SheJumps - Celebrating 18 Years (and Adulthood, We Guess?)

This November, SheJumps is celebrating its landmark 18th birthday! As a nonprofit whose mission is made possible by the generous support of volunteers and donors, we could not be more proud of this incredible achievement.

SheJumps was founded in 2007 around the idea of, "If she can do it, so can I. That July, we hosted our first event: 14 women climbed the Grand Teton (the largest group of women to date at the time). From the top of the Grand, SheJumps grew into a community for women from all walks of life. Over the years our mission has evolved as we work to help women and girls experience the joy and transformative power of outdoor play. 

Whether skiing or climbing, SheJumps celebrates the accomplishments of women–from beginners to pro athletes–and provides a support system to feel confident taking jumps (risks) and trying something new.

Milestone birthdays offer a chance to celebrate, reflect, and mark the passing of time with ceremony. Reflecting on the last 18 years and looking into the decades ahead, we’re both excited and uncertain. We are at a critical juncture for growth and expansion. Our new three-year strategic plan sets the roadmap for what is possible, committing us to deepening impact, increasing access, and investing in leadership across our community. That’s all very exciting.

“Having a group of women with such a wide age range was SO cool. Loved the representation and normalization of prioritizing your adventure and joy no matter your age and life responsibilities. Shejumps creates a space, the incredible women who show up are what make it so so meaningful, inspiring, and expansive.”

Stories like these are why we’re so passionate about our work.

And, as a nonprofit operating in turbulent and uncertain times, the goals we’ve set for ourselves feel ambitious and a bit scary. Times are changing–and fast. For our first set of programming back in 2008, we partnered with the Boys & Girls club to teach skiing to kids in Utah. Today, we’re still working with low-income and immigrant youth in Utah, but we’re also a national nonprofit with volunteers and events in 15 states, serving more than 3,000 women and girls a year through more than 150 events and 1800+ hours of outdoor programming. We could write a book with all of the positive feedback we’ve received about our life-changing programs. 

Unfortunately, those accolades aren’t enough to keep the lights on. 

When we set about celebrating our birthday, we weren’t planning to turn it into an appeal for support. But sometimes life finds you in unexpected places. The economy has hit everyone hard–SheJumps included. If you have the ability to make a donation as a birthday gift to us, we’d be so grateful. Your support makes it possible for us to continue to offer our marquee programs, like the SheJumps Snowpack Scholarship, Junior Ski Patrol, and our longest-running event, SheJumps into the Canyon among many others. And, regardless of your ability to give, we’re so grateful for your 18-years of support. You have made it possible for SheJumps to play a role in the lives of more than 50,000 women and girls. 

Cheers to 18 years!

Keep Joy Going, Donate Today!

2007 – The Spark

• Fourteen women summit the Grand Teton, forming the largest all-women’s group to reach the peak at the time.

• SheJumps is officially incorporated on November 9, 2007.

• The Boeing Ski Club hosts the first-ever fundraiser at their “SkiBacs” event.

• First logo and tagline: If she can do it, so can I. 

  
  

2008 – Planting Seeds of Access

• SheJumps hosts the first-ever “SheJumps into the Canyon” event with the local Boys & Girls Club, introducing youth to skiing and snowboarding. 

• The organization receives the Pioneering Women Award from OIWC (now Camber Outdoors).

• Partners with StoneFit Conference in San Francisco to support professional women athletes.

  
  

2009 – Expanding Horizons

• SheJumps hosts its first summit in Zion National Park, blending adventure with community.

• Begins engaging the outdoor community through grassroots events like the Park City SLUG Games 

  
  

2010 – Learning Together

• Hosts the first avalanche beacon clinic at Alta and the first snow-camping event in Utah—foundations of future backcountry education programs.

• Continuation of youth programs that later carry forward into Wild Skills youth programming.

• Creation of the Girafficorn! 

  
  

2011 – The Movement Begins

• The first-ever Get the Girls Out! event launches in Jackson Hole, Wyoming—what will become SheJumps’ signature program.

• Events expand to new regions, including Virginia and Massachusetts.

2012 – Building a Network

• Get the Girls Out! expands nationwide with events in Massachusetts, Utah, Washington, and Colorado.

• The Ambassador Program officially launches, creating a volunteer network that powers future growth.

• The first Alpine Finishing School is hosted—laying the foundation for women’s ski-mountaineering education.

  
  

2013 – Recognized and Growing

• Outside Magazine names SheJumps one of its “60 Perfect Things.”

• The first Year in Review is published, reporting 331 participants across 18 states

• Volunteer infrastructure formalized, establishing regional leadership models that still guide programs today with 11 Regional Coordinators and 14 Ambassadors.

