Our Story
Conscious Climbing was born from a simple observation: McCall is surrounded by gorgeous granite, but few experience it up close and personal.
Our journey began with the dream of opening a climbing gym then pivoted when we were advised that “climbing’s just not popular here in McCall”. We believe by providing accessible entry to the growing sport of climbing many will develop a passion similar to that of seeking the pow, chasing the big water, and bagging peaks in the backcountry!
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Our Mission is to offer climbing opportunities that inspire a fun, inclusive environment where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can strengthen themselves, build community, and deepen their appreciation for Idaho’s wild landscapes through mindful & responsible recreation.
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Safety is non-negotiable. Every program operates under AMGA-aligned standards, with a Wilderness First Aid-certified staff member on site, and a Wilderness First Responder on staff. We operate under a risk management culture that defaults to conservative decisions when conditions are uncertain.
Accessibility over exclusivity. Climbing is for everyone — not just the experienced or adventurous. We've designed our programs, pricing, and instruction to welcome first-timers and give every participant a genuine pathway forward.
Community over transaction. We want to help cultivate a connected climbing environment where capital is not a barrier. We want to watch returning youth become confident climbers who can take their skills around the world. We want to be the place McCall's families come back to, season after season.
Stewardship alongside adventure. We integrate Leave No Trace principles into every program because the crags we climb on belong to all of us — protecting them is part of the experience and is our collective responsibility when recreating in the wild.
The team
MEET collin carter
Co-Founder and program director
Collin is a professional climbing instructor and seasoned outdoor guide with over eight years of commercial experience leading youth and adults through challenging mountain, river, and alpine environments. Climbing has been his core discipline for more than a decade, and he has taught, coached, and directed programs that emphasize confidence, technical skill, and has exercised the lifelong value of sharing passion through mentorship.
He has served as the Climbing Program Director for the Gunnison Recreation Summer Youth Program, Outdoor Climbing Instructor for Scenic River Tours, and the Risk Manager & Vice President of the University of Missouri’s Climbing Club. Before guiding professionally, he spent two years teaching at the University of Missouri Recreation Center’s climbing wall, introducing hundreds of students to movement, safety systems, and focus on the wall. His passion for coaching began even earlier, as head coach of a first-grade basketball team during his senior year of high school, where he discovered the joy of helping young learners build confidence through sports.
Beyond climbing, Collin’s leadership has been shaped by three seasons of whitewater rafting on Colorado’s Upper Taylor River (Class III) and Idaho’s Hells Canyon and Lower Salmon Rivers (Class IV), and five winters as a ski instructor at Mt. Crested Butte, CO, where he became one of the most requested instructors and received the Logan Scholarship to attend the 2022 Professional Ski Instructors of America National Ski Academy. In 2024/25 he coached for the McCall Winter Sports Club’s Development Program. Together, these experiences have honed Collin’s ability to navigate complexity with composure and to approach every challenge with balance, clarity, and purpose.
He believes outdoor recreation is one of the most powerful antidotes to modern disconnection. Through Conscious Climbing, he aims to cultivate a community where McCall’s youth and families rediscover movement, confidence, and connection—one climb at a time.
Certifications: American Mountain Guides Association- Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Aid, & CPR
MEET EMILY KUCHARSKI
Co-Founder and Education Program Director
For the past 7 years Emily has worked as a trail crew leader through non-profit organizations as well as the Payette Forest Service. She spent 2 years as a crew leader with the Southwest Conservation Corps in Colorado and 1 season as a Crew Leader for the Pacific Northwest Trail Association in Washington. She spent the last 4 years working as a Trail Crew Leader for the USDA Forest Service in McCall where she also worked as the Lead Winter Ranger in 2023 and 2024.
Emily has expertise in outdoor education, youth-based programming, managing risk in the backcountry, and networking with a variety of organizations. She is passionate about environmental ethics and outdoor recreation in all seasons. Emily has been climbing since 2021 and has climbed in some renowned areas such as City of Rocks in Idaho, Red Rocks in Nevada, and summitted the Grand Teton in 2024 via Lower Exum- Upper Exum. Her background in group management and risk mitigation while in remote environments have prepared her to spearhead the programming logistics for Conscious Climbing’s summer programs.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, CPR, AIARE 1