Madison Brandt
Moab
Summary
Growth-oriented adventure guide with experience blending experiential learning, wilderness leadership, and counseling to facilitate meaningful change. Has worked with adolescents, couples, and families implementing adventure-based interventions that strengthen relationships, build resilience, and foster connection to the natural world. Approaches program development, staff mentorship, technical risk management, and therapeutic facilitation with a collaborative mindset, curiosity, authenticity, and respect for evidence-based practice. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Counseling while continuing to guide climbing and work in adventure therapy programs.
Overview
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Climbing Guide
She Moves Mountains
03.2023 - Current
- Create a safe, welcoming and empowering rock climbing environment for female-identifying (cis, trans) individuals.
- Co-facilitate retreats & camps as well as book individual clients for 1:1 skills clinics & guided adventures.
Climbing and Canyon Guide
The Mountain Guides
Jackson Hole, WY
03.2026 - Current
Adventure Program Director
Elements Program
Huntington, UT
12.2020 - 04.2025
- Manage weekly activity itineraries, gear inventory, budget, permitting, special events and other various moving parts of the Adventure Program (AP) department.
- Train and mentor instructors in the technical risk management of all adventure activities, the integration of therapeutic concepts and themes into adventure activities, and the emotional risk management of therapy clients.
Adventure Program Instructor
Elements Program
Huntington, UT
10.2019 - 12.2020
- Facilitate adventure activities in a backcountry wilderness setting for therapy clients.
- Manage physical & emotional risk management of clients.
- Create themes/metaphors to connect the adventure activity to a client’s therapeutic journey.
Program Writer
Climb Moab Gym
Moab, UT
05.2024 - 06.2024
- Wrote an after school youth program manual for Climb Moab Gym: program policy & procedure, games & exercises, instructor training resources, emergency protocol.
Mountaineering Instructor
Colorado Outward Bound School
Leadville, CO
05.2018 - 10.2019
- While keeping students safe in all backcountry activities, translate experiences in the backcountry into lessons of leadership involving concepts of character development, tenacity in pursuit, decision making, curiosity, empathy, commitment, and service.
Environmental Science Educator
NatureBridge
Yosemite, CA
01.2019 - 06.2019
- Facilitate multi-day, hands-on, experiential learning environmental education lessons/activities.
- Tailor lessons and weekly itineraries to fit the specific needs of each visiting group/school.
- Promote a safe learning environment for students by delivering culturally relevant content, presenting multiple and balanced perspectives, and taking care to connect lessons to participants’ lives and community.
Therapy Field Mentor
Evoke Therapy Programs
Santa Clara, UT
04.2016 - 07.2017
- Maintain participant safety and wellbeing while they are immersed in a therapeutic wilderness process.
- Act as an extension of the therapist by helping clients complete therapeutic assignments and initiatives, modeling therapeutic tools, and leading outlined therapeutic groups.
Volunteering Climbing Steward
Joshua Tree National Park
CA
01.2018 - 04.2018
- Assist with visitor education, school programs, community events, and park stewardship projects including wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration.
- Instruct Leave No Trace Principles
- Served on Joshua Tree search and rescue team
Education
Master of Science - Counseling
Prescott College
Prescott, AZ01-2028
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Psychology
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO12-2015
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Cultural Anthropology
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO12-2015
Skills
- 45 years in program leadership
- 10 years facilitating outdoor adventure activities for individuals and adults
- 75 years in wilderness therapy
- Staff training and development
- Curriculum and policy & procedure development
- Building rapport
- Crisis intervention & conflict resolution
- Behavioral intervention planning and implementation
- Group therapy facilitation
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Physical and emotional risk management in outdoor settings
Certification
AMGA Assistant Rock Guide
Expected September 2026
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide
Completed September 2022
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Completed November 2019
Swift Water Safety Institute (SSI) PRO-I Swiftwater Rescue
Completed April 2024
NOLS Wilderness First Responder
Most Recent Recert May 2026
Heartsaver CPR
Most Recent Recert February 2026
Timeline
Climbing and Canyon Guide
The Mountain Guides
03.2026 - Current
Program Writer
Climb Moab Gym
05.2024 - 06.2024
Climbing Guide
She Moves Mountains
03.2023 - Current
Adventure Program Director
Elements Program
12.2020 - 04.2025
Adventure Program Instructor
Elements Program
10.2019 - 12.2020
Environmental Science Educator
NatureBridge
01.2019 - 06.2019
Mountaineering Instructor
Colorado Outward Bound School
05.2018 - 10.2019
Volunteering Climbing Steward
Joshua Tree National Park
01.2018 - 04.2018
Therapy Field Mentor
Evoke Therapy Programs
04.2016 - 07.2017
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Cultural Anthropology
Colorado State University
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Psychology
Colorado State University
Master of Science - Counseling
Prescott College