GOI Canada — Inspiring Girls Expeditions

*PARTICIPANT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR 2025!

Applications for our Summer 2025 expeditions have closed and been moved to the review stage.*

Girls* on Ice Canada programs interweave science, art and adventure to inspire leadership, curiosity and confidence in the next generation of leaders!

Girls* on Ice Canada is hosted by the Alpine Club of Canada and now operates three expeditions: Girls* on Ice Illecillewaet, Yukon, and Kootenays.

EXPEDITIONS

Image links to the Illecillewaet expedition information page

Image links to the yukon expedition information page

Image links to the Kootenays expedition information page

(Click on the images above or links below to learn more about each expedition!)

Illecillewaet Expedition: The expedition starts at the Illecillewaet campground in Glacier National Park and then moves up to the Asulkan hut from where particpants explore the Asulkan glacier and the surrounding landscape. The team will use science and art to learn about themselves and the environment around them.

Yukon Expedition: Explore the amazing Yukon. We begin the expedition near Łù'àn Män (Kluane Lake) and then travel to Nadahini glacier where participants will learn about the landscape, glaciers, and leadership.

Kootenay Expedition: The Kootenay expedition takes place in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park where the team will explore the alpine landscape and the Kokanee glacier, accompanied by certified mountain guides, professional scientists, and artists. Throughout the expedition, the team will engage in scientific and artistic inquiry about the surrounding landscape.

Women* on Ice: Join our mountain guides, scientist and artist in a multi-facetted exploration of our mountains while helping us raise funds for our youth expeditions! This program takes place in stunning Banff National Park at the Alpine Club of Canada’s Bow hut.

* Inspiring Girls* Expeditions welcomes cisgender girls and transgender, agender, Two Spirit, nonbinary, intersex, and genderqueer youth.

OUR STORY

The idea for Girls* on Ice Canada began at a leadership development workshop offered by Inspiring Girls* founder Erin Pettit in 2015. Girls* on Ice Canada founders Eleanor Bash, Alison Criscitiello, Jocelyn Hirose, and Cecelia Mortenson launched our first expedition in 2018 following the Inspiring Girls* Expeditions framework with a Canadian alpine twist.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications for 2025 have closed. Applications for 2026 will open December 1, 2025.
You can learn more about the process by visiting our “Apply” page. Please make sure to read our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

For questions about the application process please don’t hesitate to email us at canada@inspiringgirls.org

Girls* on Ice Canada Branch FAQ

We are looking for high school youth who are 16 to 18 years old on June 1 of the expedition year and are currently living in Canada. Please review our Essential Eligibility, which details the minimum requirements to participate in our programs, for more details.
For Summer 2025 Girls* on Ice Canada is hosting the Illecillewaet expedition. Our Yukon expedition is pending funding but we are working hard to make this expedition happen as well in 2025.
The Girls* on Ice Canada expedition applications will open on December 1, 2024 and close at the end of day on January 31, 2024, Alaska time. 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.
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, and we usually end up selecting at least one alternate for each of our teams. 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.
If you are accepted on one of our expedition you and/or your parents and guardians will need to sign release of liability agreements. This will happen over a zoom call with our ACMG certified lead guide who will go through the waivers with you and your parents/guardians and answer questions you might have. You can take a look at the waivers beforehand to familiarize yourself.
ACC Waiver
ACMG Waiver
ACMG Custodial Consent Form