Carly Clusserath, Director
Carly Clusserath, director of Climb On Learning Project, is a credentialed science educator with 9 years of experience in education, including 6 years of experience teaching middle and high school science and 3 years of experience mentoring adult educators. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences and a Cal Teach Credential in Math and Science Education.
Since she was a teenager herself, Carly used running, triathlon training, and exploring the mountains as an outlet for the confidence and positive coping skills she needed to succeed in school and career. Through talking with other folks in the outdoor sports community and researching the impact of nature and physical activity on whole-human health, she realized that the outdoor experiences that got her through some of the toughest times in life had similar effects on so many others. She started Climb On Learning Project to bring these benefits to high school students who haven't yet discovered what outdoor sports can do for them in all other aspects of their lives.
Kira Harland, Board Member
Kira Harland has extensive experience in the outdoor community, K-12 education, and social-emotional learning. After spending a few years teaching high school math in Oakland, California, Kira transitioned her focus to a career in mental health, and is now a therapist working most closely with elementary age children. One of Kira’s most formative outdoor experiences was hiking the John Muir trail. Her 2019 hike inspired her to write a book documenting the experience, while also giving her time to reflect on her career and ultimately transition into child therapy. She currently supports children to use play to build positive mental health and sustainable, long-term coping strategies.
Andrew Clusserath, Board Member
Andrew Clusserath has filled his life with endurance and extreme sports while also excelling in school to become a structural engineer. Throughout K-12 school and college, Andrew dedicated most of his life outside of academics to his endurance sports career, ultimately running competitively at Gonzaga University. Andrew has since taken a step back from his focus on racing and has immersed himself in all the extreme sports his home of Bend, Oregon has to offer. As someone who has been every type of athlete, and felt both exhilarating highs and devastating lows in his sports background, Andrew is able to give perspectives to Climb On students that few could offer.