Kareemah Batts

Kareemah Batts

She/her/hers

Founder and President, Adaptive Climbing Group

USA

Kareemah Batts is a cancer survivor, paraclimber, and visionary leader who founded the Adaptive Climbing Group, the largest adaptive climbing program in the U.S. Diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in 2009, she became the first Black female paraclimber in a USA Climbing competition and has served as a team official since 2017. She brings over a decade of experience in recreational therapy, DEI consulting, and outdoor program development. From growing up in Brooklyn and working as a NYC Urban Park Ranger to launching inclusive outdoor programs nationwide, Kareemah integrates lived experience into systemic change. Her clients range from Adidas TERREX to the National Park Service. She served as Director of Programming at the Appalachian Mountain Club (2024–2025), championing inclusive access to the outdoors. Kareemah has received numerous honors, including the 2013 ADA Sapolin Award, the 2019 Climbing Advocate Award, and the 2023 American Alpine Club Changemaker of the Year Award. Her legacy is one of inclusion, leadership, and community transformation.