IMPACT
Empowering the future deaf and hard of hearing youth to explore the outdoors, see beyond, dream beyond, and achieve beyond their wildest dreams.
As deaf mountaineers, Scott and Shayna know that they can do anything they want to — but they also are realistic about having faced more barriers than most mountaineers, including communication, deaf representation, and access to mountaineering information, along with encountering misconceptions and lowered expectations. Facing such challenges has strengthened the duo’s desire to make mountain climbing accessible to people from marginalized communities, especially deaf and hard of hearing youth.
K-12 PRESENTATIONS
With the Seeing Beyond: Seven Summits project, Scott and Shayna have impacted thousands of deaf and hard-of-hearing children across the country. In their immersive and interactive talks, they take students on a journey as they share their climbing stories. The presentations are hands-on: audience members can touch and even use gear, attempt to pull weighted sleds, learn mountaineering signs, and experience trying on mountaineering gear and equipment.
MOUNTAINEERING Q&A
Shayna and Scott harnessed the power of social media by giving deaf and hard of hearing kids everywhere the opportunity to submit videos in ASL to ask about mountain climbing. It was thrilling to see deaf and hard of hearing kids’ eyes light up with understanding as the duo responded to the kids’ questions in ASL.
RUNNING NYC MARATHON
This time, Scott and Shayna weren’t climbing—they ran the New York City Marathon for a charity. In November 2024, they raised over $7,000 to support PS 347, a Pre-K to 8 public school in New York City that provides bilingual education for Deaf students. During marathon weekend, they visited the school, shared their stories with the students, and were cheered on by them at Mile 19 on race day. For them, it was more than just a run—it was about breaking barriers, one mile at a time, for the next generation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth.