Applications Currently Open
Become a Trailblazer
Turn Your Next Adventure Into a Campaign that Gives Back
Become a Trailblazer and transform your outdoor goal into a fundraiser that support scholarships for girls—while building skills, community, and a story worth sharing.
Everyday Adventurers. Extraordinary Impact.
Trailblazers turn their passion for the outdoors into action. You don’t need to be an elite athlete or professional adventurer. You just need to bring the desire to share your story and become a changemaker by planning a human-powered adventure around a fundraiser for women’s outdoor scholarships.
Get Out, Give Back. That’s our rallying cry.
Whether you’re planning a thru-hike, a paddle, a weekend trail run, a bikepacking trip, or your first or five hundredth summit attempt, you can make it count for something bigger. We equip you with everything you need to fundraise effectively and share your story powerfully — because both make a difference toward gender equity.
Here’s what makes Trailblazers different:
Fundraising through adventure
You design your adventure, then we amplify it on our platform as you fundraise for wilderness scholarships.
Storytelling for change
You’ll practice using your voice and writing to shift perceptions of what it looks like to be a woman outdoors. Collaborate with us on media that makes your story shine.
Community-powered
You’re not doing this alone! You’ll have learning opportunities, 1:1 support, and a network of women who get it.
Three Steps to Making Your Adventure Matter
01
Plan Your Adventure
Choose a human-powered outdoor goal that excites and challenges you. We’ve had:
- Trail runners tackling ultras and FKTs
- Thru-hikers walking the PCT, AT, and regional trails
- Cyclists bikepacking across states and countries
- Mountaineers summiting peaks from Rainier to Kilimanjaro
- Paddlers kayaking coastlines and rivers
- Skiers traversing backcountry routes
- And all sorts of other DIY adventures, both single day and multi-month!
There’s no “right” adventure. If it gets you outside and pushes you to get out and share your story, it works.
02
Launch Your Fundraiser
We’ll help you set a fundraising goal (typically $500–$5,000) and create a campaign page. Your funds go directly to the Summit Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships for girls and women to attend transformative outdoor programs nationwide.
You’ll get:
- Training on how to ask for donations
- Resources to help you unearth your unique story and share it proudly
- Campaign templates and tools, plus creative fundraising ideas
- Staff support throughout your campaign
Every dollar you raise creates opportunities for girls and women. There’s no “too small” when it comes to adventure fundraisers.
03
Share Your Story
You’ll document your journey — the training, the setbacks, the triumphs, the “why” — and share it through blog posts, social media, events, podcast interviews, or however else you love to share.
Why storytelling matters as much as fundraising: When you share why you adventure and what it means to you, you’re not just asking for donations, but changing narratives, too. You’re showing girls who haven’t seen themselves in outdoor spaces that they belong there. You’re showing the world why women in leadership create a happier, healthier world.
We’ll coach you on:
- How to tell your story authentically
- Creating media around your fundraiser
- Blog writing and content creation to collaborate with our channels
- How to use your adventure fundraiser as a portfolio or brand builder for future opportunities
Your Adventure Funds Theirs
The Cairn Project mobilizes fundraisers; we don’t provide scholarships directly. Instead, the money Trailblazers raise supports our sister initiative, the Summit Scholarship Foundation, which awards scholarships to girls and women from all backgrounds to participate in outdoor programs across the world.
What your fundraising makes possible:
- Multi-day backpacking expeditions
- Mountaineering courses and summit attempts
- Rock climbing instruction and trips
- Paddling and kayaking programs
- Leadership development through outdoor education
Since 2016, Trailblazers have collectively raised over $300,000 to expand outdoor access for girls. Your adventure can add to that impact.
Three Steps to Making Your Adventure Matter
Being a Trailblazer isn’t just about giving back. It’s about growing, too. Here’s what you receive:
Training & Coaching
- Group and individual mentorship
- Fundraising training
- Storytelling workshops
- Adventure planning support where needed
Community Connection
- Access to our Trailblazer Slack community (current and alumni)
- Recordings to past Trail Talks
- Opportunities to lead or participate in events
Share Your Story
- One-year Outdoor Prolink membership (pro deals on gear from dozens of brands)
- Recognition on our website and social platforms
- Opportunities for blog features, podcast interviews, and social media takeovers
- Partnership potential with outdoor brands
Your story matters.
“But Am I Good Enough?”
Let’s be crystal clear: You don’t need to be fast, experienced, or “outdoorsy” by anyone else’s definition.
Trailblazers come from all backgrounds and experience levels. We’ve had:
- First-time backpackers taking on their first overnight trip
- Runners completing their first ultramarathon (or half marathon)
- Weekend warriors turning regular hikes into season-long fundraisers
- Experienced mountaineers attempting technical peaks
What matters most:
- You have an adventure goal (or are willing to create one).
- You’re willing to fundraise and share your story.
- You believe adventure can be a force for good.
That’s it. If you can commit to those three things, you belong here.
Real talk:
Many of our most impactful Trailblazers doubted themselves before applying. They wondered if their adventure was “big enough” or if they were “qualified.” Then they did it anyway, and inspired others who felt the same way.
Ready to Apply?
Here’s the Application Process.
01: Submit Your Application
Tell us about yourself, your adventure idea, and why “Get Out, Give Back” resonates with you. No need to have everything figured out, as we’re here to help you refine your plan.
02: Application Review
Our team reviews applications on a rolling basis. We’ll reach out within 1–2 weeks to schedule a casual phone interview to walk you through the program timeline and expectations on both ends.
03: Welcome to the Team!
Once accepted, you’ll join your Trailblazer community, get access to all training and resources, and start building your campaign.
Timeline Flexibility
We accept applications year-round, and adventures can happen on your schedule. Some Trailblazers fundraise for 2–3 months before their adventure; others spread it over 6–12 months. You decide what works for you. We find it’s best to apply roughly 3 months before your planned adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Every dollar raised makes a difference, so there’s no “failure” here. Many Trailblazers exceed their goals, some fall short, and all make an impact. We provide support and creative strategies to help you succeed, but the goal is flexible and forgiving.
A: Not at all! Storytelling can happen in whatever format feels comfortable: written blog posts, Instagram captions, casual videos, or a post-adventure audio recap on our podcast. We’ll coach you through it, and you’ll be surprised how natural it becomes.
A: Absolutely! We’ve had group Trailblazer campaigns where friends tackle adventures together and share a fundraising goal. It’s a great way to stay motivated and share the workload. Just note on your application that it’s a team adventure, and list everyone’s contact info.
A: Life happens. If your adventure changes, we’ll work with you to adjust your campaign. Flexibility is built into the program.
A: Nope! The Trailblazer program is free. You’ll cover your own adventure costs (gear, travel, permits, etc.) as you would for any personal trip, but there’s no fee to join the program.
A: You’ll stay connected to the Trailblazer alumni network through Slack, special events, and opportunities to mentor future Trailblazers. Many alum return to do additional campaigns!
“Being a Trailblazer with The Cairn Project has brought so much meaning and joy into my life – internally and externally.”
Liv Del Brocco
Trailblazer Alum
Your Most Impactful Adventure Starts Here
Whatever adventure you’re scheming up, you can turn it into something bigger. Join a community of women who believe that adventure is a force for good, and that every story matters.
Get out. Give back. Become a Trailblazer.
