WHO WE ARE

We are a band of local and international people who share a common love of China, nature, and outdoor adventure. Every member of our team is passionate and committed to the principles of responsible travel and the benefits of experiential outdoor education. In addition Terratribes combines the expertise of our own team with that of local experts in the communities we visit. All members of our team have a stake in the company and our entire team benefits from revenue sharing.

Sun: Han-Tibetan Sichuan native Sun brings a strong energy to Terratribes with a pan-China background in outdoor education, guiding and journalism. Sun has led trips and reported from around China and travelled by jeep from Beijing to Kathmandu. He has worked as a mountain guide in Sichuan, team building facilitator, adventure race organizer and outdoor educator. He has organized and led International School trips around China and helped with the transportation operations for the Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Qualifications: PACI (Professional Association Climbing Instructor Australia) rock climbing instructor, Wilderness EMT (the first Chinese National trained as a Wilderness EMT in the USA), Wilderness First Aid Instructor, CSA certified swim instructor, PADI Open Water scuba diver.

Xiang: Guangxi native and member of the Zhuang nationality, Trilingual Xiang (Jack) left behind an education in Engineering and English to share his passion for Guangxi and adventure. He has an unsurpassed attention to detail, local knowledge, and understanding of global standards, having managed teams of local and international staff on some of the most complex school trips ever run in China. Xiang's depth of experience includes both working on the equipment side of the industry and teambuilding, wilderness travel, environmental training in Canada for a planned expedition to the South Pole and organizing logistics for the 2008 Beijing and 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Qualification: PACI (Professional Association Climbing Instructor Australia) rock climbing instructor, CMDI (China Mountain Development Institute) rock climbing instructor, wilderness first aid.

Richard: Terratribes is proud to be affiliated with our good friend Richard Joyner. Richard has worked as an outdoor educator throughout North America and South East Asia. Having started his career in summer camps, Richard has since developed, implemented and led programs for numerous organizations including Boundless Adventures, the British Army, United World Colleges South East Asia and Direct Bearing. A strong advocate of outdoor experiential education and adventure, Richard has repeatedly witnessed the growth that is possible through positive experiences in the outdoors. Richard continues to provide others with opportunities to play and learn in new environments that are rich with challenge and adventure through a Malaysia based outdoor education company he founded in 2008 called Our Little Planet www.ourlittleplanet.org.

Nick Umpleby: Nick’s career in the outdoors has seen him lead commercial expeditions in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Syria, Jordan, Malaysia, and China to name a few.  Nick has worked as an Outdoor Education Teacher in Australia, an Adventure Travel Guest speaker in Canada and Anthropologist in India. He is a passionate advocate for the benefits of providing unique environmental settings to develop key life skills and broaden cultural understanding. 
Qualifications: MLTB Mountain Leader Award, MLTB International Mountain leader Award: MLTB Single Pitch Award: BCU Paddle Sports Coach, HSE Off-Site Safety Management, REC First Aid at Work in the Outdoor Industry.
 
Jonathan Griffith: Previously employed as an assistant stock broker in New York City, Chinese teacher, electrician, film producer and location manager, wilderness survival instructor, drug rehabilitation counselor, and dog musher, Jonathan finds great job satisfaction as Program Director of Outdoor Education.  Holding a bachelors degree in Chinese History/Mandarin Studies, Jonathan will gladly bore you with historical context on all things Chinese.
Qualifications: Wilderness First Responder (NOLS-WMI), Wilderness First Aid and CPR (NOLS-WMI), ROPES Course Certified Facilitator, Wilderness Survival Instructor (ANASAZI), Eagle Scout (BSA), trained in Leave No Trace backcountry ethics

Megan Griffith: Our token Texan, Megan works as our in-house designer and human resources expert.  Her critical eye is called upon to review any of our attempts at design.  Megan is an integral member of all of our school trips, where she is known to constantly scold students for not being hydrated

Katrine Liao:  A graduate of the prestigious Guilin Institute of Tourism, Kate is a nationally certified tour guide and Wilderness First Aid certified.  Kate is native to Guangzi and a member of the Zhuang minority group.  She might be small in stature but she continues to surprise us with her rapidly improving climbing skills. 

Wangyi: On paper, it might appear that Jack and Sun are the guys in charge, but the reality is Terratribes is a matriarchal society.  At the top is our chef extraordinaire- Wangyi.  Besides keeping us from red-pointing our latest project with her delicious cooking, Wangyi is always willing to lend a hand when needed.  Born and raised in Yangshuo, this local lady will "out-pull up" you any day of the week.