The core of our climbing school, or of any business, is its staff. All of our guides are individually certified by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) as either Rock Guides, Rock Instructors, or Single Pitch Instructors, and we are proud to be the only guide service in Maine to have this distinction.  At ACS our staff are expert climbers, dedicated teachers, and talented and friendly guides. As trained professionals, our guides are masters of matching a client's needs with our local terrain in order to create courses that consistently exceed our client's expectations. 

At ACS, we pride ourselves on our sterling reputation. With 29 years of outstanding performance, innovation and professionalism we strive every day to continue to be Maine's premier climbing school.

In fun, in professional commitment, in everything we do — at Atlantic Climbing School, WE CLIMB HIGHER.

Ryan Scott (ACS Owner) (he/him) is originally a Florida boy who grew up with a passion for finding joy in the outside, mostly through surfing, skating and whatever adventure he could stir up in the mangroves. He ended up in Ohio at Hocking College where he was first exposed to climbing via school trips to West Virginia and dove into outdoor adventure leadership and emergency medicine. Ryan’s love of climbing was born and he began managing an outdoor pursuits program and helped co-teach advanced climbing classes. In 2011, his deep curiosity towards sea cliff climbing brought him to Maine and he began guiding for the Atlantic Climbing School. Over the years, he split most of his year between Joshua Tree, CA and Acadia National Park while additionally slipping in climbs and guiding at top climbing destinations all over the US, including Seneca Rocks and New River Gorge in West Virginia, Red River Gorge in Kentucky, Yosemite, and the T-wall in Tennessee. He is a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, an AMGA apprentice Rock Guide, and is a Nationally certified wilderness EMT.

In 2021 he decided to buy the climbing school from his best-friend Eli and settle into living in Maine full-time with his wife and strong community of chosen family. Ryan feels privileged to live in such a beautiful place and inspire a loving respect of nature in others, to witness people’s climbing development and is honored to be a professional climbing guide. When he is not climbing, Ryan can be found surfing, dancing, building creative projects and feeding his insatiable love of music. On or off the rock, Ryan’s primary intention is to cultivate in other’s a sense of safety, curiosity and joy.

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide · Wilderness EMT

Max Jackson (he/him) was born in Paraguay and raised in Somerville, MA. He climbed for the first time in Zion National Park when he was 12 and fell in love with the outdoors. Whether climbing in the US, backpacking in Chile, or mountain biking in Moab, spending time outside helps remind him what’s most important in life. When he’s not guiding in New England, he works as a traveling route-setter, creating climbs for people to enjoy. He received his Single Pitch Instructor in Acadia National Park, and got his Wilderness First Responder in Conway, NH. Down to earth and constantly making jokes, he’s ready to help people connect / reconnect with the outdoors!

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness First Responder

Tom Haas (he/him) grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA and has been climbing since he was 8 years old. His first summit experience was when he was 11 at Seneca Rocks in West Virginia and has been climbing ever since. Tom has guided full time for 7 seasons and has worked in West Virginia, Red Rocks, and Joshua Tree.

Tom took his AMGA Rock Guide course in 2017 and is a certified SOLO Wildness First Responder.

AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide · AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness First Responder

Mike Ricard (he/him) grew up in Rhode Island where he spent most of his younger fishing, hiking, and camping with the boy scouts. He eventually became an Eagle Scout, which solidified his love for the outdoors. Mike graduated college at Vermont State University - Lyndon in 2023, where he earned a B.A. of Outdoor Education, as well as a minor in digital photography. It was in college where Mike was introduced to guiding, and earned his Single Pitch Instructor certification with the AMGA. Mike has been guiding for 4 years in Maine, as well as New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. When Mike isn’t rock climbing, he enjoys taking photographs, playing guitar, ice climbing, backcountry snowboarding, and fishing!

Mike has continued his professional training with the AMGA by taking the Rock Guide Course in 2025.

AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide · AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness First Responder and CPR

Calvin Coffin (he/him) is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, NOLS alum, and current AMGA Single Pitch Instructor. Since he started climbing in 2014 for a college orientation trip, Calvin has climbed all over New England and has often migrated south for the winter to chase warm rock and avoid the cold like some sort of large, flightless bird. Calvin is thrilled to start his guiding career in Acadia, on a magical island that has long held a special place in his heart.

AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide · AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness First Responder and CPR

Ben Lepsch (he/him) grew up in Virginia and began climbing in college. He spends most of his time climbing in the New River Gorge and Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. Ben began guiding with ACS in 2024, when he earned his Single Pitch Instructor certification with the AMGA.

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness First Responder

Sam Deacon (he/him) was born in Boston, MA, and spent his formative years hiking and exploring the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This lead him to attend college at Plymouth State University to obtain a degree in Adventure Education. Having started climbing in highschool, the idea of being able to combine his two favorite things, climbing and teaching, seemed like a dream come true. After finishing up at college in May, getting his AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and AIARE 1, he promptly came back to Acadia for another season of guiding! When he is not climbing, Sam likes to ski, play guitar, hike, and explore the ocean any way possible.

AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide · AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness EMT

Sam Murray (he/him) Sam grew up in western Massachusetts and moved to Colorado at age 18. He started climbing after college and his girlfriend, Emma (now wife), brought him up his first big mountain, the Crestone Needle via the Ellingwood Ledges route. After that, he was hooked. Sam has been climbing for 12 years and instructing/guiding for 8. He completed his Single Pitch Instructor Exam in 2022 in Franconia, NH, Rock Guide Course in 2024 Boulder, CO, and his Ice Instructor Course in 2026 in Littleton, NH. Sam has also spent many years as a science teacher and outdoor educator. When he is not guiding or teaching, Sam can be found exploring the coastal mountains with Emma and their dog Hatcher. 

AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide · AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness First Responder and CPR

Matthew Schwarze (he/him) grew up in a small town near Boston (yes everywhere in Massachusetts is near Boston). His passion for climbing began when he was a kid, and would go for walks with his mom in the middlesex fells reservation. He began to secretly scramble around in the woods until he was introduced to gym climbing and later outdoor climbing through his degree in Adventure Education at Plymouth State University. Matt likes to climb around Rumney NH, the gunks in NY, New River Gorge in WV, Red River Gorge in KY, and or course here in Acadia National Park.

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness EMT · Leave No Trace Level II Instructor

Annie (she/her) is a Southern California native, but has been living in the east coast since 2010. She has been traveling and climbing around the US in her van, splitting time between the west and east coast. Her favorite climbing location is Spain (mostly because of there are chocolate croissants in close proximity). Climbing has been a source of joy and therapy in her life — the supportive community, unique movement, and connection to the outdoors is what she loves the most. She believes that climbing is for everyone and hopes to continue sharing her passion for this sport with others, especially in a beautiful place like Acadia!

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor · Wilderness First Responder and CPR

Ted Teegarden's (he/him) passion is to share climbing with his guests. He has traveled and climbed all over the US spending significant time in the world-class locations our country has to offer but he finds his home nestled in the superb White Mountains of New Hampshire. Here Ted loves to climb and instruct on the steep waterfall ice and sunny rock cliffs that climbers have been cutting their teeth and training on for over a century. Ted started guiding and working in the outdoor education field in 2003 and has only deviated from the industry to spend one season working as a sternman for his lobsterman father-in-law in Bar Harbor.

Ted splits his time as the Accreditation and Scope of Practice Manager for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and guides for both the Atlantic Climbing School and Mooney Mountain Guides in NH. He guides both rock and ice climbing and teaches AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Programs, training the next generation of climbing instructors. When not guiding, Ted can be found trying to keep up with his daughter on their mountain bikes or hiking with his two Icelandic Sheepdogs.

AMGA Rock Instructor · AMGA Ice Instructor · AMGA Apprentice Alpine Guide · AMGA SPI Program Provider/Examiner · Wilderness First Responder and CPR

Greta is the office greeter at Atlantic Climbing School. She loves meeting new people, playing fetch and swimming, and hanging out while her human friends climb rocks. This is her second year in Acadia, and she loves it! If you see her, don’t be afraid to say hi, she’ll expect lots of scratches and belly rubs.

Will do tricks for treats · Downeast Deli’s biggest fan

Tipping your guide:

Many of our clients ask us whether or not to tip there guide, and if so how much. Tipping is never expected but always appreciated. Tips usually range anywhere from $20 to $100.