Scholarship applications opening January 2025!
The Armida Huerta Adventure Fund
A scholarship fund for Black, Indigenous, Latina women and LGBTQ+ people to learn cycling and packrafting.
WHY THE ARMIDA HUERTA ADVENTURE FUND?
We recognize this is a drop in the bucket when confronting systemic racism, homophobia and entrenched inequality. But we feel the freedom, exhilaration and self-realization discovered on wild rivers and trails should be accessible to everyone.
We also recognize there are many barriers to backcountry adventuring. As such, with this fund we seek to provide instruction, loaner and/or equipment gifts, financial support, food, and other necessities to these communities.
We created this fund in honor of our dear friend, partner, sister, Armida Huerta, who passed on March 20th, 2024.
Armida: Friend, Partner, Sister
Armida led a life of adventure and was a gifted athlete. She raced road bikes in the bay area where she grew up. She was an avid packrafter, runner and yoga practitioner. She worked for Alpacka Raft just shy of 10 years, where she was a highly valued employee – knowing how to make every step of a packraft.
Her love of the outdoors, and especially packrafting, was infectious and where she truly felt at home. She enjoyed dozens of packrafting adventures with her partner throughout the desert southwest. As a woman of Mexican-American descent, Armida had a deep desire to engage with other people of color in the outdoors, especially those who didn’t have the means, skill-development or other opportunities to have a safe and meaningful outdoor adventure.
Scholarships & Course Program Offerings
Please review the criteria below before completing an application. Applications are rolling, starting June 2024. To receive an application or if you have questions, please email Lizzy Scully, or call her at 303-903-2768.
Funds for Montezuma Country residents are currently tax deductible, and you’ll be able to donate soon via our TBA fiscal agent in Mancos. Funds gleaned through our GoFundMe Campaign are not tax deductible. However, we hope to find a fiscal partner to manage funds we garner for applicants nationwide by year end 2024.
Armida’s Fund is for people who do not have the means to pay for these types of courses or the gear and travel necessary for these courses. If you have the means to pay for some or all of a Four Corners Guides course, we invite you to participate. But please donate the cost of the course to Armida’s Fund to pay it forward to people who truly need the assistance. Thanks for understanding! 🙏🏽🙏🏿🙏🏻
What The Fund Offers: Financial Assistance, Gear & Educational Opportunities
Armida’s Fund is for people who do not have the means to pay for these types or courses or the gear necessary for these courses. If you have the means to pay for a Four Corners Guides course or even part of one, we invite you to participate. But please donate the cost of the course to Armida’s Fund to pay it forward to future adventurers. This only applies to FCG courses. Thanks!
- Scholarships that pay 100% of the costs of a Four Corners Guides packrafting, bikepacking or bikerafting course/tour.
- A June 20-22, 2025 packrafting course for four LGBTQ+ folks, with queer guides. Email us to fill out an application.
- A TBA 2025 bikepacking or packrafting course for four BIPOC women, with a female and/or BIPOC guide.
- Cash scholarships paying for some or all of the following: gear, travel, food, lodging or other associated costs.
- In kind donations or loaner gear participants can use to actualize their adventures.
- Cash scholarships paying for bikerafting or packrafting courses in other parts of the country.
Who Is This For?
Individuals 18+ who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of Color, OR who are LGBTQ+ and who reside in the United States or Puerto Rico. Applicants must be comfortable in the outdoors, have camped or backpacked before, have a sufficient level of fitness to participate in the activities the grant supports (can run/hike/bike 5+ miles with ease, regularly exercise, etc)
Why & Where Can You Take Courses?
We created this fund to help to reduce barriers as folks define what adventure means to them. You may apply for a cycling, bikepacking or packrafting course anywhere in the United States or US territories.
What We Need From Applicants
We ask applicants to supply a brief report and a few photos or videos from your adventures that we may use to inspire potential applicants and support future fundraising efforts.