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AMGA

Scholarships

The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) has partnered with outdoor industry leaders and private foundations to provide necessary financial support for guides seeking training and certification. The cost of pursuing professional training and certification can often be one of the greatest hurdles for an educator and technical mountain guide. Through the generous donations and continued commitment of members, private donors, and the business community, the AMGA is able to minimize the financial burden of training and certification by offering scholarships and memorial funds.

We encourage everyone to apply and take advantage of these opportunities. In addition, if you or anyone you know is interested in creating a scholarship or memorial fund please contact the AMGA Executive Director at 303.271.0984.

“The courses and exams offer the opportunity to learn the highest standards of care for our clientele in rock, alpine and ski disciplines. Personally it is incredibly rewarding to know that you are at the top echelon of professional guiding and you have the training and certification on top of your experience in the mountains.” — Angela Hawse, AMGA scholarship recipient

Criteria for application

The purpose of a scholarship is to provide funding for the continuing education of a qualified professional guide. The successful applicant is a guide who:

  • Is a current member of the AMGA
  • Is currently enrolled in at least one AMGA program (Contract or Single Pitch Instructor Courses do not apply)
  • Is pursuing guiding as a profession
  • Is seeking to better his/her guiding skills through educational courses and/or exams
  • Will provide a written report on the use of the scholarship as well as provide two photographs (after the course) for the sponsor company and the AMGA within two weeks of completing the course.
  • Depending on the scholarship, will participate in three mutually agreed upon events. During the period of 1/1/08–12/31/08. An event is considered a minimum four-hour time commitment. Events include, but are not limited to: climbing demonstrations, clinics, time spent at trade shows discussing products, and store visits.

Scholarships Application Process

Please e-mail the application — along with a climbing resumé — to Katie Kelly at katie@amga.com. Your application will be reviewed by a team of AMGA representatives.

You must be enrolled in an AMGA program for your scholarship application to be accepted.

There is one general application that applies to all scholarships. However, you must submit a separate scholarship application for each program you are enrolled in.

All scholarship applications are due January 1, 2008.

(+) Download Scholarship Application (PDF)

Thank you to all of the people and companies who make these scholarships possible.

Black Diamond (Rock Guide), Marmot (Ski Mountaineering), and The North Face (Alpine) are Diamond Partners of the AMGA and contribute significant dollars to every candidate in the Rock, Alpine, and Ski Mountaineering discipline exams as well as providing the full tuition scholarships.

W.L.Gore is a Diamond Partner of the AMGA and provides support and assistance to the Instructor and Examiner Pool.

Mammut is the AMGA Diamond Rope Sponsor and provides ropes for all AMGA programs.

Learn more about each Scholarship