Scholarships

kids hiking outdoors

2026 Scholarship Applications are open!

Each year, Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center offers scholarship placements in all of our Backpacking Expeditions. We believe this program provides an incredible opportunity for people to immerse themselves in wilderness, sleep under the stars and summit peaks, challenge themselves, and build long-lasting memories with new friends.

We know historical and current barriers exist that keep many youth and adults from accessing these and other outdoor experiences. Outdoor spaces have not always been welcoming places for all people.

Through our scholarship program, we are working to introduce people of all backgrounds to the thrill of backcountry camping.

Scholarship Timeline & Policy

Our scholarship awards are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at several key deadlines throughout the season, until funds are fully allocated. The first round of applicants will be notified of their awards January 16th.

We reserve a limited number of scholarship spots for each trip. If demand for a particular trip exceeds our scholarship capacity, we may ask applicants to register for their second- or third-choice trip in order to maximize access.

Sliding Scale Awards

We offer sliding scale scholarship awards, which could cover 15% to 100% of the expedition registration fee! A quick self assessment will determine how much funding you may be eligible to receive, with the submission of a request form. 

Eligibility

Scholarship placement is based on available funding, program space, and eagerness, enthusiasm, and interest in attending an Opal Creek Expedition. Scholarships are dedicated to these communities:

  • Financial barriers to tuition; and/or
  • Black, Indigenous, People of Color
  • LGBTQIA+
  • People with disabilities (physical and/or intellectual)

Commitment Fee:

To support equitable access to our programs and to honor the significant preparation involved in each expedition, all scholarship recipients are asked to contribute a nonrefundable $100 commitment fee. Our scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale based on a variety of factors outlined in our scholarship application, and this $100 fee is included within the amount you pay if you receive a partial scholarship.

This commitment fee helps cover a small fraction of the advance costs of planning, staff time, and food purchases, and it also helps us ensure that spaces are used by youth who are able to fully participate. The remainder of the financial aid amount is covered by Opal Creek Expeditions through our scholarship fund.

If this commitment fee would be a true hardship for your family, please reach out to us at expeditions@opalcreek.org

Questions?

Please contact us at expeditions@opalcreek.org or (503)892-2782, ext 1.

Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center operates under a special-use permit for the Willamette, Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, the Malheur National Forest, the Umatilla National Forest, and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest from the US Forest Service and an Oregon outfitter guide permit from the Oregon State Marine Board. We are an equal opportunity outdoor recreation service provider.