Resume
Hi there!
My name is James Townsend, and I’d love to tell you a little more about my experience and what I do!
I’m a bit of a jack of all trades with a lot of adventures and life experience in between, which I believe makes me a unique person to work with. Below you’ll read more about my work in experiential education, photography, writing, content creation, and a few of the adventures I’ve taken over the years.
Experiential
Education
Experiential Education
If you aren’t familiar with Experiential Education, it is a hands-on, experience-based approach to learning, whether that be through international travel, wilderness experiences, adventure sports, workshops in the field with experts, or other activities designed to challenge your comfort zone and help you grow as a person.
Companies I’ve worked and led for
Global Leadership Adventures
International director for GLA’s “Maui Sea Turtle Marine Conservation” program in Hawaii in collaboration with The Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute’s turtle rescue program.
Putney Student Travel
Piloted first-ever college gap program "Renewable Energy & Climate Leadership Under the Northern Lights" trip in Iceland.
Taught pre-college seminars on Journalism, and Social Activism & Policy for Change at Castleton University, VT.
Trip Leader for Tanzania Cultural Exchange Program.
Winterline Global Education
Managed and led a 5-month long gap trip through 7 countries, mentoring college students on a program designed to introduce participants to global career opportunities and teach 100 life and job skills.
National Geographic Student Expeditions
Leader in Morocco, working with the Atlas Cultural Foundation and local community members to learn about restoring historic architecture using traditional methods.
The New York Times Student Journeys
“The American South: Spotlight on Social Justice" trip, alongside a New York Times journalist, touring the American South focusing on race, gender, ability, politics, access, and local socioeconomics, tracing the origins of social justice issues and the history of the civil rights movement.
Rustic Pathways
Three seasons as a leader in rural Tanzania, leading summer cultural exchange and safari trips, as well as private group trips for international schools.
arc Adventures
Working for arc, I was an After-School Instructor, Outdoor Adventure Guide, Enrichment Instructor, and Freshmen Orientation Leader, and helped manage and maintain our gear warehouse, working with the Los Angeles and San Diego public schools as well as local universities.
The YMCA
Worked for both Frost Valley YMCA in the New York Catskills mountains, and Camp Campbell YMCA in the Redwoods of California as a Teen Adventure Travel trip leader, and summer and environmental science camp counselor.
Lead collaborative service trips with the US National Parks Service and Habitat for Humanity.
Job Titles I’ve held in this field
International Director, Program Leader, Trip Leader, Gap Year Leader, Outdoor Adventure Guide, Camp Counselor, Seminar Instructor,
After-School Instructor, Field Advisor, and more…
Responsibilities
Experiential Education is a truly unique field that requires its educators to wear a multitude of hats and be an active improvisor, problem solver, crisis manager, logistical wizard, medic, therapist, customer service whiz, content creator, teacher, driver, inventory manager, and the occasional surrogate parent!
Cross Cultural Communication • Conflict Resolution
First Aid & Crisis Management • Inventory Management
Gear Maintenance & Cleaning • Site Set Up & Breakdown
Logistical Coordination • Time management • Field scouting
Group management • Activities planning & coordination
Third-Party vendor communication & coordination
Bus and 15 Passenger van Driving • Advanced trailer towing
Wilderness survival • Adherence to Leave No Trace Principals
Blog writing and editing • Photography • Social Media Content
Risk Assessment and Management • Mid and Post-Trip Reporting
Active Certifications
Wilderness First Responder (WMA)
First Aid / CPR (American Red Cross)
Open Water SCUBA (RAID)
From Students:
“From Day 1, James made everyone laugh and smile whenever we were feeling down or tired or sad. However, at the same time, I felt comfortable to talk to him about anything and we had a lot of conversations regarding race/ethnicity that I didn't think I could have with anyone on the trip as I identify as a person of color. He has a lot of insight and wisdom that I think was so valuable for me to have as a resource on the trip. […] I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to lead.”
”James is like my cool eccentric uncle, I love him.”
