THE WOMEN OF THE HOUR: 2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS

In 2018, the founders of Project: WE Sophie, Maicen and myself met at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was there that the idea for Project: WE was created and the fundraising began. Multiple events were held that celebrated art and music expression with the goal of raising money to support women internationally in getting outside. Since then, Project: WE has grown its community and support to allow us to be able to finally give what we have raised, back to the incredible community of outdoor women.

We had more grant recipients than we ever expected, and were astounded at the confidence these women had in pursuing a mission with their outdoor expeditions. Whether it is learning backcountry medicine, filming to raise awareness for climate change, or supporting minority groups in getting outdoors; these women enrich the Project: WE community. We hope you find their adventures as inspirational as we have and keep an eye out for their blogs and stories on their adventures.

EMILY - SCOTLAND

"Hey I'm Emily! Project:WE has super kindly given me grant money so that I can run the West Highland Way over 3-4 days. The West Highland Way is a 96-mile trail which weaves its way through the Scottish Highlands, going from the shores of Loch Lomond over to the rugged mountains of Glencoe, all the way up to Fort William. I'm planning to run 20-30 miles per day, with camping (and midge-battling) in between. I hope to undertake this challenge during summer 2020 if training goes well!"

HANNAH - USA

"I will be embarking on a road trip this August, where I plan to visit several national parks and obtain my Wilderness First Responder certification through a 10-day course with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Following this, I hope to find a job at a wilderness therapy program, integrating both of my passions for mental health and nature."

OONAGH - SCOTLAND

"I’m a keen bean for living and being in the outdoors! I enjoy doing anything that allows me to explore new wild places. Such as trad, winter climbing, biking, kayaking, surfing and ski mountaineering. I am lucky enough to have grown up in Scotland and have access to so much around me. I am passionate about increasing accessibility for women of all backgrounds to get into the wilderness and push their limits! I was president of our uni mountaineering club last year and have seen the confidence barrier between boys and girls in the club. This semester, i want to try as much as possible to take girls trad climbing that don't have enough confidence to do it themselves! I plan to encourage more and more girls to climb with each other and inspire others to get out! I hope that by taking girls new to trad climbing out in wild places, and pushing them to do first leads and first mountain trad climbs. More and more girls will push boundaries and get out into the wilderness!"

ELIZABETH - SCOTLAND

"This summer I am directing a documentary film about climate change’s impact on wildlife. Focusing on the role wildlife filmmaker’s play in highlighting and communicating this global problem to a global audience. I will be heading to the Scottish Highlands to capture some of our incredible wildlife and share information on how we can all get involved to help protect local species."

ELISE - UNITED KINGDOM

"I applied for a grant to fund an RYA Start Windsurfing instructor course for a Black or Minority Ethnic student. I’m a committee member of Student Windsurfing Association (SWA), which is a volunteer-run group that organizes windsurfing events for student societies across the UK. We provide a platform for different university windsurfing societies to meet each other, support them in hosting their own events and host our own. Windsurfing in the UK is traditionally dominated by white men but the SWA wants to change that and make windsurfing accessible to all. As such, we believe supporting a Black or Minority Ethnic Student to complete a windsurfing instruction course will increase representation in windsurfing and break down barriers for other students.

A year ago, a prize with the SWA funded a windsurfing instructor course for myself. As a woman in a male dominated sport, this did wonders for my confidence in the outdoors and it feels great to be able to instruct my peers and encourage other women to windsurf. The SWA has done a lot to bring more women into the sport but now we need to do our bit to break down the barriers for students from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and this grant will work towards that!"

TERESA - UNITED KINGDOM

"I love walking. My mind always feels at its clearest when I am walking, so I’ve decided to walk for 5 months and cross the length of New Zealand through the Te Araroa trail. Moving through beaches, forests, mountains, and everything in between. The Te Araroa will be my 3,000km opportunity to clear my head and find some self-reliance in me. I’m typically a canoeist, so this will be an interesting challenge. I cannot wait to take it on and return with clarity, resolve, and some very strong legs"

DORA - ENGLAND

"I will be facilitating a women's empowerment workshop at the National Trust site, the beautiful Formby Pines. As a facilitator and artist, I am interested in creating spaces where women feel nurtured, supported celebrated and seen. We will come together to explore the beautiful woodlands and get in touch with our wild woman through poetry, music and movement I will be inviting women based in the North West to join me. I hope to complete the project around the time of the Autumnal Equinox which falls on September 23rd.

I have included an example of my music with my collaborator to showcase the musical style I am interested in. I am incredibly inspired by nature and how women engage with natural landscapes. https://www.doraandjonathan.co.uk/

MADELINE - USA

"I will be long-distance backpacking the entirety of the John Muir Trail through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It will take me three weeks and 214 miles to complete. As a recently graduated communication and environmental studies student, I have learned the importance of preserving the environment for its ability to help us heal, and the need to communicate how powerful nature is to the public so that more people feel inclined to get outside and protect it. However, most of my studies have taken place inside a classroom and staring at a screen. I want to use this opportunity to learn from nature itself—from the peace of the slow-moving streams, the interconnectedness of the ecosystems, the self resilience learned from making it to the top of a mountain peak, and the lessons from other backpackers I will share uninterrupted, present moments with. I then hope to take this learning into helping to communicate the importance of preserving and experiencing natural places with others."

VICTORIA - USA

"I am planning on traveling to Big Sur, California to see McWay Falls, Pfieffer Beach, Los Padres National Forest, and redwoods. During this trip, I hope to hike to the beautiful falls and walk through the majestic redwoods. An added bonus about the trip is that I will be exploring science in the process. As a passionate environmentalist, I have learned about the disastrous effects climate change has on the redwoods and its ecosystems. During my trip, I hope to speak to researchers investigating the effects of coastal fogs on redwood survival. This trip will be an incredible mix of science and beauty, education, and pure bliss- and I am so grateful to Project: We for helping make it happen. "