Summit Scholarship Foundation

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Summit Scholarship Foundation

Gender equity is at the heart of The AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation's mission.

Through transformative outdoor experiences, we strive to empower all marginalized genders which includes women and non-cis genders.

06/02/2026

Women-focused mountaineering adventures can be a transformative experience. Building new skill sets, learning among an inclusive team, being allowed to make mistakes in a safe environment, and new accomplishments, create a recipe for self-reliance and self-assurance.

“I can confidently say that being on a glacier, wearing crampons, and using ice axes would have 100% been my dream as a kid… if I had known that these things even existed. Stumbling upon the Summit Scholarship Foundation has opened up an entire world that I know I’m meant to be a part of.”

~ Aubryanna, Summit Scholarship Class of 2024

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by Lowa, Fjällräven, Title Nine, Nite Ize, McGills Mountains, The Cairn Project, AWExpeditions, Deuter, Leki, Mawa Collective, She Moves Mountains, and Upward Transitions.

05/25/2026

When a woman masters the mountain environment, she brings back more than a summit photo, she also brings back a transformed sense of her own capability that ripples into every other corner of her life. She is more likely to ask for a raise, lead a team, or start her own business. So ensuring women are on the mountain isn’t just about fairness; it’s about unlocking a huge, untapped source of confident and resilient leadership for the world at large.

~ Sunny Stroeer, Summit Scholarship Founder

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by Lowa, Fjällräven, Title Nine, Nite Ize, McGills Mountains, The Cairn Project, AWExpeditions, Deuter, Leki, Mawa Collective, She Moves Mountains, and Upward Transitions.

05/21/2026

What Is the “Alpine Divorce”?

The “alpine divorce” refers to the long history of women being separated from outdoor exploration, adventure, and mountaineering—socially, culturally, and structurally.

For generations, women were told the mountains were too dangerous, too demanding, or simply not a place they belonged.

And even today, that separation still shows up in who feels safe, welcome, and supported outdoors.

Many women still weigh every hike, climb, or solo trip against one question:
“Will I be safe?”

Studies show women experience significantly higher fear of violence and harassment in outdoor spaces than men.

In one outdoor community survey:

66% of women said they felt unsafe recreating outdoors
53% reported experiencing harassment while outside

The outdoors is often framed as freedom—but many women still describe:

- Being underestimated
- Questioned about their competence
- Feeling hyper-aware while alone outdoors
- Navigating safety concerns that men often don’t think about

Access means more than getting outside.
It means feeling like you belong there safely.

Women-led trips, courses, and outdoor communities don’t exist to exclude others.

They exist because support, mentorship, and psychological safety help more women actually participate.

Everyone deserves the chance to experience the outdoors through curiosity, confidence, and freedom—not fear.

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by Lowa, Fjällräven, Title Nine, Nite Ize, McGills Mountains, The Cairn Project, AWExpeditions, Deuter, Leki, Mawa Collective, She Moves Mountains, and Upward Transitions.

05/18/2026

Summit Scholarship recipients show us again and again how important gaining mountaineering knowledge and experience among other women impacts their everyday life.

It's not simply a trip for these women, it's a huge step for building confidence, skills, and the knowledge that people believe in their stories.

The Summit Scholarship Foundation’s goal is to advance gender equity on and off the mountain. By empowering women through adventure we contribute to gender equity on and off the mountain. Join us in closing the gender gap one mountain at a time.

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by Lowa, Fjällräven, Title Nine, Nite Ize, McGills Mountains, The Cairn Project, AWExpeditions, Deuter, Leki, Mawa Collective, She Moves Mountains, and Upward Transitions.

05/14/2026

Deadline or submissions for our Women in Mountaineering calendar is TOMORROW (May 15th). Link in our bio to submit.

This calendar not only showcases some of the incredible members of the mountaineering community, but helps provide opportunities for future leaders and advocates. By buying a calendar, you're contributing to the future mountaineers, and helping uplift our current role models.

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by Lowa, Fjallraven, Title Nine, Nite Ize, McGills Mountains, The Cairn Project, AWExpeditions, Deuter, Leki, Mawa Collective, She Moves Mountains, and Upward Transitions.

05/11/2026

One opportunity can change everything. For our Summit Scholarship recipients, an opportunity to learn from other women on high peak expeditions or courses ignites the curiosity, confidence, and community necessary for mountain pursuits.

The Summit Scholarship Foundation’s goal is to advance gender equity on and off the mountain (Read about the definition of 'gender equity' in our pinned post). By empowering women through adventure we contribute to gender equity on and off the mountain. Join us in closing the gender gap one mountain at a time.

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by .outdoor .outdoor .collective

05/07/2026

The real cost of getting into the outdoors (and why it stops so many women):

The Cost of Time:

Getting into mountaineering isn’t just about motivation, it’s time.

Think about this:
A typical expedition or training climb requires 7–14+ days off work (travel, acclimatization, climb days).
Training? That’s weeks to months of prep before you even go.

And time isn’t equal:
Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. moms are stay-at-home parents, limiting flexibility for long trips.

The Pay Gap & Cost Reality:

In the U.S., women earn about 81¢ for every $1 men earn—a ~20–24% gap.

Now layer in cost:
Basic mountaineering course/trip: $1,500–$4,000+
Gear (boots, ice axe, layers, sunglasses, etc.): $1,000–$3,000+

Same mountains.
Not the same starting point.

The Invisible Costs:

It’s not just money or time
Who teaches you?
Who do you go with?
Do you feel safe?
Do you see people like you doing this?

In the US, fewer than 10% of AMGA certified mountain guides are women.
Less than 2% of IFMGA certified mountain guides worldwide are women.
7% of Everest summiteers are women.

Access isn’t just physical,
it’s social.

These barriers don’t affect everyone equally.

They’re a big reason many women never get the chance to start.

Access changes everything.
And opportunity shouldn’t be the hardest part of getting outside.

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by .outdoor .outdoor .collective

05/05/2026

The Summit Scholarship supports more than the expedition itself, but the gear, the journey, the community, and the training. It's a well-rounded approach that allows recipients the opportunity to have the best possible time on their trip, whether learning mountaineering skills for the first time or summiting their first 18,000ft peak. This is to help our recipients come home beaming with confidence, excitement, and a new-found love for the mountains.

The Summit Scholarship Program is made possible by .outdoor .outdoor .collective

04/30/2026

Do you know inspiring women in the mountains who are also advocating for a better future? We are looking for nominations for our yearly Women in Mountaineering Calendar. Deadline: May 15th.

Head to our link in bio to nominate someone for the 2027 calendar, or grab your very own copy of the 2026 calendar.
⁠
Each year we take submissions for 12 inspiring women who push boundaries in the backcountry around the world to feature in our Women of Mountaineering Calendar. These women also use their platforms to increase accessibility in the mountains for the next generation.⁠
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Each calendar purchase directly supports the Summit Scholarship Foundation, which has given out over $175,000 in mountaineering & backcountry scholarships to women in just the past eight years. By purchasing a calendar, you’re helping ensure we can keep leveling the playing field for women in the mountains.

04/27/2026

When people don’t see themselves represented in outdoor spaces, it’s harder to imagine that they belong there. And when that happens, talent, perspective, and potential are left behind.

Representation isn’t just about visibility, it’s about access, opportunity, and who gets to lead.

Summit Scholarship is one way we help shift that. By creating pathways into the outdoors, we’re helping build a more inclusive, diverse, and stronger community for everyone.

Be part of building a more inclusive outdoors.

Address

Provo, UT

Website

http://www.summitscholarship.org/

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