Odyssey Discovery

2027 Fellowship application

Arctic Discovery Educator Fellowship

Limited Fellowship positions available across Summer 2027 expeditions — each expedition subject to final confirmation. Real field science in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, alongside the researchers doing the work — then brought home to your students. We are not looking for the teacher with the most money or the fanciest title. We are looking for the educator who reads this and thinks: I have to experience this, and I will work to make it happen.

Don't let funding stop you from applying

You do not need to have the $12,975 Fellowship fee available personally in order to apply for the Arctic Discovery Educator Fellowship.

If you are selected, you and Odyssey Discovery work together to pursue funding for your Fellowship. Odyssey provides funding strategy, tools, templates and guidance, and we also actively pursue appropriate sponsorship and Fellowship funding opportunities.

Potential funding may come from schools and districts, professional-development funds, foundations, grants, community organizations, professional associations, corporate sponsors, Odyssey Discovery funding partners, or a combination of sources.

You are welcome to personally contribute toward your Fellowship if you choose, but we do not expect selected educators to simply pay the entire Fellowship fee out of pocket.

Because outside funding decisions are made by independent organizations and partners, Odyssey Discovery cannot guarantee that every Fellow will ultimately receive full funding.

If this Fellowship feels like the kind of experience you've been looking for, we encourage you to apply. You do not need to have your Fellowship funding secured before submitting an application.

What you do

  • • Participate actively — some of the strongest funding routes run through your own school, district, education foundation, professional association, community foundation, local businesses and professional network
  • • Make the introductions and requests we prepare with you
  • • Keep us posted on responses so we can adjust the plan
  • • Contribute personally only if you want to — it is never required to apply

What Odyssey Discovery does

  • • Builds your funding strategy and recommended next steps
  • • Provides templates, school and district request materials, and grant-ready Fellowship information
  • • Provides sponsorship materials and funding resources
  • • Guides appropriate follow-up
  • • Pursues its own sponsor and Fellowship funding opportunities alongside your effort

The numbers, stated plainly

  • • Fellowship fee: $12,975 per Fellow.
  • • If you are selected: a $500 commitment payment accepts your position. Nothing is owed for applying. It is credited toward the $12,975 fee, leaving $12,475. Its treatment in the event of Odyssey NO-GO, voluntary withdrawal, unsuccessful individual funding, transfer to another available expedition, or travel disruption is governed by the final Fellowship Agreement, which you review before paying anything.
  • • Remaining Fellowship amount after the commitment payment: $12,475 — this is what you and Odyssey work on funding together.
  • • Airfare to and from Utqiaġvik is not included, and most meals are not included, unless covered by an approved funding source.
  • • The Fellowship fee is not the same thing as your personal out-of-pocket cost.
  • • Selected Fellows participate actively in the funding process, and Odyssey Discovery pursues appropriate sponsorship and Fellowship funding at the same time.
  • • Outside funding cannot be guaranteed.

Don't assume cost automatically puts this experience out of reach. Funding is something selected Fellows and Odyssey Discovery work on together.

Expedition confirmation

Each Summer 2027 Arctic Discovery expedition is subject to sufficient funded participation and final operational confirmation. Odyssey Discovery will make a final GO/NO-GO determination approximately 90 days before departure.

  • • June 18–27, 2027 — GO/NO-GO decision by March 20, 2027
  • • July 9–18, 2027 — GO/NO-GO decision by April 10, 2027
  • • July 30–August 8, 2027 — GO/NO-GO decision by May 1, 2027
  • • August 13–22, 2027 — GO/NO-GO decision by May 15, 2027

Until Odyssey Discovery issues GO status for your expedition, it remains subject to final confirmation. Please consider that before making non-refundable independent travel purchases.

Working on funding together

These questions help us plan funding support with you. Nothing here is a test of whether you can personally afford the Fellowship, and you are not promising a personal contribution.

Which Summer 2027 expedition is your first choice?

Which Summer 2027 expedition dates could you attend? Select all that apply.

Which funding routes would you be open to exploring with our help? Select any that might be possible — none are commitments, and we can help you identify others.

What you are acknowledging

So there are no surprises later, submitting an application means you understand each statement below.

  • The 2027 Arctic Discovery Educator Fellowship fee is $12,975.
  • Nothing is due to apply, and I am not required to have Fellowship funding in place to apply.
  • If accepted, a $500 commitment payment accepts my position by the acceptance deadline and is applied toward the $12,975 Fellowship fee.
  • $12,475 remains after the commitment payment.
  • Airfare to and from Utqiaġvik and most meals are additional and are not included in the Fellowship fee.
  • Personal payment of the full Fellowship fee is not expected; I may contribute personally only if I choose to.
  • If selected, I will take an active part in the funding process, because some of the strongest funding routes run through my own school, district, associations and community.
  • Odyssey Discovery works alongside me with funding strategy, templates, request materials, grant-ready information and resources, and also pursues appropriate sponsorship and Fellowship funding opportunities.
  • Outside funding decisions are made by independent organizations and partners, so full funding cannot be guaranteed.
  • Each Summer 2027 Arctic Discovery expedition is subject to sufficient funded participation and final operational confirmation. Odyssey Discovery will make a final GO/NO-GO determination approximately 90 days before departure.
  • The 2027 GO/NO-GO confirmation dates are June 18–27, 2027 — March 20, 2027; July 9–18, 2027 — April 10, 2027; July 30–August 8, 2027 — May 1, 2027; August 13–22, 2027 — May 15, 2027.
  • I understand I should consider my expedition's confirmation status before making non-refundable independent travel purchases.