From Parents:
“[Student] came home inspired by James' stories of travel and cultural relativism and by his mindful approach to life's obstacles. I had hoped for leaders who would serve as role models for global citizenry and general "goodness," and it seems like this is exactly what happened.”
“[Student] participated in Social Justice [Seminar] and she absolutely loved the experience. She has raved about James the instructor in terms of how knowledgeable he was, how great he was with the kids, etc. She thought he was terrific so kudos to Putney for hiring such a strong instructor!”
From a Co-Worker:
“Without James here the entire program would have fallen apart and most likely we would have had a terrible experience. He had solutions to problems before we even realized there were problems and the kids adored him. James was absolutely amazing and did a great job supporting us throughout the summer. He was there to help us through every problem and every challenge we faced as a team this summer.”
From a Manager:
“James brings years of experiential education experience to the table. He has a very calming and “carefree” demeanor that can diffuse any stressful situation. James is very skilled in anticipating problems before they arise. He can do this for programming, student interactions, and potential staff concerns. James is also great with student conduct issues where he uses his interpersonal skills to level with students on the “why” of certain rules and policies. Overall his program had very little escalated conduct issues and all of his staff spoke very highly of him.”
Countries I’ve worked in:
Africa
Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, Morocco, Zambia
Asia
Thailand, Cambodia, India
Europe
Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, Italy
North America
The United States: California, New York, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana
Activities Lead
Rock Climbing • Hiking • Overnight Backpacking • Camping
Kayaking • Swimming • Team Building • Wilderness Survival
Mountain Biking • Safari • White Water Rafting • Photography
Photography and Writing
Photography
Photography is a through-line in my life, the way I stay in the moment, process experiences, share stories, and create art, meaning, and purpose in everything I do.
Throughout my portfolio on this site, you can see a wider scope of the kind of photography I create and am passionate about. Below are some select examples of my work, the topics I focus on most, and some of the publications and organizations that I have worked with.
Photojournalism
My photojournalism has been seen in a wide array of news organizations and publications across the globe. Most notably, my photos and video of the January 6th Capitol Riots went viral on social media and was a center point in national coverage in outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, and The BBC. It has also been featured on programs such as Anderson Cooper 360, and 60 Minutes.
Travel and Culture
As an avid world traveler, and trip leader on dozens of cultural and environmentally focused programs, I have been fortunate enough to have my camera with me in unique locations and truly special moments.
My photography is frequently used by the companies I work with to highlight these trips in their yearly print catalogs, social media, and other marketing and promotional materials.
Outdoor Adventure
Despite dirt, dust, and grime being the enemy of any photographer’s equipment, I’ve embraced having my camera with me on all my outdoor adventures. Along with epic landscapes, I love taking portraits of those who recreate outdoors. Especially the ones who also embrace the dirt, dust, and grime of life on the trail.
It’s been a privilege to donate photography to the organizations that steward our land for current and future generations to come. I’ve been honored to have been chosen by the Pacific Crest Trail Association as the First Place Overall Winner for their annual photography contest, as well as had my photography used on the cover of their print magazine, and featured in the PCTA’s 2023 Calendar.
Commercial Photography
In professional photography, there's nothing better than working with clients who share your passions. I've been fortunate to collaborate with brands in the hiking and travel world, spotlighting their gear, apparel, and environment.
Two recent clients I've had the pleasure of working for in the travel and outdoor space include capturing product photography for The Trek and their latest line of hiking shorts and showcasing the vibrant atmosphere of Amigos Hostel's common space, bar, and restaurant for their online listings.
Writing
In 2021, I was commissioned by Medium to write an account and photo essay on the January 6th Capitol Riots, which was later chosen by Medium editors as a ‘story that defined 2021,’ alongside Barack Obama.
We came together to have meaningful (and difficult) conversations: Any American who thought “at least this year can’t be as crazy as last year” was swiftly rebutted by a literal insurrection, on January 6th, at the U.S. Capitol. Photographer James Townsend documented the destruction. Former U.S. President Barack Obama posted his response to the violent events on Medium, calling it “a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation.”
