Owen Clarke
Writer

Owen Clarke is an adventure travel journalist working as a writer for VISIONS. A lifelong rock climber and mountaineer, Owen is an editor-at-large for Climbing, the executive editor of Indoor Skydiving Source and Skydiving Source, and a regular contributor to the Travel and Adventure section of the motorcycle magazine Iron & Air.
An Alabama native, Owen grew up rock climbing and backpacking in the rolling hills and secluded gorges of the Southeast—initially as a Boy Scout—which fostered his lifelong connection to the outdoors.
During and after college, Owen worked and volunteered for several environmental nonprofits, including Greenpeace, before turning to writing full-time. As a mountaineer, Owen is particularly interested in the rapid loss of glacial mass due to climate change, and has reported on (and been interviewed concerning) the climate crisis for a number of publications, including NPR and Outside Online.
Owen’s writing appears in 35+ international magazines, including Rock and Ice, Backpacker, Trail Runner, SKI, The Outdoor Journal, Travel + Leisure, VeloNews, Beta and Yoga Journal. In addition to VISIONS, he also currently works as a writer for the adventure film company Benegas Brothers Productions and the high-altitude down apparel brand Valandré.
Owen has written for 60+ outdoor brands, including The North Face, REI, La Sportiva, Outdoor Research, Arc’teryx and Black Diamond, as well as nonprofits like Access Fund. His work with VISIONS involves telling our program’s stories via e-newsletters, digital blogs and webpage copy.

Recent blog posts

Spotlight: Soledad, A 2024 VISIONS BVI Alum
Sole was able to participate in our last ever BVI program in summer of 2024. She reflects on friendship and service, and how serving a community she loved changed her views. She didn’t even miss her phone!

Empathy in Action: High School Volunteers Join Veterinary Effort in the D.R.
Partnering with local vets, teens contribute to animal welfare through spay & neuter clinics. These volunteer opportunities for high schoolers teach empathy & educate teens the importance of caring for all aspects of their community, including the animals.

Animal Welfare, Environmental Integrity & What We Eat on VISIONS Programs
VISIONS is taking a careful look at the food we serve during our community service programs for high school students, and we aim to reduce our dependence on factory farm-based animal products by 75%.

You’ve Been Adopted!
Animal welfare is an important aspect of VISIONS volunteer opportunities for high schoolers. On the Montana Blackfeet Indian Reservation, teens help foster these wonderful puppies and sometimes adopt them, bringing them to their new forever home!