Applications Currently Open
Become a Trailblazer
Our Trailblazers Get Out to Give Back
From the trails to the industry, women and girls are under-represented in the outdoors. Join our volunteer Trailblazer team working to change the playing field for girls+ outside.
Trailblazer applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
What Makes Our Trailblazer Program Unique
Resilience Coaching
Support and inspiration for your role with us – and for your life, courtesy of Just a Wild Thought Coaching
Industry
Pro Deals
Gear Perks / One year Outdoor Prolink membership + other goodies
Social and Fundraising 101
How to’s and best practices – we’ll equip you with the strategies you need.
“Being a Trailblazer with The Cairn Project has brought so much meaning and joy into my life – internally and externally.”
Liv Del Brocco
Ambassador Alum
What Trailblazers Do
- Fundraise with a sliding scale target from $500-$3K
- Actively participate in fundraising and other Trailblazer activities
- Contribute to storytelling for The Cairn Project’s social media
- Attend monthly virtual meetings to cover logistics, presentations, mentorship, etc. (some 1:1, some with a cohort)
- Present to the Trailblazer cohort upon completion of the adventure and fundraiser sharing
- Have fun connecting with an awesome new community of women!
What Trailblazers Get
- One year membership to Outdoor ProLink
- Mentorship support from the Trailblazer alumni network
- Consideration for additional logistical, social, material or financial support upon request depending on individual circumstances
- Fundraising and adventure planning and support
- Support with local outdoor partnership opportunities
- Professional life coaching sessions with Just a Wild Thought Coaching
- Opportunity for social media takeovers, blog writing, etc. to grow online
Ambassador applications are currently closed. Sign up for our email newsletter to hear when applications are open next.
Frequently Asked Questions
As far as human-powered adventures go, the sky is the limit! Running, biking, hiking, paddling, mountaineering, skiing, walking… We’ve had a huge variety of Trailblazer activities. We welcome you to choose a goal within the outdoors that will push you and encourage you to share your experience with others. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do in the outdoors… this is your nudge.
Check out this blog post! We’ve had Trailblazers put their adventures on their resumes, share them on platforms from podcasts to presentations, find a new community of like-minded adventurers, build fundraising skills to help in future work, and more. Trailblazers also learn storytelling and public speaking skills to help them share their story in their future goals.
Yes! You’ll have a Slack community connecting you to past and current Trailblazers where you can find adventure buddies, chat gear, find motivation, and make friends who share your values. During your Trailblazer term, you’ll also have monthly virtual meetings with the rest of the group. Stay connected beyond your fundraising period with special events, too!
You can choose a fundraising goal that fits you! We collaborate on fundraisers with goals from $500-$3,000. Plus, our Trailblazers get creative (and have support from our staff) to put the FUN in fundraising: brewery nights, art or sticker incentives for donors, special events in your community… There is no donation police. Everything you raise makes an impact on girls in the outdoors.
We are so proud of all of our Trailblazers . You can check out their adventures here.
Beyond their adventure, a Trailblazer gets pro deal gear discounts with Outdoor Prolink (SO MANY BRANDS), Social Media and Fundraising 101 among other trainings, community calls, guest speakers, a community of other outdoor adventurers, and ongoing support from staff at The Cairn Project!
In 2024 and 2025, Adventure Fundraisers by Trailblazers will support the Summit Scholarship Foundation, helping youth go on mountaineering trips.