Calling All Change Agents
Boost the welcome signal
The No Wasted Days Community Grant Program returns April 2, with $5000 grants for community-led access projects. Apply April 2-30 2025.
Meet two 2024 recipients.
Eliminating barriers is at the heart of the Amy Stone Foundation’s work. Directors Natalie Sauerwald, DJ Grant, and Shannon Cheung, all know the experience of being the only person in the gym that looks like them. In a sport that is hard to get into anyway, they want to create experiences where people feel accepted. And more than that – welcome.
“We’re not just trying to bring people into the space, but to help people belong,” says Natalie Sauerwald.
The Amy Stone Foundation operates in the New York/New Jersey tri-state area, to elevate people who have historically been excluded from outdoor recreation.
The Amy Stone Foundation was able to use a 2024 No Wasted Days Community Grant from Arc’teryx to bring displaced kids and their families in for free climbing days, and to host route-setting clinics for people from under-represented groups.
Based in the Canadian Rockies, on territory of the Stoney Nakoda Nation, and Treaty 7 people, The Howl Experience emerged after the pandemic to offer land-based immersive experiences for 17-30 year olds “who don’t know what comes next in life.”
Howl offerings are co-led by outdoor educators and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. Howl was able to use an Arc’teryx Community grant to invest in emerging Indigenous leaders.
“To co-lead a hike with an Indigenous knowledge holder lets us present different world-views as complementary, not in combat – a chance to hold a more holistic perspective on the outdoors and on how we approach recreation, relationships, and connection with the land,” says Director of Howl Experiences, Arc’teryx ambassador and trail runner Adam Mertens.
The grant helped develop past program participants into future guides, providing wilderness first aid, mental health first aid and trip leader training.
CALLING ALL CHANGE MAKERS
SOUND LIKE THE KIND OF CHANGE YOU'RE MAKING IN YOUR POCKET OF THE WORLD?
Amy Stone Foundation and Howl Experience were two of 85 organizations in four countries that were supported by a 2024 No Wasted Days Community Grant.
Are you next? The 2025 Grant Program seeks to boost community-led initiatives that make outdoor spaces and activities more welcoming to more people.
Applications open April 2-30.
APPLY HERE
