Welcome to Camp

We’re looking for 15 adults who will immensely benefit from one intentional week of deep learning, strategic planning, and relationship building as they create and/or develop a climate action project. If that sounds like you and you’re ready to spend a week meeting great people and appreciating the outdoors, you should apply!

While applicants living in the US are prioritized for program fee and travel scholarships, we welcome international applicants.

Absolutely not! Footprints was founded by trail runners and our early camps catered to the shared interests of our first campers. Many of us are runners and will run each day, but you never have to run at camp. We invite you to take advantage of outdoor recreation during Camp as a means to unplug, get closer to nature, and create community with people. But if you prefer to take a nap, go to the gym, write a poem, look at flowers, or call your mom during down time, we want you to do that, too.

Camp 2024 will be held at Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury Common, Vermont. The majority of our time is spent at and around the center. Craftsbury Outdoor Center provides our food and indoor lodging, equipped with modern comforts and electricity. Learn more here.

Arrivals will begin at noon on Sunday, September 29, 2024 and Camp ends at noon the following Sunday, October 6, 2024 with team departures. More details will be shared with campers before arrival.

The 2024 program fee is $1,000. This includes food, lodging, programming, materials, and transportation during the camp, as well as an optional shuttle to and from Boston Logan International Airport and Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

Campers are required to pay a 50% non-refundable deposit by July 7th, 2024 and pay the full amount by August 4th, 2024.

Yes! Footprints is committed to making all programming accessible to all participants, inclusive of but not limited to one’s age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, experience outdoors, and income.

We are pleased to offer limited need-based scholarships for Camp 2024. Scholarship awarding is need-unaware, which means that your financial need does not impact how your application is judged. If you cannot attend Camp without a full or partial scholarship, please let us know in your application.

Scholarship recipients will have all or a portion of their program fee waived.

If you cannot afford transportation to camp, please let us know in your application. Transportation scholarships may be awarded if all program fee needs are met for all campers.

After an application process, 5 mentors are invited to camp. Past mentors include activists, athletes, scientists, teachers, and business leaders who care about people and the planet.

All mentors are experts in environmental science, land management, business & marketing, community organizing and other related fields, and they’re all excited to help campers develop community solutions to climate issues. Mentors are chosen not only for their content expertise, but their experience developing climate action projects, commitment to critical mentorship, and alignment with Footprints’ values.

Mentors are provided a stipend and travel support.

2024 mentors will be selected and shared before the application window closes.

Mentors are paired with campers during the application process to develop their personal project in-person. Acting as guide, listener, and friend, mentors help each camper feel safe and supported, take measurable climate action in their community, and make the most of their Footprints experience at camp and beyond.

We strive to match campers with mentors whose professional interests are aligned and welcome campers to share personal interests and/or shared experiences they would appreciate in their mentor.

Get an idea of the kinds of projects campers have created here.

We will spend much of our time outdoors and together. Most days will follow this basic structure:

Early morning Free time

8am Breakfast

9am - 12:30 pm Project development

12:30-1:30 pm Lunch

Break

2:30-5:00 pm Running, outdoor activity, or personal time

5:30-6:30 pm Evening project development outdoors

6:30-7:30 pm Dinner

Night Community building and free time

The lodging at Craftsbury Outdoor Center is comfortable, dorm-style accommodations. You will share a room with another camp participant. Roommate assignments are done at random but we communicate assignments with all participants prior to Camp and you will have the opportunity to anonymously request another roommate. All rooms have two beds and two dressers. The building has a shared common area with couches and a small kitchen, but all meals are provided in the cafeteria.

If you have questions about lodging or sharing a room with someone else is not an option for you, please share this in your application! We want to ensure you are safe and comfortable.

Craftsbury Outdoor Center boasts a fantastic cafeteria that provides nutritious options for various diets, three meals a day. They work hard to incorporate local produce and products as much as possible, and they grow much of their vegetables right on the campus! Past campers have found the meals delicious, filling, and varied throughout the week, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free food items. We will ask you to share all food allergies and dietary restrictions before arriving to Camp to ensure your needs are met.

Yes! We gladly welcome additional guests during Camp. Footprints does not cover the cost of food for family guests. Campers may book separate lodging to share with family instead of staying in a shared room with another camper. If there is any chance that you will be accompanied by family, please let us know in your application and if you’re invited, we’ll work it out!

Applications are reviewed by our staff during the application window. In 2024, this is May 20 - July 7. Applications are due 11:59 ET on July 7. Applications are judged by a group of 6-7 person panel that may include selected mentors and staff involved in the camp experience, including Footprints board members.

Each person reviews all applications individually. They then score the applications based on the following criteria. Our goal here is to determine as well as possible how aligned an applicant and project are with the mission and resources of Footprints:

Does this project mobilize people in their community? (Score of 1-3)

Does this project have a realistic opportunity for impact? (Score of 1-3)

Does this project address an important aspect of climate justice? (Score of 1-3)

Reviewers are also asked to consider the following questions for every application:

What do you like about this project?

What about the project do you think could be improved?

What unique perspectives does this applicant bring to camp?

Can Footprints provide meaningful support to this person and their project?

Does this person and their project seem to embody the values and mission of Footprints?

After all applications are scored, the panel meets to decide which applicants will be invited to camp this year. They aggregate overall scores, discuss the strengths of each candidate’s application, and consider what participants may gain from (and contribute to) the Camp experience. All applicants will receive a final decision by July 16, 2024.

If you are not selected to attend this year, please don’t be discouraged! We have limited spots and resources at Camp and cannot say yes to every incredible application. We encourage you to apply again and welcome requests for feedback.

Camp is grounded in the outdoors, but this is not a wilderness experience. Bring comfortable clothing, leave the sleeping bag, and get excited. See our packing list here.

No. Our days begin around 8am ET and end around 7pm ET. Please plan to be present and engaged during this time. Some staff and mentors may need to miss an hour or two of programming during the week to virtually attend to an obligation (i.e. therapy) and we encourage campers to do the same if needed.