Girls on Ice Canada

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Revelstoke, BC
Girls on Ice Canada

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Girls* on Ice Canada is fundraising for our next expedition(s)! Click here to donate: https://tinyurl.com/4fkwjwz9

Meet our awesome volunteers & staff!

Girls* on Ice Canada is a tuition-free, science-immersion summer wilderness expedition that interweaves science, art and adventure!

* We welcome cis girls, trans girls, non-binary, gender non-conforming and any girl-identified youth Head on over to www.inspiringgirls.org/goi-canada

Accompanied by certified mountain guides, professional scientists, and artists, a team of 10 girls* explore the Illecillewaet and Asulkan glaciers in Glacier National Park in British Columbia. These glaciers provide a perfect environment for developing scientific observational skills, understanding relationships between organisms and their surroundings, reflecting on our own interactions with the mountains through art, building self-confidence in difficult terrain, and gaining life-long friendships. Itinerary:
The day-to-day activities of the expedition may change due to weather and glacier conditions. The basic itinerary is generally as follows:

Day 1: Arrive in Calgary or Revelstoke and drive to meet the team in Rogers Pass, British Columbia! Together we will learn about traveling and camping in the mountains and stay the night at the Illecillewaet Campground. Day 2: The first of several day hikes from the campground - these will let us get comfortable using our gear and begin the process of immersion science and developing observational skills. Day 3: Venture to higher alpine environments on another day hike. By traveling through the mountains, girls will gain essential technical skills and confidence in their abilities. Day 4: Deepen our relationship with this landscape by developing our science projects. We will also meet local artists and scientists. Day 5: Hike up to the Asulkan Hut - where we will be based out of for the next four days. Days 6-9: Explore the glacier and surrounding mountains while learning about ice, snow and the ecosystems that depend on them. One day we will make a summit attempt on Youngs peak! Girls will conduct their own science experiments as well as create art pieces that reflect their interactions with glaciers and perceptions of mountain environments. We overnight in the Asulkan Hut. Day 10: Hike out from the hut back to the trailhead and travel to the Biogeoscience Institute in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Day 11: Wrap up science experiments with a culminating presentation of the results at the Biogeoscience Institute in Kananaskis Country. Day 12: Final reflection activities and return home.

07/21/2026

We’re inviting you into a one-of-a-kind mountain experience at the spectacular Bow Hut, in Banff National Park; where glacier travel, science, art, and leadership come together.
❄️ Women* on Ice — September 3–6, 2026

Meet the Staff Team:
Meghan Sharp (she/her) is a glaciologist and geophysicist studying how and why ice fractures on Antarctica’s floating ice shelves. Her Master’s research used remote sensing to trace 70 years of glacier movement right here in the Yukon. Off the ice, you’ll find her on skis, a mountain bike, or crafting stained glass art. She has a contagious sense of wonder — and she loves sharing it. 🎨🏔️

Sarah Hicks (she/her) is a watercolour and acrylic painter based in Revelstoke, with a focus on landscapes and plein air painting. She loves to share her love of art and vast glaciated landscapes, and we’re excited to welcome her back for a 3rd year with Women* On Ice.

Jennifer Olson is an IFMGA Mountain Guide, somatic therapist, and mental health RN who brings a unique blend of technical mountain expertise, nervous system awareness, and deep respect for the alpine environment to her work. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can build confidence, connection, and resilience through shared adventure in the Canadian Rockies. Through mountaineering, reflection, and immersion in wild places, she hopes participants leave with both practical skills and a deeper relationship to themselves and the mountains.

You’ll learn practical glacier and mountain travel skills, explore how glaciers shape our world, reflect through art, and connect with an incredible community along the way.
By participating, you’re not just having an incredible adventure, you’re directly supporting the next generation of young women and gender-diverse youth in the mountains. 💚
Check the link in our bio for more info and to sign up!

06/08/2026

Meet our Mountain Guides! 🏔️

👋 Say hello to Erica and Jennifer, the experienced guides leading our adult expeditions on the glacier this summer.

Our expeditions are so much more than a standard mountaineering course. We bring science and art up to the glacier through instructor-led lessons that will change the way you see ice, water, and the mountain world around you ✨

⛷️Erica Roles is an IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide based out of Canmore, Alberta. Erica has been working as a guide since 2005 and became Canada’s 11th Female IFMGA Mountain Guide in 2018. Born in the UK, she spent much of her childhood in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe before moving to Canada with her family in 1998 — and falling in love with the mountains of Western Canada. Erica began her mountain career as a Pro Ski Patroller at Lake Louise Ski Resort, and her passion for sharing the alpine world with others naturally led her to a career in guiding.

🧘 Jennifer is an IFMGA Mountain Guide, somatic therapist, and mental health RN who brings a unique blend of technical mountain expertise, nervous system awareness, and deep respect for the alpine environment to her work. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can build confidence, connection, and resilience through shared adventure in the Canadian Rockies. Through mountaineering, reflection, and immersion in wild places, she hopes participants leave with both practical skills and a deeper relationship to themselves and the mountains.

