Join an expedition to discover the world of glaciers

Girls on Ice is a unique eleven-day leadership program for teenage girls that combines leadership, mountaineering and science. The program takes place July 28-August 7, 2008 and is free to girls who qualify via a merit-based application process. It is open to girls 15-18 years old who have shown a keen interest in science and the outdoors. Nine young women will be selected and the ideal candidate will be an inquisitive, adventurous girl who would like to learn more about scientific inquiry, research, careers in science and the Northwest environment. It is the only program in the nation that combines leadership, scientific inquiry and mountaineering for teenage girls. It provides a rare opportunity for young women to feel at home in the wilderness while observing the natural world through the unique lens of science under the guidance of professional female glaciologists and mountaineers.

Location
Girls on Ice will be based out of Easton Glacier on the south side of Mount Baker. Girls will hike, carry their own equipment and camp in a mountain environment. The program will conclude at North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.

Instructors
Girls on Ice will focus on field research and glaciology as well as team building and basic mountaineering skills. The program is taught by Erin Pettit, PhD, a glaciologist who spends six weeks a year studying the glaciers of Antarctica. Dr. Pettit teaches within the Earth and Space Science Department at University of Washington. Her work was the subject of a New York Times feature story in March 2005.

Curriculum
The curriculum focuses on gathering glaciology data in the field by using a combination of science and outdoor skills. The students will learn to use observation and inference to formulate research questions and design their own experiments to explore them. Topics covered include: forest and alpine ecology, fluvial and alpine geomorphology, an introduction to snow stratigraphy, the use of snow accumulation to indicate climate change, glacial ablation, surface velocities and crevasse growth, and glacial erosion and terminus retreat rates. In order to reach and explore the glaciers safely, girls learn and practice leadership, the "leave-no-trace" ethic and various wilderness skills including glacier travel techniques.

Requirements
Candidates must be young women between the ages of 15-18 who are in good physical condition. The course involves daily hiking over rugged mountain trails with a backpack containing food, water, extra clothing and some climbing gear.

Although the course is free to any girl who qualifies, we regretfully are not able to provide funds to assist with travel to and from Seattle. We will provide all the technical gear needed for the course and can assist with the clothing items. However, we do ask each participant to provide a pair of sturdy hiking boots suitable for traveling in the snow.

How to apply
Please download one of the files below and return to North Cascades Institute. Applications must include a written narrative as well as two recommendations from teachers, coaches or employers.

Girls on Ice Application PDF  (316 kb)   – or –
Girls on Ice Application in Word  (440 kb)

Application deadline
Applications are due March 15 and applicants will be notified by April 15.

For more information
Contact Megan McGinty, program coordinator, at megan_mcginty "at" ncascades.org or (360) 856-5700 ext. 202.