We’re so excited to announce an exciting new chapter in our journey as The Cairn Project. Today, we officially join forces with the Summit Scholarship Foundation to create the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). This merger symbolizes not only the union of two pioneering organizations, but also a renewed commitment to advancing gender equity in the outdoor adventure space.
The Beginnings
The Cairn Project’s story began on a chilly morning in Utah back in 2015, as we planned and trained for a 210-mile backpacking adventure on the John Muir Trail. Amidst the thrill of mapping our daily routes and scouting water sources, a lighthearted joke about turning our trek into a “walk-a-thon” sparked something profound. What started as a casual conversation quickly accelerated into the inception of The Cairn Project—a venture that seeks to harness the power of outdoor adventure for social good.

On the Trail
Reflecting on our journey, we’re reminded of how creativity often emerges from unexpected places. The initial idea for The Cairn Project grabbed our attention and dominated our conversations during that time in Utah. It gave us a different purpose as we finalized our JMT plans and set out from Yosemite Valley in September 2016. Our shared passion for the outdoors and our desire to empower young women through transformative experience outside connected us as adventure partners and allowed us to gather a community behind us. During the lulls of seemingly endless daily mileage in the Sierra, we both knew that we had all of our initial supporters – who had contributed more than $30K to our unexpected endeavor – rooting us on from home.
TCP Takes Off
Fast forward to today, and we couldn’t be prouder of what The Cairn Project has become. Since our launch, we have channeled more than $300K in grants to organizations connecting young women to transformational outdoor experiences. We formalized the “Get Out, Give Back” model in our Trailblazer (formerly Ambassador) program – and more than 60 women have transformed an outdoor pursuit into charitable endeavor, galvanizing their communities under the vision of “More Girls Outside.” We’ve seen the incredible impact that access to outdoor adventures can have – for our grantees, for our Trailblazers, for the wider community they are engaging with.
A New Partnership
Now, as we merge with the Summit Scholarship Foundation, our impact will only expand. The GEA Alliance will build on our foundational work, providing more transformative outdoor opportunities for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. By joining forces, we can strengthen our scholarship programs and grassroots support initiatives, ensuring that even more people have access to the enriching experiences the outdoors offers.
At the heart of the GEA Alliance is our commitment to storytelling. We believe that personal narratives can highlight the transformative power of the outdoors and inspire others to take action in the quest for gender equity on and off the mountain. Through stories of adventure, we will uplift voices that have been historically underrepresented, igniting a collective movement toward inclusivity in outdoor spaces.

Looking ahead, we’re filled with optimism and excitement for what the GEA Alliance will achieve. We are honored and proud to have Sunny Stroeer taking the rudder as our Executive Director. We’re grateful to the part time staff of The Cairn Project that will continue to lead our cornerstone Trailblazer and Grit Lit programs. We’re dedicated to dismantling barriers and creating pathways for everyone to experience the empowerment that time outside offers. Our journey may have begun with a single joke on a cold morning, but it has blossomed into a vibrant community committed to equity, adventure, and advocacy.
As we embark on this new adventure, we invite you to join us – and if you’ve been with us until now, thank you in advance for joining this next chapter! Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a storyteller, or someone who believes in the power of adventure to change lives, your support will help us break down barriers and ensure that everyone can access the transformative magic of the outdoors. Together, we will continue to pave the way for gender equity in outdoor adventure, one story and one adventure at a time.
Here’s to new beginnings with the GEA Alliance and to the adventures that await us all!
