July 17-28, 2024

Applications under review!

2025 expedition applications will open in Fall 2024

Explore the Rocky Mountains

Are you curious to know what forces shape our mountains? Do you want to understand how tiny plants can thrive under the harsh conditions found at high elevations? Have you always wanted to climb a real summit in the Rocky Mountains? Girls* on Rock will take you into Colorado’s breathtaking mountains to explore towering rock walls, deep-blue lakes, and lush alpine meadows in the heart of the Rockies. With the support and guidance of scientists, artists, and a professional mountain guide, the mountains of Colorado offer a unique place to develop scientific and outdoor leadership skills.

Girls* on Rock welcomes cisgender girls, transgender, agender, Two Spirit, nonbinary, intersex, and genderqueer youth and those who demonstrate allyship with these communities.

ITINERARY

Every year, the day-to-day itinerary and details of the expedition will change due to weather and other circumstances. The basic itinerary typically looks like this:

  • Day 1-2: Meet the team in Boulder, CO, pack for the expedition, and learn about traveling and camping in the mountains.

  • Day 3: Drive to trailhead (exact location TBD) and hike into the mountains to establish our base camp.

  • Day 4-9: Explore the landscape surrounding base camp while gaining essential mountaineering and climbing skills and working on science projects.

  • Day 10: Hike out and travel back.

  • Day 11: Wrap up science experiments and present results in short presentations.

  • Day 12: Final reflection activities and travel home.

APPLICATION PROCESS

We are so glad you are interested in applying for one of our expeditions! Our application period occurs in December for the following year’s expeditions. Pre-register at the link found HERE to receive updates and more information on the application process and expedition!

FAQ

  • We are looking for residents of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico who are 16 to 17 years old on June 1 of the expedition year and are interested in being a part of a supportive community. Please review our Essential Eligibility, which details the minimum requirements to participate in our programs, and our Diversity and Inclusion statement for more details.

    Girls* on Rock welcomes cisgender girls, transgender, agender, Two Spirit, nonbinary, intersex, and genderqueer youth and those who demonstrate allyship with these communities.

  • For the 2024 season, we will have 3 separate applications for the North American branches. You are welcome to apply to as many as you would like/ are eligible for. Many of the application questions are very similar (some are identical). Please note that our application is shared with the Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Pacific Northwest branch, whose eligibility allows for participants 16-18 years old on June 1 of the expedition year. Inspiring Girls* Expeditions- Girls* on Rock requires participants to be 16 to 17 years old on June 1 of the expedition year. Three North American Applications:

    Inspiring Girls* Expeditions- Alaska branch (open to residents of the U.S.)

    Inspiring Girls* Expeditions- PNW branch & Girls* on Rock (open to residents of U.S., Canada & Mexico. Note that these branches share a combined application. You will be able to select your preferred expedition in the application, if you have one)

    Girls* on Ice Canada (open to residents of Canada)

    If you choose to apply to multiple branches:We suggest that you save your responses in a separate document while completing an application and use this text to copy & paste into the other applications. You will not be penalized for reusing your responses- we encourage it!

  • The Girls* on Rock application will open in early December and close at the end of January (see exact dates above). All application materials, including at least one recommendation form, must be submitted by that date.

  • Our application process asks applicants to reflect on their sense of self, abilities, interests, and curiosities. Applicants complete sections for their basic information and short answer application questions all of which must be completed to submit your application including one recommendation form completed by a teacher-figure in your life.

  • Once you’ve submitted your application, you can sit back and relax! Our team of program staff and reviewers will read your application, and we’ll let you know if you’ve been accepted in April of the expedition year.

  • Congratulations! If you are selected for an expedition, you will receive a Welcome Packet via email that will provide everything you need to know about enrollment paperwork, packing for your expedition, arranging your travel, and other details.

  • If you are selected as an alternate, we will contact you if a spot becomes available on an expedition team. A spot could become available at any point between late March and the start of the expedition. We do not rank our alternates, so you are just as likely as any other alternate to be selected for an open spot. Please contact us if you do not wish to be an alternate for an expedition.

  • Please see our “For Recommenders” FAQ section on our main Apply page.


OUR TEAM - INSTRUCTORS

OUR TEAM - SUPPORTING MEMBERS


HISTORY

The idea for Girls* on Rock began in 2014 with Evelyn Cheng and Megan Blanchard, who became friends in graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder. Having been inspired by Girls* on Ice Cascades, they knew they wanted to create a similar expedition centered around climbing in the Rocky Mountains. The first Girls* on Rock expedition launched in 2018.

In 2021, we kicked off a two-week virtual Girls* on Rock program. Our participants joined an immersive online program where we integrated key Inspiring Girls* curriculum into a condensed Expeditions@Home experience with a Girls* on Rock focus.

In 2022, GOR returned to the Rocky Mountains for a full in-person expedition.

SUPPORTERS

Girls* on Rock is generously supported by the following organizations:


GET IN TOUCH

email: gor@colorado.edu

instagram: @girlsonrock_ige