Frequently Asked Questions
What if none of us have ever been camping before?
Not a problem. We'll provide the necessary training. You just have to demonstrate that your team has the potential to be able to learn the skills necessary for the expedition. So if you've never been kayaking, you probably shouldn't propose paddling down the Grand Canyon, but a less skill-intensive sea kayaking trip might work. Be realistic about what skills you think you can learn in two to three months.

Can parents or teachers come?
No. Sorry, they're just too old. This is your expedition. We'll help with the logistics and professional outdoor instructors from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) will chaperon the expedition providing all the necessary adult supervision, training, and safety precautions. But the expedition will be organized and led by you.

How long does the trip have to be?
Anywhere from two weeks to two months. The only limits are that the expedition must take place some time during the summer months of June, July, or August.

Are Mexico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean included as part of North America?
Yes, those places are all fair game for an Outside Adventure Grants expedition.

If we win do we have to pay for anything?
Not a thing. If you win the Outside Adventure Grants, we'll take care of everything from your wool socks to arranging your transportation and all the necessary training and gear.

Who won last year?
Last year, three explorers from Green's Island, Maine (three siblings-two boys and a girl) won the Outside Adventure Grants. Their expedition was a backcountry trek across Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, Canada. Their adventure took them above the Arctic Circle into the tundra and mountains that are the home of the Inuit people. In addition to backpacking across some of the most remote and spectacular terrain in the world, the expedition had a cultural focus. The team immersed themselves in the Inuit culture through extended stays in Inuit villages. In addition, they recruited a local Inuit teenager to accompany them on the expedition. Past winning adventures include a mountaineering and kayaking expedition to British Columbia's Selkirk Mountains and a backpacking and canoeing trip through Northern Alaska's Brooks Range.