We are looking for participants who are 16 to 18 years old on June 1 of the expedition year and identify or demonstrate allyship with communities historically excluded from sciences and outdoor professions. Our programs are open to U.S. residents, and priority is given to residents from Alaska.
Please review our Essential Eligibility Criteria, which details the minimum requirements to participate in our programs, and our Diversity and Inclusion statement for more details.

Applicants who have been on any expedition are ineligible to participate again on any branches expeditions. Our unique curriculum means our expedition teams must remain small to make an impact. Therefore, once a participant completes a single program, we must make our expeditions accessible for others to enjoy.

For summer 2024 expeditions, Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska is hosting Girls* on Ice Alaska from June 14 to June 25, 2024 and Girls* on Water from July 19 to July 30, 2024.

The Alaska expedition applications will open in late November and close at the end of day on January 31st, Alaska time. All application materials, including at least one recommendation form, must be submitted by that date.

Our application process asks applicants to reflect on their sense of self, abilities, interests, and curiosities. Sections include basic information, about you, and short answer questions, all of which must be completed to submit your application including one recommendation form.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you can sit back and relax! Our team of program staff and reviewers will read your application, and we’ll let you know if you’ve been accepted in April.

Yes, we do! The application for Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska is internet-based; however, we have a paper version of the application available upon request to anyone who does not have easy access to the internet. This paper application is only available for Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska programs and cannot be used for any other expeditions provided by our sister branches (e.g., Inspiring Girls* Expeditions PNW). We can mail a paper application with enclosed paid return envelope to an address of your choice, or can provide a PDF digital copy you can print out and mail yourself. Please note we will observe University of Alaska Fairbanks holiday closures between Dec 18, 2023 and January 5, 2024. Requests for applications made during this time will be addressed beginning January 8.

To request a paper version of our application:

Complete this Google Form, OR
Call 907-474-7281

Once you have contacted us, your application packet will be put in the mail within three business days. The packet will include a stamped envelope to return your completed application. Applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2024. Please contact us at 907-474-7281 or alaska@inspiringgirls.org if you have questions.

One recommendation form must be completed before you can submit an application but up to two forms can be completed in total. We would like recommendation forms from someone who plays a strong "teacher" role in your life. This could be a teacher, work supervisor, athletic coach, leader of a group you are involved in, or a Elder. You should communicate with your recommender(s) early and often!

Congratulations! If you are selected for an expedition, you will receive a Welcome Packet via email that will provide everything you need to know about enrollment paperwork, packing for your expedition, arranging your travel, and other details. You will be invited to attend a virtual Family Orientation Night in the spring, where you will have the opportunity to meet your instructors and other participants on your team and learn more about what to expect for your expedition.

If you are selected as an alternate, we will contact you if a spot becomes available on an expedition team. A spot could become available at any point between mid April and the start of the expedition, and we usually end up selecting at least one alternate for each of our teams. We do not rank our alternates, so you are just as likely as any other alternate to be selected for an open spot. Please contact us if you do not wish to be an alternate for an expedition.

Please see our “For Recommenders” FAQ section on our main Apply page.