Carmen acuna

My name is Carmen, based in NYC. I'm an obsessive outdoor woman/Latina, climber, wilderness educator, and late-night sculptor. Over the last decade, I've had every job in the climbing industry, in which now I hold a current Single Pitch Instructor Certification through the AMGA. Through my personal experiences with the wilderness, I've worked with various organizations in the outdoor industry such as Outward Bound in 3 different states (NY, NC, and CA), DCF Wilderness School, Project U.S.E., Global Works, a Place Beyond, and Latino Outdoors. I'm always finding new ways to challenge myself and these environments are not only workplaces, but It’s my lifestyle. These days, as an outdoor educator, I get to share that excitement with inner-city youth, and scholarship students, training new and former staff, coaching mastery of climbing, as well as supervising high-risk programs. 

NYC Outward Bound Schools, Long Island City, NY (August 2016-Present)
Climbing Wall Manager / Site Manager / Wilderness Lead Instructor 

Facilitating experiences by empowering students to work through challenges. Facilitating training for safety in the climbing programs to all staff in the organization. Supervising and managing/facilitating daily climbing programs including client conversations, staff communications, program agenda, and reports. In charge of inspection, inventory, and seasonal update programming and staff logs. Practice the use of feedback and tools for conflict resolution in teams and individuals. Delivery of character building, team building, and leadership skills with reflection and application.

Outward Bound California, CA (June 2022 - August 2022)
Lead Instructor / Site Manager

Instructed wilderness programs in the backcountry and performed leading groups of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students on skills such as backpacking, rock climbing, canyoneering, camping, team building, nature identification, LNT, and more. 

A Place Beyond LLC, AZ (January 2021 - May 2021)
Outdoors Program Coordinator / Lead Head Instructor and Climbing Instructor
Created a community of growth. As an advisor to college students, while exposing them outdoors with programs in hiking, climbing, camping, character-building workshops, and other practical survival skills. In the midst of the pandemic, providing mental and emotional support, while engaging in activities with the outdoors, as students continued their college semester program.

DCF Wilderness School, East Hartland, CT (June 2019-August 2019)
Expedition Instructor
Facilitated impactful wilderness programs in length from 1-day to 20-Day Expeditions with teenagers in the government foster system. Helping youth while on the expedition as a form of wilderness therapy. Activities include hiking, camping, rock climbing, canoeing, and high and ropes course.
Emphasizing team-building, peer relations, self-reliance, responsibility, self-improvement, conflict resolution, and restorative justice. 

North Carolina Outward Bound Schools, NC (June 2017-August 2017)
Instructor

Facilitated 22-day wilderness backpacking, rock climbing, and canoeing. Other components involved camping, hiking, high ropes challenge, maps, navigation, backcountry cooking, and high ropes challenge. These experiences emphasize team-building, peer relations, self-reliance, responsibility, self-improvement, and conflict resolution.

Bachelor Fine Arts, SUNY Purchase (majors: Graphic Design, and Sculpture) 2013

Associates Visual Fine Arts, Westchester Community College 2009