New Scholarship Program for Outdoor Careers! admin, March 1, 2024 New Scholarship Program for Outdoor Careers!. Hey folks, big news in the outdoor scene! The Outdoor Diversity Alliance (ODA) and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) have joined forces to roll out an awesome new program. It’s called the Outdoor Pathway Scholarship, and it’s all geared up to give students from underrepresented communities a leg up in outdoor and environmental careers. What’s the Deal? Alright, here’s what’s cooking: The Outdoor Pathway Scholarship is dishing out $5000 in scholarship dough spread over two years. But hold your horses, there’s more! On top of the cash, they’re throwing in mentorship and support to help these students snag jobs in the outdoor industry or environmental field. How to Get in on the Action Listen up, if you’re keen, here’s the lowdown: The application for the Outdoor Pathway Scholarship is open for business, and you’ve got until March 28, 2024, to throw your hat in the ring. Just rustle up a 600- to 800-word essay or a three- to five-minute video. Talk about why you’re wild about the outdoors, spill the beans on your goals, share your volunteer gig experiences, and dish out your dream job aspirations. Easy peasy, right? What Goes Down Next? Once you’ve tossed your hat into the ring, ODA and ORR will sift through all the applications come April. Then, come early May, they’ll drop the big news and announce the lucky winners. If you snag a spot, you’ll be paired up with a seasoned pro from the industry who’ll be your sherpa for the next two years. And once you’ve tossed your cap at graduation, ORR and ODA will help you land a gig. Sweet deal, eh? Behind the Curtain The folks at ODA cooked up the criteria for the scholarship program after getting input from their community advisors. These advisors, hailing from different outdoor groups and marginalized communities, help ODA figure out how to best serve their peeps. Need More Green? Come May, ODA and TO are planning to dish out at least $10,000 in scholarships. But they’re hoping to rustle up even more dough to lend a hand to more students. If you or your company are game to chip in, hit up the Outdoor Diversity Alliance. What the Big Shots Are Saying She reckons it’s key to paving the way for young guns from all walks of life to dive into conservation and outdoor gigs. Lestarya Molloy, the mastermind behind Fridie Outdoors, thinks this scholarship is a game-changer for students from underrepresented communities. As someone who’s been there, she knows how vital it is to show students they can make waves in fields they’re passionate about. Teresa Baker, a board member at ODA, is all in on the scholarship too. She reckons it’s not just about the moolah but also about hooking students up with mentors who can show them the ropes in the outdoor industry and environmental fields. Sounds like a win win to us! Recreation OutdoorStudent