Scholarships Supported and Managed by AIARE
The motorized recreational Avalanche Alliance Scholarship is OPEN for the season and will close on October 1, 2026. All other AIARE-managed scholarships have CLOSED for the 26/27 season and will re-open Aug 2027. We have, however, compiled a list of scholarships managed by others which have individual deadlines. Check them out here.
AIARE Scholarships Application and Award Timeline (PRO, ITC, and CLT Courses)**
August 1 applications open @ 9:00am MT
Rolling AIARE will notify applicants if additional materials are needed
August 23 applications close @ midnight MT*
*ALL applications submitted within the application period will be considered at the end of the window. Applications submitted earlier do not receive preference. Late applications will be considered as funding allows.
September 15 award notifications sent
September 22 signed award letters due*
Avalanche Alliance Motorized Scholarship
The Avalanche Alliance motorized scholarship supports motorized backcountry riders with funding for AIARE PRO, ITC, CLT, AIARE 1, AIARE 2, AIARE Avalanche Rescue, or AIARE 1 Refresher tuition. Support for the Avalanche Alliance Motorized Scholarship comes from your participation in the annual Avalanche Alliance Sweepstakes.
PRO, Instructor Training (ITC), and Course Leader Training (CLT):
Prerequisites:
CLOSED
- Applicant’s primary mode of backcountry travel is motorized
- Applicant has (or plans to) register/apply for an AIARE motorized PRO 1, PRO 2, ITC, or CLT course in the 2026-2027 season
PRO and IT Course Application Period: August 1 - August 23
PRO and IT Course Award Notification: September 15
PRO and IT Course Award Letters Due: September 22
AIARE 1, AIARE 2, and AIARE Avalanche Rescue:
OPEN
Only one award per applicant is available each season. Awards must be used in the season they are awarded. Applicants may not apply for support for multiple courses.
Prerequisites:
- Applicant’s primary mode of backcountry travel is motorized
- Applicant has (or plans to) register for an AIARE motorized AIARE 1, AIARE 2, AIARE Avalanche Rescue, or AIARE 1 Refresher course in the 2026-2027 season
Application + Award Timeline for Recreational Avalanche Alliance Scholarships
September 1 applications open @ 9:00am MT
Rolling AIARE will notify applicants if additional materials are needed
October 1 applications close @ midnight MT*
*ALL applications submitted within the application period will be considered at the end of the window. Applications submitted earlier do not receive preference. Late applications will be considered as funding allows.
October 16 award notifications sent
November 1 signed award letters due
AIARE Scarpa and Arcteryx PRO Scholarship
CLOSED
AIARE recognizes the importance of diversifying the avalanche profession and elevating underrepresented genders, which is why we are thrilled to be working with Scarpa and Arc’teryx to offer this scholarship. These funds help to break down barriers for women, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals taking an AIARE PRO 1 or PRO 2.
All applicants must submit a complete PRO 1 or PRO 2 application portfolio to be considered. AIARE will gladly assist applicants in preparation of PRO course application portfolios if needed.
Prerequisites:
- Applicant holds an underrepresented gender identity such as trans, non-binary, woman, and/or genderqueer
- Applicant has (or plans to) register for an AIARE PRO 1 or PRO 2 course in the 2026-2027 season.
Application Period: August 1 - August 23
Award Notification: September 15
Award Letters Due: September 22
AIARE Kizaki-Wolf Scholarship for Instructor Training & PRO Courses
CLOSED
The Kizaki-Wolf AIARE Scholarship supports outstanding outdoor professionals in furthering their avalanche education and teaching skills. This scholarship provides full or partial tuition for an Instructor Training Course, Course Leader Training Course, PRO 1 or PRO 2 course. You can take a look at previous Kizaki-Wolf AIARE Scholarship recipients here.
Prerequisites:
- Applicant is an outdoor professional (e.g. guide, patroller, outdoor educator, etc.)
- Applicant's financial circumstances present significant obstacles to pursuing or advancing an outdoor profession.
- Applicant has (or plans to) register/apply for an AIARE PRO 1, PRO 2, ITC, or CLT in the 2026-2027 season
Application:
- A resume/CV, including outdoor professional positions, education, courses, certifications, and number of days worked annually as an outdoor professional. Maximum of two pages long.
- A personal statement addressing the following questions:
- What has been your personal journey as an outdoor or avalanche professional? What are your career goals and aspirations?
