ski modes. We recommend practicing with your equipment at home, or preferably in bounds on snow. Skins should be cut and fitted in advance of the course as well.
- Snowshoes are only permitted on the Washington Level 1 course.
- Participants must be able to actively take care of themselves and stay comfortable for a full day out in winter conditions with appropriate clothing, hydration, and fueling.
Key Scholarship Information:
We are looking for applicants interested in educating themselves in the outdoors and who could be role models for encouraging and inspiring women, girls, and other underrepresented communities of all levels and abilities in the outdoors. Our goal with this scholarship is to provide opportunities to those who wouldn't otherwise be able to access the courses due to financial constraints. Priority will be given to applicants currently experiencing financial barriers to participation in snowsports.
- Scholarships cover course fees only. Travel expenses are not included.
- Recipients are responsible for acquiring the backcountry equipment necessary for each course. The guiding services will communicate equipment lists before the course date.
- In the review process, all personal information and details will be redacted from the application to ensure an objective and equitable review of each individual applicant.
- Applicants can only apply once—duplicate applications will be deleted.
- Additional FAQs can be viewed here: Snowpack Scholarship FAQs
Refundable Deposit:
While the Snowpack Scholarship course itself will be free to recipients, we are asking each recipient to submit a $50 fully refundable deposit that will be returned to you after the course. We are utilizing this cancellation/deposit policy to try to reduce last minute cancellations and no-shows. Your deposit will save your spot on the course and also show us that you are committed to showing up for the course. Our full cancellation policy can be viewed in the FAQ document.
Contact our Snowpack Scholarship Coordinator at accessprograms@shejumps.org with any questions, comments, or concerns. Please allow 3-5 days for a response.
We encourage our supporters and applicants to please share this scholarship with any groups, organizations, or institutions that would benefit from avalanche education or work directly with communities of color. We would love to reach as many communities and individuals as possible with these scholarship opportunities.