Note: This page is a preview only! It is meant to show you what may be on some of our North American applications. We will not accept this preview in an email. Not all information below is represented in the final application. You must fill out our application through our application site, apply.inspiringgirls.org.
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions North America Preview
Information about Inspiring Girls Expeditions & COVID-19
We are planning to run field expeditions in 2024. Our field expeditions will implement appropriate COVID-19 mitigation measures. Specific measures (i.e., masks, vaccine requirement, testing, potential cancellation policy, etc.) will depend on factors including, but not limited to, our various host institutions’ policies and the rate of COVID-19 transmission at the expedition’s location.
Basic Information
Contact Information
Street Address
City
Country
State/Province/Region
Zip/Postal Code
Phone Number
School Information
Current Grade Level
Current School
City
Homeschooled?
Parent or Guardian Name & Contact Information
Have you applied to Inspiring Girls Expeditions before?
Yes
No
Are you a 2022 Expeditions@Home alum?
Yes
No
How did you hear about us?
Facebook, Instagram, or other social media
Internet search
News article in: _______
Family member
Friend
School/Teacher
Event, please specify: _______
Other, please specify: _______
Expedition Selection
In 2023, we will be running field expeditions only. Alumni from Expeditions@Home 2022 may apply to join our field expeditions in 2023. The dates for each program are available on our website.
Please rank your top two (3) expedition choices.
Although we will do our best to honor your preference, please keep in mind that we are not always able to put selected participants on their first-choice expedition. Regardless of which expedition you might be selected for, your experience will be rich and rewarding!
First Choice
Second Choice
Third Choice
No expedition preference
Are there any expeditions you would NOT be able to join next summer?
Please list the expedition(s) you would not be able to join and tell us a little bit about why.
About You
1. I like to be referred to as… (Optional)
Please tell us your pronouns. A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun; in this case, a word that substitutes for your name. Examples include she/her/hers and they/them/theirs. This question is optional.
2. My gender can best be described as_______
3. I would describe myself as transgender.
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
4. I feel I can best be described as…(Check all that apply)
American Indian, First Nation, Alaska Native, Canadian Inuit, or Indigenous
African American or Black
Asian
Latina/e
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
White
My identity is not represented here. I identify as: _______
5. My family’s lifestyle can best be described as…
Upper or upper middle class
Middle class
Lower middle or working class
Other, please specify: _______
6. I grew up in a(n) _______ neighborhood
Urban
Suburban
Rural
7. What languages do you speak at home?
8. I like to participate in class by…
Do you prefer group work, or working individually? Do you like to participate in class discussions? What is your learning style?
9. My favorite school subject is: (Check up to 3)
Art
English or Language Arts
Foreign Language
History
Math
Music
Life or Physical Sciences
Social Sciences
Physical Education
Other, please specify: _______
10. Three words my friends would use to describe me are…
11. Do you work outside of school?
No
Yes
12. After high school, I want to… (Check all that apply)
go to college
enter the workforce
take a gap year
join the military
not sure yet
other, please specify: _______
Because…
Please share with us the reasons behind your post-high school plans.
13. The highest degree(s) my parent/guardian(s) earned are… (Check all that apply)
High school diploma or GED
Technical diploma
Associate’s degree
Four year degree
Master’s degree
PhD
Other, please specify: _______
Short Answer Questions
Please answer the following questions with one or two paragraphs. Specific examples and stories are generally more useful and engaging to the application review committee than general statements. Your answers to these questions are the best way for us to learn about you! Each question is limited to 900 characters, or about 1-2 paragraphs.
1. Please describe your interest in Inspiring Girls Expeditions.
Why do you want to participate in this program? How do you think this experience will impact your future?
2. How do you spend your days and weekends outside of school? What is a typical day and a typical weekend like for you?
3. Who in your life are you closest with, and who provides you the most support?
This question will help us better understand the people (family and/or other adults or peers) around you and what life is like for you at home.
4. Tell us about an aspect of science that excites and intrigues you.
What about this aspect of science interests you?
5. Describe your relationship to or experience with art as a tool for expression and communication.
Here, 'art' can include (but is not limited to) drawing and painting, sculpture, music, dance, theater, photography, writing, or any kind of activity you use to express yourself creatively.
6. What do you feel are your strengths or outstanding qualities of character? What do you feel are your weaknesses or areas in which you wish to improve your character?
7. Where do you see yourself in six years?
Tell us about your goals for your career, schooling, personal life, etc.
8. Tell us: what makes you uniquely you?
There is only one 'you' out there, and we would love to hear more about who you are. Inspiring Girls strives to build a diverse team of all kinds of participants on each expedition - diverse in terms of hometowns, upbringings, personalities, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. This question will help us build such a team.
The following is optional:
9. You can use this space to tell us anything about yourself you feel the application might not have fully captured. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had to help us understand you better - perhaps related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, your family or cultural background, or anything else - we encourage you to do so.
10. We are always trying to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of our application process. Please let us know any feedback you have on the questions we asked and the application process in general. Your answers to this question will only be viewed by program administrators and will not be considered in evaluating your application.
Field Expeditions Questionnaire
If you are accepted as a team member on a field expedition, you will be required to complete a basic physical examination and be cleared to participate by your physician or physician’s assistant. Please contact us at apply@inspiringgirls.org (US expeditions) or canada@inspiringgirls.org (Canada expeditions) with any questions regarding this requirement.
How much do you typically exercise each week?
Please provide the activity, duration, and number of times per week (for example: running, 30 minutes, 2 times per week).
Tell us about the most challenging physical experience you have recently done (run, hike, walk, paddle, climb, swim, sports event, etc).
Please describe this experience (how far you went, how long ago it was, the terrain, the duration, etc), when you accomplished this, and what you learned that will help you train for Inspiring Girls Expeditions if you are accepted.
Are you capable of comfortably swimming 25 yards freestyle in deep water, face down, breathing alternate sides, then treading water for 1 minute, and then swimming back?
We ask this because our water-based expeditions require that we select participants who are comfortable in deep water for safety reasons. We recommend Red Cross swimming level 3 at a minimum and will discuss this more with you if you are selected for the team. *If you are applying for Girls* on Ice Canada, your answer to this question will not be evaluated during the application review process.
Yes
No
Do you have any physical, medical, or mental health0-related conditions that might make participating in Inspiring Girls Expeditions challenging for you? Tell us about you manage this in your everyday life, and any concerns you have about managing this condition on an expedition.
Examples could include allergies, diabetes, asthma, recent injuries, anxiety, depression, disordered eating, a neurological diagnosis, etc.