Ever dreamed of feeling confident in alpine environments? This is a great place to start!

🔗 Visit this link for more information and to register: https://www.inspiringgirls.org/goi-canada-adults

05/19/2026

📣 We’re recruiting volunteers for the 2026 Illecillewaet Expedition! 🏔️

Based out of the Asulkan Hut in Rogers Pass, BC, we need enthusiastic folks to fill three roles:

🧚 GEAR FAIRIES — Carry food, gear & supplies to/from the hut so our participants can focus on the experience. You’ll hike with an ACMG guide (13 km round trip, 900 m elevation gain) and be a role model for our girls* as they tackle their first adventures in mountain terrain.
→ July 17 (inbound) & July 22 (outbound)

We’re also looking for Volunteers to help the Camp and Clubhouse run smoothly.
🏕️ CAMPGROUND VOLUNTEER — Help with general camp chores at the Illecillewaet Campground, Rogers Pass BC.
→ July 13–17

🏠 ACC CLUBHOUSE VOLUNTEER — Assist with cooking, gear clean-up & more in Canmore, AB.
→ July 22–24

Your help is truly essential to making this expedition a success — and deeply appreciated by our whole Girls* on Ice community.

💙 Interested?
🔗 Fill out this google form: https://shorturl.at/gsB53
OR
✉️ Email: [email protected] for more information.

05/16/2026

🎨 Meet our Adult Expedition art instructors!

Say hello to Megan and Sarah, the talented creatives bringing art to life on the ice this season.

Our adult programs are so much more than an intro to mountaineering course. We bring science and art up to the glacier through instructor-led sessions that will change the way you see ice, water, and the mountain world around you.

Megan Leung (she/her) is a climate and conservation artist and water and climate sciences professor at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Outside of the classroom, she channels environmental science into bold and imaginative paintings and murals, and leads public workshops, presentations, and outreach events for all ages. Research and playing in the mountains have brought her to beautiful and remote places where water, ice, permafrost, and snow dance through the landscape; from the Canadian Rockies to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

Sarah Hicks (she/her) is a watercolour and acrylic painter based in Revelstoke, with a focus on landscapes and plein air painting. She loves to share her love of art and vast glaciated landscapes, and we’re excited to welcome her back for a 3rd year with Women* On Ice.

If you’ve ever wanted to stand on a glacier and see it through the eyes of an artist, this is your program.

🔗 Visit this link for more information and to register: https://www.inspiringgirls.org/goi-canada-adults

05/02/2026

🧊 Meet our Adult Expedition science instructors!

Say hello to Meghan and Kristina, the brilliant minds leading our glacier science lessons this season. ✨

Our adult programs are so much more than an intro to mountaineering course. We bring science and art up to the glacier through instructor-led lessons that will change the way you see ice, water, and the mountain world around you.

Meghan Sharp (she/her) is a glaciologist and geophysicist studying where, when, how and why ice fractures on Antarctica’s floating ice shelves. Her Master’s research used remote sensing to trace 70 years of glacier movement in the Yukon. Off the ice, you’ll find her on skis, a mountain bike, or crafting stained glass art. She has a contagious sense of wonder and she loves sharing it. 🎨🏔️

Kristina Penn (she/her) has been part of Girls* on Ice Canada since 2020 and helped build our Yukon expedition from the ground up. As a PhD candidate in glacial hydrology and northern watersheds, she’s deeply connected to landscapes we explore together and she believes science should be experienced, not just studied. Expect hands-on discovery and a lot of confidence-building along the way. 💧❄️

If you’ve ever wanted to stand on a glacier and actually understand what you’re standing on — this is your program.

🔗 Visit this link for more information and to register: https://www.inspiringgirls.org/goi-canada-adults

04/22/2026

It’s National Volunteer Week, and we have so much to celebrate! 🎊 💕

The Girls* on Ice Canada community is built on the passion and dedication of our volunteers. We truly wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the kind and generous people who give their time, both on expeditions and behind the scenes.

Today we’re celebrating a group of volunteers who work quietly but play an essential role in laying the foundation for each year’s expedition team: our Application Reviewers!

☀️What is an application reviewer? Application reviewers play a key role in shaping each expedition. They help us narrow a broad applicant pool down to the group from which our instructional staff builds the final team. With varied backgrounds and a deep passion for our organizational values, they bring the insight needed to help us create inclusive, thoughtful teams each year. They are scientists, artists, and outdoor guides, alumni parents, teachers, adult expedition alumni, social workers, and past gear fairies. Our application reviewers are a diverse and fascinating group, and it shows in the teams they help us build.

☀️What can an application reviewer expect? Application reviewers commit between 5 and 15 hours of online time in our application platform. Each reviewer reads through every detail of their assigned applications, identifying candidates who embody our organizational values and appear ready to make the most of the experience. Every application is read by multiple reviewers, sometimes across several rounds, before a final list is presented to our instructor team. Application reviewers are the first cheerleaders in our applicants’ corner; making sure each one receives the careful, kind, and inclusive consideration they deserve.