• Expansion of Get the Girls Out! Events

2014 – Momentum and Recognition

• Claire Smallwood receives the Toyota Everyday Hero Award at the espnW summit in Dana Point, CA.

• Lynsey Dyer’s film Pretty Faces raises $35,000 for SheJumps—propelling national visibility and financial growth.

• SheJumps hosts its first ice-climbing and kayaking events in Alaska

  
  

2015 – Inspiring the Next Generation

• The first non-Utah Youth Initiatives event launches in Alaska with the Boys & Girls Club teaching skiing at Hilltop Ski area (a program that still happens today!)

• Christy Pelland creates the first Wild Skills Youth event is hosted at The Mountaineers in Washington.

• SheJumps hosts its first surf event in Virginia Beach, expanding the definition of outdoor play.

  
  

2016 – Reaching New Heights

• The inaugural Fundraising Climb on Mt. Rainier raises $26,000 for youth programming.

• Wild Skills expands to Utah and Idaho.

  
  

2017 – Deepening Impact

• SheJumps receives a $25,000 REI Force of Nature Grant, expanding outreach to refugee and immigrant-serving organizations like Hartland Community for Youth & Families.

• Wild Skills grows to Montana, Wyoming, and Massachusetts.

• SheJumps hires its first two paid employees—Claire Smallwood and Christy Pelland.

• The first Junior Ski Patrol event launches at Crystal Mountain.

  
  

2018 – Access to the Backcountry

• The Snowpack Scholarship for avalanche education launches in partnership with Fremont Brewing and K2 Skis, breaking barriers for women in backcountry safety training.

• Formation of a formal DEI Committee 

• First SheJumps Volunteer team summit in Alta, Utah

  
  

2019 – Expanding the Map

• The Snowpack Scholarship expands to Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Utah.

• The Ikon Pass Mountain Access Program begins, lowering barriers to resort skiing and snowboarding.

• Wild Skills expands to include a Mountain Rescue course for youth at Crystal Mountain and Junior Wildland Firefighting course in Oregon.

• First evo × SheJumps Film Festival 

• First MTB and Surf events in Alaska

• DEI Committee maps all SheJumps events to 

• Second SheJumps Volunteer team summit in Boise, Idaho

  
  

2020 – Adaptation and Resilience

• During the pandemic, SheJumps created Micro Ventures, a series of free, at-home outdoor education programs to connect the outdoors to everyone. 

• SheJumps Joins 1% for the Planet 

• Launches Calling Women In, a virtual speaker-series connecting women outdoors and in leadership.

• Annual budget surpasses $300,000.

• First external Board of Directors recruitment, now part of our bylaws to do external recruitment every three years. 

  
  

2021 – Progression and Professionalization

• Introduces both online and in-person Alpine Progression events.

• Launches the first-ever River Development School and River Finishing School.

• Introduces the Wilderness First Aid Scholarship (now the WFA Access Program).

• First external full-time staff member hired (Robyn Gelfand, current Program Director)

• First Development Manager hired (Vivian Robbins, current Development Director) 

  
  

2022 – Measuring Impact

• Expands Alpine School offerings with Backcountry Basecamp and the Spearhead Traverse.

• Participant surveys show:

  • 90% felt a sense of community

  • 73% gained new skills

  • 82% were inspired to get outside more often

  • 79% reported increased confidence

• Expanded to offer six fundraising climbs 

• SheJumps awards 70 AIARE Scholarships and 13 Ikon Passes.

• Hires Program Manager and Operations support

  
  

2023 – Sweet 16 and Stronger Together

• Distributes 84 AIARE Scholarships and 30 Ikon Passes.

• Partners with the U.S. Forest Service for the second Junior Wildland Firefighting event.

• Hosts 11 Junior Ski Patrol events nationwide.

• Celebrates Sweet 16, raising $100,000 for the mission.

• First Volunteer Manager position created.

• First National Staff retreat

  
  

2024 – Scaling Up

• Surpasses $100,000 in scholarships distributed annually.

• Reaches a $1 million budget milestone.

• Launches a SMITH Optics × SheJumps collaboration.

• Hires the first Corporate Partnership Manager and Development Associate, bringing the total team to eight.

• Board and staff embark on strategic-plan framework to guide SheJumps into its next era.

  
  

2025 – A New Era of Leadership

Expands the Mountain Access Program with Ikon Pass to 40 participants.

Completes a Safety Review of all programs—first in organization history.

Hosts the first Alpine Development School, a seven-day course in British Columbia.

Approves a new three-year Strategic Plan focused on deepening access, leadership, and sustainability.