AIARE Scholarships
There are several scholarship opportunities for AIARE Instructor Training courses and AIARE PRO courses, as well as AIARE 1 classes. Please note that you must apply for the respective course for which you seek a scholarship.
Kizaki-Wolf Scholarship for Instructor Training, Course Leader Training & PRO Training
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 or PRO 1 or PRO 2 course. The selection committee focuses on four criteria in evaluating applicants:
- Outdoor professional career (guide, patroller, outdoor educator, etc.) dedication and achievement;
- Under-represented populations within outdoor professionals;
- An appreciation of, and commitment to, an inclusive and diverse community of outdoor recreationalists and professionals.
Application Process:
1. APPLY FOR YOUR COURSE: Apply and be accepted (or wait-listed) to an AIARE ITC, CLT, PRO 1, or PRO 2. Only scholarship applicants who are registered (or wait-listed) for an AIARE professional-level course will be considered. Course registration opens July 1, and applications do not require a tuition payment.
2. SUBMIT YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION, including:
- Your CV, including outdoor professional positions, education, courses, certifications, and number of days worked annually as an outdoor professional.
- 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?
- Are you part of an underrepresented population in the outdoor/avalanche community? How have those experiences influenced you or your career objectives?
- How have you demonstrated an appreciation of, and commitment to, an inclusive and diverse community of outdoor recreationalists and professionals?
- Three professional references in an outdoor professional-setting. Letters of recommendation are not required. The selection committee only contacts the references of finalists.
- Submit CV and references in one package/email to kizaki@avtraining.org
3. DATES & DEADLINES:
- Applications are due November 1st.
- Notification of award will be by Nov 15, 2021.
4. POST-COURSE VIDEO:
- Scholarship 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. Don’t worry though — scholarship recipients are provided with guidance and tools for putting together their post-course video and all you need is a smart phone!
Kizaki-Wolf AIARE Scholarship Recipients
Scarpa and Arcteryx PRO Women’s Scholarship
AIARE recognizes the importance of diversifying the avalanche profession and elevating underrepresented genders through breaking down barriers to entry and this is why we are thrilled to work with Scarpa and Arcteryx to offer full and partial scholarships to women (trans and non cis-gender) in taking an AIARE PRO1 or PRO2.
To apply for this scholarship submit your application no later than Nov. 1st. Notification of scholarship recipients will be by Nov. 15, 2021. 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.
Weston Powder to the People Scholarship
AIARE and Weston Backcountry are partnering with SheJumps to bring advanced avalanche education opportunities to adult women participating in snow sports in the Pacific Northwest. Scholarships will be awarded for 6 women to attend AIARE Companion Rescue and AIARE Level 2 with 100% of spots earmarked for women of color. This opportunity is meant for women to apply who have completed their AIARE Level 1 courses and gained at least one season of experience traveling in the backcountry. AIARE Companion Rescue is a full day course dedicated to practicing advanced avalanche rescue techniques, while AIARE Level 2 is a three-day course meant to further avalanche education and decision making skills in more complicated terrain with a focus on weather, snowpack evaluation, and understanding of avalanche observations and processes.
Who can apply
Adult women of color (21+) and female identifying individuals, underrepresented women, and women with financial need. Applicants must provide proof of AIARE Level 1 certification to apply for this program.
How to apply
To apply, visit the link below and fill out an application by Sunday, October 31, 2021 at 11:59PM PST to be considered for this scholarship. Applicants will be notified by email of scholarship standing by November 29, 2021.
Scholarship Course Dates
February 3-6th, 2022 @ Mt. Baker (provided by Alpine Ascents International)
This scholarship is facilitated through partial donations of sales from Weston’s AIARE co-branded ski and splitboard lineup.
https://www.shejumps.org/snowpack-scholarship-level2
Guides Fund Yearly 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.
Live Large University AIARE Scholarship
The #LiveLargeUniversity AIARE scholarship is intended to support motorized backcountry riders. Funds for this scholarship are raised by donation and through purchases from the 2020 Avalanche Alliance Sweepstakes and the Jon Ferrian Live online shop. Full and partial scholarships are available for students taking an AIARE Motorized Rec Course, PRO 1, PRO 2 or ITC course. Read more about qualifications here: LLU SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA 2021. Applications for PRO and Instructor Training will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Awards for AIARE recreational courses (AIARE 1, AIARE 2, Rescue) will be given on November 7, December 1 and again on January 15. APPLY NOW.
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).
Blackbird BIPOC Avalanche Scholarship
The purpose of the Blackbird BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Avalanche Course Scholarship is to acknowledge structural racism that has contributed to a lack of representation in the ski industry and remove financial barriers to avalanche education to make backcountry skiing more accessible and representative of our population as a whole.
To that end, we are offering one AIARE 1 , a Women’s AIARE 1 or a Lift Accessed Avalanche Rescue course to the chosen recipient. This avalanche course scholarship will be for an in- person course in Truckee / Lake Tahoe area with Blackbird Mountain Guides.
The application period has been extended and now ends Dec 20, 2021. You will be notified via email from Blackbird Mountain Guides once the scholarship decision has been made as soon after the application period has ended as we can.