Scholarships
Financial support to participate in Viristar’s Risk Management for Outdoor Programs course
Eligibility
Viristar is dedicated to providing financial assistance to outdoor and experiential professionals who demonstrate financial need.
Viristar is also committed to supporting those who are working to make the world a more inclusive and equitable place.
Viristar awards scholarship assistance to our Risk Management for Outdoor Programs course to applicants to two categories. These categories are described below.
Category 1:
Individuals who live and work in low-income, lower-middle-income, or upper-middle-income countries or territories, and who also have a financial need.
The list of applicable low- and middle-income countries and territories generally, with minor exceptions, follows World Bank classifications.
Click here to see a full list of the countries and territories included.
About Financial Need
Viristar’s Risk Management for Outdoor Programs course is intended for professionals working in the outdoor, adventure, travel, or experiential fields. Financial need is demonstrated through a statement that the organization with which the applicant is professionally affiliated has very limited financial capacity, such that it would be unable to include the full tuition amount in its budget.
Small nonprofit or charitable organizations generally fit this criterion. Organizations with more than 100 staff (including seasonal staff), with an annual budget over USD 1 million, or who serve higher-end clientele generally will not fit this criterion. Examples of organizations serving higher-end clientele include private schools, international schools, and high-end travel or tourism operators.
Category 2:
Individuals who are working for an organization whose primary focus is on improving access to outdoor or experiential programs for members of groups who have experienced systemic barriers to access on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ability or race, and who also have financial need.
Financial need is demonstrated as described in category one, above.
Scholarship Program Information
The scholarship is for Viristar’s Risk Management for Outdoor Programs course. Learn about the course here.
Eligibility is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
Although we can provide financial support to most applicants, we will advise you if Viristar’s scholarship funds have been fully expended at the time of your application.
Scholarship awards are normally for 50 percent of the tuition for the Risk Management for Outdoor Programs course. Requests for higher amounts may be granted for exceptional circumstances, but are not guaranteed. Scholarships for 100 percent of course tuition are generally not awarded.
When you apply, you will select a course cohort which you wish to attend. You must have sufficient time available during the class time period you select to complete all the required learning activities. The course takes approximately 40 hours over four weeks, so you must have 10 hours a week available for study, for each of the four weeks of the course.
The course is academically rigorous, intellectually challenging, and involves lectures, writing assignments, and multiple-choice tests.
If you are awarded a scholarship, then within 30 days of award notification, you must register for a course. (You can register for any available Risk Management for Outdoor Programs course cohort. It is not necessary to enroll in a course which starts within the next 30 days.)
Individuals are eligible to apply for a Viristar scholarship one time per year.
Responses to scholarship applications are normally sent to the scholarship applicant by email within three to five business days. Applicants should check their spam folders to ensure the scholarship award notification is received.
If you meet the criteria of either eligibility category above and wish to apply for a scholarship, you may complete the application form below.
Application for Risk Management for Outdoor Programs Course Scholarship
Mandatory fields
Fields marked with * in the application form below must be filled out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Viristar’s scholarship awards are generally for 50 percent of course tuition. In exceptional circumstances higher awards may be given, but this is not common. Viristar asks participants to contribute some amount of the tuition, even if only a small part, to help demonstrate a commitment to the course. It can be disruptive to other course participants when a course-mate drops out, and even a small contribution towards the course tuition can demonstrate an investment in completing the full 40 hours of the training.
Participants must have forty hours of time available for the course (10 hours a week for four weeks), high speed internet access, a computer or similar device for online activities, ability to work collaboratively with others, and proficiency in the language of instruction (English, unless otherwise noted).
Yes. Viristar offers full scholarships to outdoor professionals from Ukraine. For details, contact Viristar or visit https://www.viristar.com/post/viristar-s-outdoor-safety-training-scholarship-for-ukraine.
Generous contributions help make Viristar’s scholarship program possible. One hundred percent of scholarship program donations go directly to funding scholarship awards. If you would like to donate to Viristar’s scholarship fund, please contact us.
