Professional Development Grants

Providing funding up to $500 each for six professional outdoor guides in ID, WY, MT, and CO to advance their guiding careers, guide in a new discipline, or secure guide-related employment.

Applications will be accepted August 1st through October 1st, 2026

Courses include but are not limited to:

Wilderness First Responder, EMT, Wilderness Medicine, Swiftwater Rescue Training, Avalanche Training, Horsemanship Skills, Chef/Food Handling Training, Storytelling, AMGA, etc.

Applicants will be awarded based on need and the quality of their application.

The process:

1. Identify a certification or course you need/want to take.

2. Apply for the grant. Application period is Aug 1- Oct 1.

3. A Committee made of volunteers reviews applications and scores each application according to a matrix of considerations.

4. We will notify all applicants before Nov. 1st

5. If you are awarded a Professional Development Grant, you have nine months to use it. Once you've completed the course, you'll need to send us a copy of the receipt and the actual certificate you are awarded and then we will send you a check for the cost of the course up to $500.