Brandon Smith

Born and raised in Kalispell, Montana, much of my youth was spent discovering the vast beauty of the state with friends and family. My love for the outdoors was supplemented with exploring my passion for art. I was introduced to climbing in high school when I became obsessed with honing my skills on classic test pieces while competing in climbing competitions around the state. I attended college at Montana State University and graduated with a degree in Art Education and Fine Art with an emphasis on painting. Through my academic work, I was awarded The Rising Star Award from the board of Montana Art Educators for showing exemplary achievements in education.

I began coaching climbing in 2002 with youth athletes for indoor climbing competitions. I spent summers guiding outdoor climbing camps with the non-profit Touch the Sky. I facilitated trips to Spain, France, Germany, Canada, and all over the United States, providing opportunities for athletes to test their abilities on the best rock around. In 2013, I moved to South Korea to teach in a public middle school, where I wanted to explore other aspects of education and travel while exploring the rocks of Korea and SE Asia. After teaching in South Korea for two years, the opportunity to combine my passion for climbing and education arose, and in 2015 I moved back to the U.S. to be a part of The Climbing Academy under the umbrella of World Class Academy.

It’s been exciting to share my passion of teaching, all while sharing my love of travel with students these past two years at The Climbing Academy. Helping students achieve their true potential in all aspects of academics, athletics, and character has been a rewarding aspect my work, and I’m honored to be a part of this outstanding team of educators for another year at The Climbing Academy.