Inspiring Girls Expeditions Alaska is inviting applications for a unique suite of tuition-free backcountry science and art education programs in summer 2024.
The expeditions are open to 16- to 18-year-old high school youths. Alaskans are highly encouraged to apply, and expeditions especially welcome marginalized youths who may have experienced barriers accessing science and outdoor-focused programs. Participants are selected through an application process that focuses on passion for science, art and the outdoors, rather than academic grades or past achievements.
The program is run through the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center, with additional funding from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Gulf Research Program. Alaska’s 2024 expeditions will include mountaineering on an Alaska Range glacier and sea kayaking in Kachemak Bay. Teams of nine participants spend 12 days exploring glacier terrain or intertidal zones while gaining a greater understanding of ecosystem connections in each of these environments.
Inspiring Girls Expeditions Alaska offers a unique opportunity to explore and understand the landscape through several different lenses. Participants explore these inspiring landscapes under the leadership of an instructor team composed of professional scientists, backcountry guides and artists. Inspiring Girls Expeditions also provides participants with opportunities for post-expedition mentoring and to continue learning through their alumni network.
The last day to submit an application is Jan. 31, 2024. For more information, please visit www.inspiringgirls.org.
CONTACT: Stephanie Wright, slwright7 [at] alaska.edu