The Futurist Project Opens Applications

The Futurist Project, the leadership and career development program for the outdoors community, including running, has launched applications for the 2024 class. The application window will remain open until March 15, with the class kicking off in May of 2024 with its first in-person overnight retreat May 30-31, 2024.

"We're thrilled to open the doors to The Futurist Project's 2024 class," said Stasia Raines Walker, co-founder of the Futurist Project. "Our program is designed to empower emerging leaders in the outdoor industry, fostering cross-brand collaboration and equipping them to tackle critical industry challenges. Join us as we shift the industry's trajectory together."

The Futurist Project is a unique six-month program designed for the outdoor industry and adjacent fields. It aims to develop participants' personal and professional attributes through an online curriculum, mentorship pairing, peer connections, group projects with non-profits, in-person retreats, and ongoing learning opportunities. This program is industry-shifting, offering the opportunity for cross-brand collaboration, strategic thinking, networking and bringing a variety of minds in the industry together to benefit the greater collective.

The program’s curriculum includes personal and professional development topics led by industry professionals. Areas of focus include practical leadership tools, diversity equity and inclusion, advocacy, sustainability and personal values. The primary focus is to guide emerging leaders through lessons that develop important soft skills and ways of thinking about critical issues we face today to prepare, unite and amplify diverse voices of the next generation of leaders in the outdoor industry.

Online curriculum, webinars and peer learning is a recurring form of interaction in the first half of the program. The latter half involves a small group capstone project where participants will be paired with members of their class based on personality profiles to make real time change with an industry non-profit.

With a limited class size of 30 to 35 participants, the team can ensure personalized attention and meaningful connections with like-minded professionals.

Applications are welcomed from individuals with three-to-five years of working experience, outdoor industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and adjacent categories like hunt, fish and running. Applicants do not have to be currently managing a team to apply.

The Futurist Project offers three full scholarships and four partial scholarships every year to help and/or cover tuition for those that don’t qualify under a continued education program through their company.