— The Medium Stories That Defined 2021, by The Medium Staff.
More Experience:
The Trek — Contributor
The Trek is a media company dedicated to long-distance backpackers of the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail.
Recent Contribution: What To Expect When You’re Expecting (Too Much From Your Thru-Hike)
Program blogs for Putney Student Travel, Global Leadership Adventures, and more.
I frequently write, edit, and manage student contributions to program blogs aimed at keeping parents and friends updated on the ongoing trip, as well as a resource for future students to access when considering signing up for future travels.
The ONE Campaign — US Communications Team intern
Contributed to the organization’s blog, wrote letters to the editor, helped edit and compile advocacy talking points for volunteer events, wrote and edited copy for external PR releases, and composed daily internal staff newsletter and news clips.
The Flyer — Salisbury University News Editor and Student Journalist
Led a team of staff and freelance contributors for the News section of our student newspaper. As a journalist, I was a prolific writer, and many of the stories I broke were picked up by local news outlets.
Content Creation
JamesGoesPlaces
Originally a place to share stories and photography of my travels with friends and family, my social media audience has grown beyond expectation with every adventure I get into.
On my Instagram, @jamesgoesplaces, you’ll find photography documenting my travels abroad, and ventures into the outdoors, as well as photojournalism, and documentation of current events and issues I witness firsthand.
Long-time followers often tell me some of their favorite content I create on social media are my Instagram Stories, from searching for all the original 1977 Star Wars shooting locations in Tunisia, documenting protests in Hong Kong, covering the January 6th riots in real time, backpacking 800 miles from Mexico to Utah on the Arizona Trail, spending the evening handing out meals to unhoused people in Yangon with one of Myanmar’s activist-punk bands, or the time I embarked on Moosepedition, a challenge where I decided to drive to Maine and live out of my truck with the intention not to leave until I found a moose in the wild (Spoiler alert: one of the most magical animal encounters I’ve ever had)!
![[Pacific Crest Trail — “Free” 🦅]
The trail strips you down to the most basic essentials, in almost every way. In your pack, you carry only what you need— food, water, shelter. In your thought and action, most of your dai](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61646b5b83ce9770722d43ab/1633972240871-O5PJMMK8LI45T9SI9KH2/image-asset.jpeg)
THE TREK
As the social media coordinator at The Trek, a media company dedicated to long-distance backpacking, I manage and curate the content for our Instagram and Facebook pages, which collectively reach over a half million followers. It’s my responsibility to strategize and implement engaging and visually compelling content that resonates with our outdoor adventure-loving audience.
Adventures
Travel & Adventures
Much of my adult life has been structured and dedicated to cultivating experiences that challenge me physically, culturally, and intellectually, that help me grow as a person, and become a better steward and advocate for our world and the people in it.
Through both my work in trip leading and time between work seasons, I have had the great privilege to travel to around fifty countries, often for longer periods of time. On these trips, I love to seek out off-the-beaten-path locations, language classes, cultural immersion opportunities, and homestays.
Some of my favorite memories are buying a motorcycle in Southern Vietnam and spending the next two months riding through remote mountain passes, rural villages, and cities oft-ignored by tourists. Or spending a week learning from leaders of Sumatra’s Mentawai tribe, helping with chores, exploring the jungle, and having late-night conversations with them about life, culture, and meaning. From 2017 to 2018 I traveled full time through nearly every country in South East Asia, spending a month or more in each country.
In recent years, I’ve challenged myself in the backcountry, taking up thru-hiking long-distance trails.
In 2021, I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada in 153 days. To date it is one of the most personally enriching experiences I’ve ever embarked on, pushing me to discover strength and willpower in myself on a level I never knew existed.
In 2022, I hit the trail again, this time, hiking from Mexico to Utah, 800 miles through the entire state of Arizona on the Arizona Trail. Returning to this lifestyle was a chance for me to take everything I had learned on the PCT and put it into practice again, and hone my backcountry skills, relying on a pack weighing less than ten pounds.