The application process is closed for 2008 grants. We are currently accepting applications for the 2009 Polartec® Challenge.
INTERNATIONAL POLARTEC® CHALLENGE
APPLICATION FOR SPONSORSHIP
Premise:
Polartec® Challenge is an international grant program that supports the spirit and practice of outdoor adventure. We assist frugal, low impact teams who respect the local culture and environment and serve as role models to outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.
Selection Philosophy: Over the past ten years Polartec® Challenge has sponsored the most compelling, passionate and original adventures. We support diverse, self-propelled expeditions and journeys to remote locations. Applications are evaluated on the basis of their vision, commitment and credibility. Prior winners have explored mountains, forests, caves, rivers, oceans and deserts around the globe by nearly every means imaginable.
Polartec® Challenge is not the appropriate venue for projects that involve competition or fund raising. For information regarding funding for projects outside the scope of Polartec® Challenge contact Ruthann Brown at the address below.
Deadline:
December 20, 2008
Winners' Announcement Date:
January 23, 2009
Send completed application to:
Polartec® Challenge, Ruthann Brown, Carter Notch Road, Jackson, NH, USA 03846; phone: 603-383-0945; fax: 603-383-9001; e-mail: brownr@polartec.com
Computer-written applications must include all the questions just as they appear below, followed by your responses. Do not add any supplementary information or questions within the application.
YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE A DETAILED MAP OF YOUR ROUTE AND A PHOTO OF YOUR OBJECTIVE.
Maps, articles, and other addenda that will help us to evaluate your project should be mailed separately.
POLARTEC CHALLENGE IS AN EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM
YOU MUST PROVIDE US WITH A COMPELLING, WELL DOCUMENTED, TYPEWRITTEN
APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED
ALL MATERIALS MUST ARRIVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BY THE DEADLINE
2. Address:
3. Country:
4. Zip:
5. Phone:
6. Fax:
7. Email:
8. Project Name:
9. Start Date (month/day/year):
10. End Date (month/day/year):
11. Location/Country:
12. The Goal (one sentence definition of project):
13. Total Budget (in U.S. Dollars):
(budget breakdown follows)
14. Do you have other sponsors or sources of funds for this expedition (Y/N)?
15. Amount You Still Need To Raise: $
16. Financial Aid Provided By These Sponsors:
17. How did you arrive at your total budget? Provide a careful breakdown of your anticipated expenses:
18. Other Sponsors:
19. Equipment Provided By These Sponsors:
20. Elaborate On Your Goal, Explaining To Us What Your Plan Is And Why You Consider It Distinctive:
21. Explain Your Itinerary And Schedule In As Much Detail As You Find Necessary For Planning Purposes:
22. What Stage Have You Reached In Obtaining Any Necessary Permits?
23. How Have You Researched Your Trip? (Please Include Your Essential Bibliography And Map List.):
24. Why Is Your Team Especially Qualified To Reach Your Goal? (See Also Following Question.):
25. List Of Team Members And Their Professions, Ages, And Experience Relevant To Success On This Project (please List The Team Leader First):
26. We like some of our awards to go to adventurers who are also great communicators. If you have a record of writing, photography, and/or filmmaking, list (and include separately) relevant articles, books or photos you have published and/or films you have made in the last ten years.:
27. Please supply us with personal references (and published articles, if available) that can speak to your abilities to carry out this expedition.
Personal Reference 1 (provide name):
28. Phone:
29. Fax:
30. E-mail:
31. Personal Reference 2 (provide name):
32. E-mail:
33. How Did You Find Out About The Polartec® Challenge?
Attach maps whenever possible and other supporting materials if necessary. Awards are financial and/or product. Winners are expected above all to have fun and come back alive. They are also expected to make available photographs and film footage to Polartec, LLC. for publicity purposes and to speak to the press if called upon. Please be aware that expeditions are rarely funded in their entirety. We prefer team members to contribute financially toward their own journeys. Also, the grant program is extremely competitive and only a minority of applicants can be funded.
Applications are reviewed by the PC Advisory Board, a select group representing many nationalities and diverse disciplines of outdoor sport. The board is chaired by Stephen Venables (United Kingdom) and includes Bernard Amy (France), Arlene Burns (U.S.A.), Giorgio Daidola (Italy), Gretel Ehrlich (U.S.A.), Mark Jenkins (U.S.A.), Jack Tackle (U.S.A.) and Isamu Tatsuno (Japan).
Polartec® Challenge is funded by Polartec, LLC. as a concerned, active corporate citizen. Polartec® is a registered trademark for fabrics available only from Polartec, LLC. 2007 Polartec, LLC.