- Why are you a great candidate for this scholarship and how will this scholarship help you pay it forward in the avalanche field?
- How do your financial circumstances create barriers to accessing avalanche education, and how would this scholarship help you overcome them?
Post-Course Video:
As part of their award agreement, Kizaki-Wolf recipients provide a short, post-course video debrief discussing their experience and any advice or words of wisdom for future scholarship recipients. Examples of post-course videos from prior scholarship recipients are available here.
Application Period: August 1-August 23
Awards Notifications Sent: September 15
Award Letters Due: September 22
Jay Philbrick Scholarship for ITC, CLT & PRO Courses
CLOSED
The Jay Philbrick scholarship was established to honor Jay’s legacy and immeasurable impact as an avalanche educator in New England. This scholarship supports snow and avalanche professionals based in the Northeast who are pursuing professional and/or instructor training and who, like Jay, are committed to having a positive impact in the region. The ideal applicant will have or be building deep roots in the Northeast and is committed to giving back to the region and its community.
Prerequisites:
- Applicant is based in the Northeast
- Applicant has (or plans to) register for an AIARE PRO 1, PRO 2, ITC, or CLT on or before 8/23/26
- Note: In the event of similarly scored applicants, attendance of the North Conway ITC is given consideration.
Application Period: August 1-August 23
Awards Notifications Sent: September 15
Award Letters Due: September 22
Scholarships Supported and Managed by Others
AIARE works with several individuals, foundations, and organizations to support their scholarships. The following scholarships are not managed by AIARE but support AIARE programs.
AIARE Providers
Many AIARE Providers provide in-house scholarships for the AIARE programming they offer as well as other educational opportunities. Your local AIARE Provider can be a great resource for getting connected with funding, especially for AIARE 1, AIARE Rescue, and AIARE 2 courses. Find a list of current AIARE Providers and sort by location, course offerings, and more here.
Reeno Foundation Scholarship Program
patience, kindness, knowledge, and love for what he did made everyone want to follow him.
Hestra Guides Fund Scholarship
This scholarship is intended to both support AIARE’s mission of ‘saving lives through avalanche education,’ and encourage historically underrepresented populations in American backcountry pursuits to move into leadership roles, by partially or fully subsidizing tuition for an AIARE ITC or CLT.
Application should include a list qualifications pertaining to ITC/CLT prerequisites, and a short description of current work, education and future in the field of avalanche research and education.
There are no reporting requirements for this scholarship. Please direct applications to darkstarmtguide@gmail.com, between September 1 and November 1.
George Dirth Memorial Scholarship
The George Dirth Memorial Scholarship Fund supports Colorado and Utah based backcountry skiers/snowboarders. The Scholarship Fund is a non-profit created to build a lifesaving resource that is available to anyone who spends time skiing or snowboarding in the backcountry who needs financial help and is willing to do something to give back to the backcountry community. Our goal is to keep ALL backcountry users alive.
Each scholarship funds about half the cost of a Level 1 course, people are more committed to the training if they are also financially invested in it. The scholarship money is awarded only to those who have applied, qualify, and actually taken the course, as verified by their certificate. A key part of each application is their description and pledge of support to the backcountry community. The application requirements appear on the Scholarship Fund website. Please visit George Dirth Memorial Scholarship Fund for more information on this scholarship opportunity.
We strongly believe that this education reduces the number of fatalities in the backcountry. If you need help to afford this education you can apply anytime before December 31st, (the anniversary of George’s death).
Other Scholarships
The below list is a compilation of other scholarship opportunities across a variety of organizations. Please review each carefully and note that funds often pause for one or more seasons or change their application period or prerequisites, among other things.
American Avalanche Association (A3) Scholarships
AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation
Backcountry Babes
Backcountry Together Scholarship
Blackbird Mountain Guides BIPOC and Women's Scholarships
Blizzard Tecnica w2w Scholarship
Chris Nicholson Scholarship
Cody St John Foundation
James "JB" Brown Memorial Scholarship
John Donnellan Avalanche Education Scholarship - PRO & REC, NE US residents
SheJumps Snowpack Scholarship
Voile BIPOC Backcountry Scholarship
Women of Patrol Scholarship
Workforce Investment and Opportunities Act Funding
Wylark Mountaineering Scholarship
Have another scholarship people should know about? Please send it to us via this form.