Sierra Jo Sans

831-537-7112
ssans4593@gmail.com

Professional Profile
● Currently work in the outdoor industry as a seasonal guide in various locations.
● Have worked numerous jobs in the service industry (guide included).
● Completed my internship for Eastern Washington University at Ninos del Sol,
Costa Rica, developing an outdoor education program for the newly developed
eco-school.
● Being an Outdoor Recreation major at Eastern Washington University has
provided me with the skills and knowledge to implement my own innovative ideas
and skills to a range of outdoor companies.
● Worked for EWU’s outdoor program, EPIC Adventures, as a outdoor trip leader,
guide and instructor.
● Enthusiasm and curiosity drive me towards exploration and adventure. I have
taken my time completing my last year of my Bachelor’s to travel and work
throughout the United States and the rest of the world. My favorite hobbies to do
while traveling are whitewater kayaking and climbing.

Education
Outdoor Recreation, College of Arts, Letters and Education
Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington
Currently a senior, I will be graduating in Summer of 2019, with a bachelor’s degree in
Outdoor Recreation.

Social Sciences Association Degree

Monterey Peninsula College, Monterey, California
While being a fulltime student athlete, I obtained my AA in two years and played on the
women’s basketball team both years.

Relevant Experience

Video Boater/Climbing Guide/Zipline Guide/Whitewater Kayak Instructor

ACE Adventure Resort, Oak Hill, West Virginia, summer/fall seasons 2015-2018
● As a video boater, I tagged along with a specific raft trip for the day in my
whitewater kayak down the New and Gauley Rivers (Class III-V), and film the
 rafts coming down the larger rapids. After the trip, it takes me roughly an hour to
compile all the footage into a 30min video for guest to watch and purchase.
● AMGA certified as a single pitch guide, I lead guided climbing trips on ACE’s
1500 acre property with private climbing access as well as trips into the New
River Gorge doing top rope and rappel.
● Lead day trips and night trips on our 3 hour zipline course.
● Kayak instruction on different sections of whitewater dependent on clients level
as well as instructed kayak roll clinics. My most memorable clinic was with First
Descents, where I felt like I learned more from the courageous women
participating than they could have learned from me.
● Working here has given me the opportunity to hone in on my creative energy
through making videos, as well as enhance my leadership skills and working in
diverse group dynamics.

Outdoor Education Intern

Niños del Sol, Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica 1/15/18-4/15/18
● As my internship for EWU, I had the opportunity to help develop an outdoor
education program for the newly established eco school, where we worked with
students from primary to 5th grade. I created the syllabus for the program, as
well as standard operating procedures, eco-school standards, risk management
standards, and the outdoor education standards for the school.
● I taught outdoor classes, such as survival skills, Leave No Trace principles, and
permaculture.
● Myself and my mentor created an outdoor classroom entirely out of materials we
found around campus, such as old construction waste and a fallen Guanacaste
tree that fell on campus during a flood, as well an amphitheatre and a garden.
● We took the students on weekly trips to the ocean for snorkeling and
environment lessons
● Took students on numerous field trips
● The school had three pillars; the ocean, the garden, and the community. The
curriculum was focused around these pillars as well as taking what students were
learning in the classroom and applying them to the outdoors, which they would
do during their “eco class”--what myself and my mentor taught. Students were
split into their primary and upper classes. We related classwork to what was
happening that week. We did numerous beach clean ups, and on International
Day of Actions for Rivers, we went to the local river and cleaned trash.

Ski Lift Operator

Mount Spokane, Spokane, Washington, 1/2017-4/15/18
 ● Ski lift operator for local ski mountain. Worked day and night shifts, while going to
school full time for the winter quarter.

Trip Leader/Guide/Climbing Wall Supervisor and Instructor/Purchasing

Manager/Blog Manager
EPIC Adventures, Eastern Washington University 11/2013-6/2015
● Worked as a trip leader preparing and leading various weekend and day trips for
students at EWU, including rafting, climbing, backpacking, ski/snowboarding, dog
sledding, mountaineering, stand up paddle boarding, and ice climbing.
● Climbing wall supervisor and instructor at university climbing gym, where I
supervised open climbing hours and taught introduction, sport, anchor, and trad
climbing classes.
● As the purchasing manager, working for the front desk portion of the program, I
was incharge of determining what needed to be bought for the program, including
outdoor gear.
● I also ran the social media and marketing for EPIC Adventures, as well as
created and ran the blog site, which can be found at
http://ewuepicadventures.weebly.com​, however, unfortunately since I left no one
has taken over the site.
● All this work was done while being a fulltime student taking at least 18 credits a
quarter.

Pinnacles National Park Visitor Use Assistant and Fee Collector

Pinnacles National Park, Paicines, California 2009-2013
● Throughout high school and into college, I was fortunate enough to find a calling
with a career in the outdoors by working at this small National Park.
● I worked as a visitor assistant and fee collector, helping visitors with information
about the park and taking park fees.
● Volunteered as part of the Search and Rescue Team and helped the Law
Enforcement Rangers whenever they needed an extra hand.
● During one summer, I worked with the Resource Management Department’s
Condor Crew, where I helped monitor and track the endangered California
Condor who are native to the area. My most memorable experience was going to
Big Sur with the crew to check on a new hatched condor in the coastal mountain.

Certifications
● American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) Single Pitch Instructor
● CPR/First Aid
Skills
● Wilderness First Responder training (cert expired 2018)
● Whitewater kayak IV-V
● Raft guide Class III/IV
● Raft Class V
● Whitewater kayak Class IV/V
● Search and Rescue Management
● Whitewater Rescue Technician
● Food Handlers Permits

Acknowledgements
● Experience with multi-day river expeditions, including 25 days down the Colorado
River through Grand Canyon and 7 days down Green River through Desolation
Canyon.
● Acknowledged in Out There Monthly Magazine
○ https://outthereoutdoors.com/whitewater-mentors-a-conversation-with-two-
river-paddlers/?fbclid=IwAR3Pe8uzR5nEA214mNKkC_WLHwEBDRAMhz
r37jVQDzb-ALGmDEu4IZ_lidk
● 2017 Video Boat Challenge Video of the Year: The Future is Female (video can
be viewed in resume)