What Is The Pinnacle Scholarship Program?

The Pinnacle Scholarship Program provides full-tuition scholarships to attend an Outward Bound backpacking course. This program is open to any motivated youth from under-resourced communities.

These scholarships come from Outward Bound California's vision to open access to safe, transformational outdoor experiences to students from economically vulnerable communities and communities of color or other non-dominant identities, regardless of ability to pay. Transportation stipends are available.

Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Applications for 2023 are open, and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the courses are full. Apply now!

• Current program partners of Outward Bound California have priority registration. Please use this form to nominate highly motivated youth from their schools or organizations to become a Pinnacle Scholar. Nominees are also required to fill out an application form, linked here. Please note that a parent or legal guardian must sign your application materials.
• If you are a youth between the ages of 14 - 17 without a program partner, you can still apply! Complete the application form here.

Further Details

Please review our Essential Eligibility Criteria when nominating a student or completing your own scholarship application.

Review our COVID-19 Practices page for details on OBCA's pre-course requirements, and our on-course policies.

Here is the 2023 Packing List for both courses

2023 Course Options

Applicants will be selected to participate on one of two 14-day expedition for Pinnacle Scholars. These scholarships are offered to youth (ages 14-17) from under-resourced communities in California who are personally motivated to attend an Outward Bound course, and for whom a full scholarship would remove financial barriers.

Pinnacle Scholarship

Meeting Location: Fresno Airport, course will take place in the High Sierra

Course dates: July 2-15, 2023

Activities: Backpacking, Rock Climbing

Pinnacle LGBTQ+ Scholarship: Offered to LGBTQ+ youth seeking an affinity space. The course is staffed with instructors who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Staff strive to create a safe space for teens who have experienced being marginalized due to their identity, and/or are exploring their sexual and/or gender identity to build community and cultivate self-efficacy.

Meeting Location: Fresno Airport, course will take place in the High Sierra

Course dates: July 26-Aug 8, 2023

Activities: Backpacking

Other Scholarship Courses

Youth Leadership Corps

High Sierra Backpacking & Rock Climbing for POC Young Adult