Embark

2019 & 2021 Grant recipient of $5,000

About Embark

Embark is a start-up program in Salt Lake City working to build confidence, leadership, and teamwork through mountain mentorship for young women in Utah’s refugee community. All of the young women in this program remember their migration to the US, and many come from large families relying on a single income. Embark’s program includes weekly meet-ups for rock climbing, hiking, and wilderness safety education, plus four multi-day excursions over the course of the year.

“All of our participants remember their migration to the United States. All of them left loved ones behind, and many of them haven’t seen them since. Creating a new life in a new culture is difficult at best, so the Embark program aims to create an inclusive space where all feel welcome."

Camille Fiducia

Embark founder

Ramping Up in 2021

After a year of hibernation during the pandemic, Embark is back and is stronger than ever in 2021! Support from The Cairn Project will help Embark double the size of its cohort this years gathering roughly 20 girls for regular hikes, climbing clinics, and several overnight trips. This program remains free to participants, all of whom have legal Refugee or Asylum-seeker status, and creates a critical space for young women to cultivate their leadership abilities, practice setting attainable but challenging goals, and develop a connection to the natural landscape of their new home.

Want to learn more about Embark?