Application Criteria

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

• Must be a current member of the AMGA
• Must be currently enrolled in the Course/Exam to which the scholarship will be applied
• Is pursuing guiding as a profession
• Is seeking to better his/her guiding skills through educational courses and/or exams
• Agree to provide 250-word (minimum) testimonial describing your program experience and how the scholarship/scholarship sponsor contributed to the experience, 5 Photos (minimum) shot during the Program and 1 video (minimum) shot during the Program.
• Depending on the scholarship, may be asked to participate in three mutually agreed upon events during the period of 04/1/11-12/31/11. 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.

Application Process

Please visit the link below to begin the application process.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e30z0oo2ge2zzgcr/start

Only after we receive the following items will your application be considered for review:

1.     Completed General Application Survey

2.     Completed Questionaire

3.     Guiding Resume

4.     Personal Climbing/Skiing Resume

You must be enrolled in the AMGA Course/Exam to which the scholarship will be applied for your application to be accepted.

You must submit both a guiding resume and climbing/skiing resume for your application to be accepted.

There is one general application that applies to all scholarships, however:

·       If you are applying for multiple scholarships for the same Course/Exam you only need to complete 1 application making sure to list the scholarships for which you are applying.

·       If you are applying for scholarships for multiple Courses/Exams, you must submit a separate application for each Course/Exam.

You may submit Scholarship Applications starting October 1, 2010. Any applications received prior to October 1, 2010 will not be considered for review.

**All scholarship applications are due January 31, 2011. Any applications received after 11:59pm (MST) on January 31, 2010 will not be considered for review.**

**The exception to the above process and deadline is the Chad VanderHam Memorial Fund Scholarship. Applicants MUST submit a short video (no longer than 5 minutes) describing who you are and why you love skiing. Applicants to the Chad VanderHam Memorial Fund do not need to answer the six questions on the application form.

Mountaineering Fees: Denali National Park & Preserve/Mount Rainier National Park

The AMGA, Access Fund and American Alpine Club are protesting a proposed mountaineering fee increase at Denali National Park & Preserve and Mount Rainier National Park. These proposed fee increases (of $200 to $500 for Denali and $30 to $50 for Rainier) would impact clients and other recreational climbers as well as fees guides will charge. The AMGA organized an in-person meeting with the superintendents of both parks to be held in Golden, CO on October 15. We will be discussing our concerns about the proposed fee increases as well as lobbying for an official public input process to precede a final decision on the fee increase.

If you have any input regarding the proposed fee increases, please call the AMGA office or send an email to access.director@amga.com.

The Poop Problem: Exit Strategies Conference Recap

In July, approximately 110 land managers, research scientists, non-profit executives, and commercial manufacturers of human waste disposal methods gathered in Golden, CO to talk about the serious issue of pooping in the backcountry. Human waste management has become such a significant environmental issue that the AMGA decided to show its support as one of the conference sponsors. As guides and leaders in land stewardship, you are very influential in the field and can continually educate clients and climbers about properly disposing of human waste.

Several AMGA members order Restop 2 bags in bulk annually at the beginning of the guiding season. Each guide service typically orders around 1500 bags a year. The AMGA also provides Restop 2 during courses.

AMGA members can purchase Restop 2 at a discounted price by contacting Lara Usinowicz, Sales and Marketing Manager at Restop, at lusinowicz@restop.com or (303) 746-2790.

The AMGA has added the Restop 2 to its recommended gear list. We support you to consider ways to show land managers that you "walk the talk" in the backcountry.

Black Canyon Management Plan

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has begun a planning process to develop a Backcountry Management Plan. If you have any input or concerns specific to commercial access, please contact the AMGA office or send an email to access.director@amga.com.