Jake Grace

My parents were both climbers, so I started climbing when I was a little kid - the age when everyone is a climber! As an adult, I've come to appreciate climbing as a great excuse to visit beautiful places, learn important skills, and get to know interesting people. I love getting to explore the crags of Devil's Lake and sharing my enthusiasm for the outdoors with others.

I grew up on a farm in northern Missouri, and I had lots of adventures in the woods, fields, and wetlands on the farm (when I wasn't busy building fences or doing chores). After college I moved to Wyoming, where I worked for the Teton Science Schools for three seasons. My guiding skills were forged there as I led groups of all ages on trips in Grand Teton National Park while delivering science lessons along the way, and I discovered how meaningful it felt to help people successfully take on challenges and build skills in the outdoors. I also got to take on some of my own challenges while I was there, like climbing Teewinot, the Grand Teton, and other peaks with friends and family. Since moving to Madison and starting a career in sustainable agriculture outreach, I've continued to seek out similar experiences, which led me to start working with DLCG in 2025.

When I'm not at work or climbing at the lake, you might find me kayaking or skiing around Madison, drawing in the Comics Room on the UW campus, or performing with my friends in a bluegrass band.