WTMC 2018 Scholarships

The scholarship programme is now running annually, please see Scholarships for more details.

The Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club is excited to announce that we are offering scholarships to help our members gain experience and skills to further their tramping adventures.

We know that members would like to develop their outdoor skills and technical knowledge to be more confident trip leaders, such as navigation, river crossing, first aid training, canyoning and more. And some types of trips require extra skills and technical knowledge that we may have limited resources or leaders to offer those trips – like packrafting, ski touring and more.

These scholarships are for WTMC members only. We are committed to helping our members have great and safe adventures, and develop the skills to help others get out in the backcountry.

These scholarships come with the expectation to give back to the WTMC community. The amazing things we do depend entirely on volunteers. We want to invest in our members, so our members can invest back in the club and future members.

There are 2 types of scholarships: experience and instruction. See below for details about the scholarships, how to apply and who can apply.

Applications are open until the money runs out or 31st July 2019, whichever happens first.

The funding for these scholarships comes from our fundraising project to host the Wellington screening of the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival.

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Experience scholarships:

What it is: This scholarship is for club members who want to gain more experience with tramping related activities that may involve more technical skills AND the club has limited resources to lead or offer these types of trips. This could include canyoning, mountaineering, pack rafting, climbing, ski touring, mountain bike packing or sea kayaking.

Amount: up to $250 per person to attend a professionally guided trip; amount of scholarship will depend on costs and how many other people apply; money can be used for trip fees, travel or gear hire

Eligibility:

• • You have been a club member for at least 12 months and have current membership

• • You commit to giving back to the club in the following 6 months (or previously have made significant contributions to the club). This could include:
    • • Leading at least 1 of any type of trip in the following 6 months
    • • Joining committee, editing journal/newsletter, joining the gear room roster
    • • Host club social nights for at least 4 nights or
    • • Welcome people at the door for at least 6 nights
    • Assist with snowcraft, jamboree, canyoning or mountain biking instruction or similar

• • Be approved by the WTMC Committee as having met the above requirements and be a suitable person to represent the club

• • Preference given to those who are already volunteering in the club, particularly trip leaders, committee members and snowcraft volunteers

• Preference given to those who have previously been on club trips.

Instruction scholarships:

What it is: This scholarship is for club members who want to increase their skills to be more confident and better skilled to lead trips for the club. This could include navigation or orienteering, river crossing, outdoor first aid, canyoning, mountaineering, pack rafting, climbing, ski touring, mountain bike packing or sea kayaking.

Amount: up to $500 per person to attend professionally led instruction; amount of scholarship will depend on costs and how many other people apply; money can be used for trip fees, travel or gear hire

Eligibility:

• • You have been a club member for at least 12 months and have current membership

• • You have been on at least 2 club trips

• • You have led or co-led at least 1 club trip

• • You commit to leading or co-leading 2 club trips in the following 6 months of any type

• • You write an article for the WTMC newsletter, write an article for the WTMC journal, give a club talk or identify another way to share your experiences to promote the club

• Be approved by the WTMC Committee as having met the above requirements and be a suitable person to represent the club.

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Extra but important details

• If you are awarded a scholarship, you are responsible for booking the trip or instruction, and paying all fees including travel.
• Scholarship money will be provided by reimbursement based on receipt of costs.
• The money from the scholarship can only be used for trip fees, travel or gear hire to participate in professionally guided trips or instruction courses. 
• The applications are being reviewed by Emily Shrosbree, Paul Christoffel and Shauna Mcauley. The Committee will also review and confirm applications as noted above.
• It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks for us to review your application.
• You will need to apply for reimbursement by 31st July 2019.
• You can only receive one scholarship.

If you have questions, email Megan Sety, who is coordinating the scholarships.