04/19/2026

It’s National Volunteer Week, and we’ve got so much to celebrate! 🎊💕

The Girls* on Ice Canada community is made up of so many passionate and engaged volunteers. We truly wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the kind and generous people who give their time in support of our expeditions, and also behind the scenes.

We’re going to kick off the week with a celebration of the volunteers who carry the heaviest physical load: Gear Fairies!

🧚 What is a gear fairy? A gear fairy (or “ferry”) carries food, gear, and supplies to and from the Asulkan Hut. This lightens the load for our participants and instructors. This will be some of our participant’s first time hiking in the mountains over steep terrain, and gear fairies help make this journey a little easier for them while also strengthening the Girls* on Ice community and serving as strong and enthusiastic role models to our participants.

🧚 What can a gear fairy expect? Inbound gear fairies will meet at the Illecillewaet Campground in Glacier National Park and split up the gear (expect to carry ~40-60 lbs). Gear fairies will then hike together as a group with an Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) Hiking Guide to the Asulkan Hut (900 m elevation gain, 13 km round trip) where they will unpack the gear ahead of the participant’s arrival. Outbound gear fairies will make the uphill trek with much lighter packs, and then carry out the gear and remaining food at the end of the expedition.

✨They’re also one of the volunteer groups who get to engage with our program in person:
“When we reached the Asulkan Hut, I was flabbergasted by the fine-tuned program that was running! Each student had a clearly defined role, which were well thought out and enriched the experience for all! Students felt they had an important and significant role in the team. Each leader had a clearly defined role as well. The women mentoring and leading experiences for the students WERE THE KINDEST, CALMEST WOMEN I have ever met. I felt so valued and integral.” - Shannon, 2025 Illecillewaet Gear Fairy.🧚

04/16/2026

✨Ready to step onto a glacier and discover what you’re capable of?✨

Here’s a peek at what your days could look like on a Girls* on Ice Canada Adult Expedition:

🏔️Day 1 – We meet, connect, and begin our journey together with a scenic hike into Bow Hut. Along the way, you’ll ease into glacier science with an intro lesson and get creative with your first art activity — no experience needed, just curiosity.

❄️Day 2 – Glacier day! We venture out onto the ice, learning the basics of glacier travel and crevasse rescue in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment. You’ll also take part in a hands-on science experiment and another inspiring art session.

💃Day 3 – Ready for a challenge? Today brings the option of a bigger glacier objective, with plenty of encouragement every step of the way. We’ll wind down in the afternoon with more creating and science exploration together.

💫Day 4 – We reflect, celebrate, and soak in the experience before hiking out — leaving with new skills, new confidence, and a community you didn’t know you needed.

No prior experience required — just a sense of adventure and a willingness to try something new.

🌟Spots are limited, and this is your sign to say yes - link in bio for more information! 🌟

04/02/2026

🥁 Introducing our 2026 Adult Expeditions: Allies on Ice & Women* on Ice ❄️⛰️

During these programs, adult participants can experience a piece of the transformative programming we offer youth while helping to fund the future of it! These are fundraising expeditions, and every participant plays a direct role in helping Girls* on Ice Canada to flourish.

We’re inviting you into a one-of-a-kind mountain experience at the spectacular Bow Hut, in Banff National Park; where glacier travel, science, art, and leadership come together.

Two opportunities this year:
❄️ Allies on Ice — July 31–August 3, 2026
❄️ Women* on Ice — September 3–6, 2026

You’ll learn practical glacier and mountain travel skills, explore how glaciers shape our world, reflect through art, and connect with an incredible community along the way.

By participating, you’re not just having an incredible adventure, you’re directly supporting the next generation of young women and gender-diverse youth in the mountains. 💚

No mountaineering, science, or art experience required. Just curiosity, enthusiasm, and a desire to experience the mountains in a whole new way.

📎 More info: inspiringgirls.org/goi-canada-adults

02/21/2026

Girls* On Ice Canada is seeking an Assistant Science Instructor for our Summer 2026 Illecillewaet Expedition 🎙️ We encourage ALL interested applicants to !

HOW TO APPLY:
🔗 Click the LINK IN OUR BIO (www.inspiringgirls.org/work-with-us) for the full job description, also posted on our website
🏔️ Send your (1) cover letter + (2) resume to [email protected]

QUICK FACTS:
1️⃣ Virtual instructor training sessions & curriculum planning (April-June, 15 hours)
2️⃣ 2-3 Day Scouting Trip with the instructor team (Late June/Early July)
3️⃣ The ideal candidate will have strong experience in natural science, social science, or art as well as experience with youth leadership or youth science instruction
4️⃣ The will take place from July 13th to 24th 2026 in Glacier National Park, British Columbia

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✨Girls* on Ice Canada welcomes cisgender and transgender girls, agender, Two Spirit, nonbinary, intersex & genderqueer youth.

Address

Revelstoke, BC

Website

https://www.inspiringgirls.org/goi-canada

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