Scholarships

Coastal Studies is excited to offer full and half scholarships for youth to participate in our spring, summer, and fall camps.

Scholarship applications will be considered on a rolling basis or until all scholarship money has been awarded for 2025.

Coastal Studies offers two scholarship options. See below for details.

David Cosman Award

Merit-based scholarship

In 2021, HoWL and Coastal Studies had the joy of having David Cosman on their educator teams. In memory of the enthusiastic spirit that David brought to HoWL and Coastal Studies, the David Cosman Award celebrates youth who are curious and passionate about the natural world.

Award recipients must demonstrate their outdoor interests with a creative project, and receive full scholarships to participate in both a HoWL and Coastal Studies trip of their choosing. To apply, youth must be 12-16 years old and live in Alaska.

Coastal Studies Camps Scholarship

Need-based scholarship

Coastal Studies is committed to making outdoor education accessible. Our need-based scholarship program is available for youth and families who would otherwise not be able to participate in a Coastal Studies program due to the cost.

  • To increase accessibility to our programs, Coastal Studies offers a sliding-scale payment option for our overnight camps. Please choose the option to pay the full cost of the program if you are able, and select the low-cost option if that is the right financial fit for your family.

    We encourage anyone, regardless of financial need, to apply for the David Cosman Award to help celebrate their love of the outdoors. Anyone in need of financial assistance to participate in our programs beyond our sliding-scale payment options is encouraged to apply for a need-based scholarship. This applies to any registered participant regardless of age.

  • Scholarships applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year, until all scholarship money has been awarded for 2025.

    To have your application considered for a specific program or camp, we recommend submitting your application a minimum of two weeks before the camp’s start date.

  • Coastal Studies offer scholarships that can fully cover camp tuition costs or cover half of camp tuition costs for the following camps:

    • All overnight youth and teen camps

    • Family camps

    • Summer Day Camp (ages 6-9)

    • Summer day programs and drop-in programs like Wynn Exploration Camp, SPIT Kids, BioKids, etc.

    • Spring Break Camp

    Scholarships can also include travel assistance. Travel funding is prioritized for participants from Kachemak Bay/Lower Cook Inlet. Funding is available on a case-by case basis for participants from Prince William Sound, Kodiak Archipelago, or Alaska Peninsula communities and remote villages elsewhere in Alaska. If you require travel assistance and do not reside in the above listed areas, please contact our office to discuss options.

  • We understand that acquiring outdoor gear suitable for an Alaskan climate can be a barrier for some families. If you do not have access to any of the outdoor gear on our overnight camps packing lists, gear is available on loan from our internal lending library. Please contact our office for details or specific requests.