Elevating Women’s Voices in Wilderness Spaces
Apply for one of two Scholarships, each including a spot on an Aspire trip and running gear from Oiselle, Spring Energy and Fly Nutrition!
Congratulations to the 2023 Women’s Adventure Scholarship winners!
Trail Mixed Sucia Island Trip Winner: Sharan Bir
“There is a certain sense of safety and comfort that comes with being in nature. Nature does not hold me against cultural notions. Nature does not judge my skin color, or where I come from, or where I will go. Nature opens its arms wide and accepts me as I am. With every step I take in the wild, I feel I belong.”
Sawtooth Backcountry Women’s Trip Winner: Makena Rutledge
“As I trained throughout the summer for my September 50k, I began to feel true, unfiltered joy for the first time in recent memory. I ran along endless ridges and frolicked through alpine meadows, taking in otherworldly views. I allowed myself to be authentic and joyous in these wild spaces and, slowly, they began to heal me.”
Read the full essay here.
Why the Women’s Adventure Scholarship?
We want to support more women getting into wild places, blazing their own trails, and sharing the ups, downs, twists, and turns of their journey. For too long, wilderness narratives have been about the lone, often male, explorer pitting himself against the elements. We look forward to new narratives and stories created and shared from wild women.
Women’s Adventure Scholarship Details
2 scholarships will be awarded to 2 separate female athletes venturing into wild spaces. Applying is simple, and involves responding to 2 questions:
- What role does running play in your life?
- Why is it important to uplift women’s voices and create more access for women on the trails?
6 finalists, 3 for each scholarship, will be selected and invited to write a more in-depth essay on women moving through the wilderness. Both the application submissions and essays may be shared with our running community. We believe that sharing these stories and essays will contribute to an inspiring and growing narrative of female-focused wilderness exploits. Applicants can opt to have their words shared anonymously.
Who Should Apply?
We encourage a diverse field of applicants in terms of age, race, experience, and backgrounds. Applicants need not have overcome any specific hardship or have a deeply compelling story. An extensive wilderness/running resume is not required. A desire to explore is sufficient!
By applying you are joining a network of women who are passionate about elevating the visibility of women adventure athletes. Even if you don’t think you are a “competitive” applicant, we want to hear from you. We invite ALL athletes and adventurers to signup and follow the stories of your fellow females.
Application Process
- Initial applications will be accepted between March 1st through March 15th.
- From our application pool, 6 finalists (3 for each trip) will be selected and invited to submit a one page essay on answering one final question. Finalists will be notified by March 21st.
- Finalist Essays will be due March 27th.
- Scholarship recipients will be announced on March 31st.
Explore the trips:
Sawtooth Backcountry Women’s Alpine Adventure
A weekend of trail running, exploring mountain lakes and meadows, camping, and basking in the ephemeral beauty of the Fall alpine.
Trail Mixed: Sucia Island (Women of Color)
Aspire is proud to partner with Trail Mixed Collective to increase access to outdoor sports for women of color. Our Sucia Island retreat is geared toward both those new to trails and running and to those experienced runners who desire to contribute to a vibrant community of women of color on the trails.
2022 Scholarship Winners
“Freedom Found” by Maurya Lacey
The Aspire team is honored to share Maurya Lacey’s essay “Freedom Found” with you. We have been humbled, saddened, inspired, and so appreciative of the courage and clarity portrayed through these words. Read Maurya’s full essay.
’22 Sawtooth Backcountry Winner: Elena Mora
The Aspire team is honored to share Elena Mora’s winning essay for the Sawtooth Backcountry Women’s Trip with you. We are certain that the boldness with which Elena shares both her challenges and stoke for life and running will inspire readers as it did our panel and staff. Read Elena’s full essay.
- One application per person.
- Applicants must be female and 18 years of age or older.
- Applications will be evaluated by a team of representatives from Aspire and partners.
- All scholarship entrants agree to receive promotional materials from Aspire and partners.
- Entrants agree to allow application responses and essays to be made public, with the intent of sharing wisdom and inspiration with a larger audience of wilderness and trail enthusiasts.
- Scholarship recipients agree to contribute updates, including photos, from their training and trip experiences to be shared on Aspire’s and partners social media channels.
