Exploration has the power to change lives and connect communities. When we search out new experiences, overcome obstacles and connect with each other, we change ourselves. The Explore Fund is how we’ve put this idea to work—by removing barriers so everyone can get outside. Together with our partner community, we’ve activated what it means to explore—for people and for culture.
Explore Fund Council
Creatives. Scholars.
Outdoor leaders. Athletes.
The Explore Fund Council is part of our commitment to supporting joy, wonder and belonging in the outdoors. The Council developed a toolkit of seven practices that guides our work together, including a set of questions and actions that can help cultivate inclusive experiences of exploration.
Our work.
Since 2010, we’ve worked to create access and drive equity in partnership with a community of hundreds of outdoor leaders and organizations. Discover more of our projects below.
Celebrating a decade of inclusive exploration.
It’s been an incredible 10 years and a privilege to positively impact so many through the Explore Fund. See where we’ve been (and where we’re headed next).
Our Explore Fund Partners
2022 Grantees:
Colour the Trails advocates for inclusive representation in outdoor spaces, working with brand partners, businesses and organizations to break barriers and create accessibility. They subsidize outdoor adventures, create diverse content and are actively working with their allies to create the change they want to see in the world.
Indigenous Women Outdoors’ mission is to hold space for Indigenous women to come together and feel safe on the land. They want Indigenous women* to be leaders in the outdoor industry and to be confident in sharing their knowledge and connection of the land with the greater public. Through guidance and mentorship, participants can choose to start getting their own training and certifications to feel safe out on the land, as well as lead other groups and women to get outside.
*Women* refers to gender expansive community members (CIS women, transwomen, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender queer community members, and any women-identified community members).
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Non-profit partners:
The ACMG's mission is to protect the public interest in mountain travel and climbing instruction by developing and administering rigorous standards for certification and professional conduct, aiding the professionalism of its members through public advocacy and program delivery, and training and assessing future guides and instructors to the highest standards of risk management.
The Alpine Club of Canada promotes alpine experiences, knowledge and culture, responsible access and excellence in mountain skills and leadership.
FitSpirit is a Quebec-based, not-for-profit whose mission is to encourage teenage girls to be physically active throughout their lives, by offering a unique set of tools and resources for schools with girls 12 to 17 years old.
Les Chèvres de Montagne is the largest outdoor community for women. They create unique events designed to offer memorable experiences for passionate outdoor enthusiasts and those new to the outdoor community. They hope to inspire, teach and have fun while providing lessons and tools to participants to allow them to start or progress in one or more outdoors sports.
Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc is a non-profit organization with a mission to ensure the development and integrated management of the Poisson Blanc Regional Park territory and surrounding public lands for ecotourism purposes.
Protect Our Winters Canada is a passionate community of enthusiasts, professional athletes and industry brands uniting the outdoor community to advocate for policy solutions to climate change. We believe our love of adventure in nature demands our participation in the fight to save and protect it.
Canadian Ski Instructor’s Alliance
Incorporated in 1949 as a not-for-profit organization, CSIA is the professional ski teaching body in Canada. It is a federally recognized teaching institution and it trains and certifies Ski Instructors to best serve its Partners such as Snow Schools and the Canadian Skiing Public.
Canadian Avalanche Association
CAA members are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of avalanche safety and are committed to life-long learning and pursuit of excellence in their fields.
Avalanche Canada / Avalanche Québec
Avalanche Canada is a non-government, not-for-profit organization dedicated to public avalanche safety. They issue daily avalanche forecasts throughout the winter for much of the mountainous regions of western Canada, providing this free information via their website and app, Avalanche Canada Mobile. They also coordinate and deliver avalanche awareness and education programs, provide curriculum and support to instructors of Avalanche Canada training programs, act as a central point-of-contact for avalanche information and work closely with many different avalanche research projects, both at home and abroad.