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Our Mission
 To facilitate one’s connection to the natural enviroment, each other and a deeper connection to one's self.
From Wilderness to Workshops:
Participants on our programs will have a greater appreciation, and understanding of their own resources, of other individuals around them, as well as a better sense of their place in the natural world. Self reliance, compassion, service, centeredness, physical fitness and interpersonal community-building, as well as caring for, and understanding of the natural environment, are hallmarks of our mission.
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Our Purpose:
 Mountain Spirit Institute’s purpose is to provide a forum
for teachers, lecturers, authors and artists to teach, facilitate
or publish what they have to offer the world. These givers are
invited to come into the circle and to teach, for a day, or
a lifetime, under the financial, legal and administrative umbrella
of the organization as long as they meet the criteria, as set
by the board and administration, the bylaws, MSI’s policies,
and their offering falls within the scope of the mission statement.
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Our Core Values:
 Programs
MSI will continue to offer consistently emotionally and physically
challenging, safe, high-quality programs that vary in their
scope and medium. The programs will always involve the tenants
of connection, compassion, centering, and awareness which in
turn enable and empower individuals to be more self reliant,
and contribute more to family, society and our world.
Body Mind and Spirit
Science is proving what the Eastern Mystics have known all along,
that we are "all connected" on a very basic level
and our thoughts literally create our reality. Healthy diet,
exercise and some form of spiritual centering and training of
the mind are all interrelated and important aspects of a healthy
life.
 Experiential
Learning
One learns much better from an educational process based on
doing and reflecting on the experience rather than a pure lecture.
Participants learn through challenges presented in a logical
and incremental way. A value forming experience can happen in
a short amount of time when facilitated and reflected upon appropriately.
 Learning from Indigenous Wisdom
An overlooked aspect and connection in our modern-day technological
society is the people who have lived before us. We are just
now understanding the depth and wisdom of indigenous cultures
throughout the world, and they are just now sharing what they
know because humankind’s need to evolve for its own survival.
We not only acknowledge this wisdom but actively seek connections
with those still practicing traditional ways, and who have not
forgotten the ways of their ancestors. We are a young culture
and can learn much from "our Elders."
 Environmental
Education and Sustainability
Individuals will gain an increased sense of responsibility for
the earth upon which we live, when they have a direct experience
and personal relationship with the out-of-doors. Students have
come home from a program and started a recycling center or framed
a quote in their office reminding themselves of their experience
and their relationship to the natural world. MSI programs can
have a significant impact on one’s sensitivity to the natural
world.
MSI is committed to devoting a substantial amount of its efforts as an organization to raising public awareness of environmental issues that directly affect our lives, such as global climate change, peak oil and sustainable living.
 Social
Responsibility
All programs impel participants into working and problem solving
experiences together on manageable challenges presented by the
facilitator and the nature of the program. By actually experiencing
the results of their actions, participants can transfer new
ideas and commitments to others at home, work, the community
and the environment.
Service
MSI fosters a sense of community through service projects.
MSI directors, particpiants and programs all give back to the local communities through service,
whether it's giving sweaters to villagers in Peru, or mowing
the library lawn or picking up trash along the trail. Service
projects are continuously being developed for future programs.
MSI also gives back to the community in which it operates with
scholarship programs and donations to local organizations as
well as participating in community events.
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Go to: GUIDES/FACILITATORS page
Board
of Directors
 Robert Stremba, Ed.D., President
Coordinator, Adventure
Education Department,
Fort Lewis College, Durango CO
Bob created the Adventure Ed program at Plymouth State University, and has recently accepted the coordinator position at Fort Lewis College where he will build a similar program. He has extensive background in managing wilderness educational programs, one being with REI Adventures of Seattle. He often incorporates "spiritual reconnection and a sense of place" in his teachings. He also currently teaches a courses for Outward Bound Widerness during the summer in Colorado and Washington State.
 Molly Morgan, Vice President
Former Mountain Classroom Instructor
Proctor Academy, Andover, NH
Molly Morgan,has been leading wilderness expeditions since 1993. From 2002-2005, Molly taught environmental science, natural history, expedition skills, and group dynamics while leading canoe, backpacking, rock climbing, skiing, and kayaking trips throughout the U.S. and Mexico with Proctor Academy's Mountain Classroom Program. Most recently, Molly has been living and working in Andover, New Hampshire, where she has led wilderness orientation and project period expeditions and worked as a faculty advisor for the student environmental action group at Proctor Academy. She recently co-facilitated MSI's Nordic Nirvana, a collaboration with Wonderwell Buddhist Mountain Refuge.
 Dexter R. Richards, B.Sc., Secretary
MSI Founder and
Executive Director
Hawea/Wanaka, NZ
Randy, a graduate of University of Utah in Recreation Management has been a senior international mountain guide for Alpine Ascents International, staff trainer and instructorfor Outward Bound, and guided in the Alps, Aconcogua, Argentina; Huascaran, Peru, Ecuador's Volcanoes and throughout the western Pacific Crest range and Alaska, on programs lasting from three weeks to three months. He is also performer of world and folk music and a music therapist for Alzheimers patients. He has been the Executive Director of MSI since it's inception in 1998.
 Amanda Richards, B.Sc., Treasurer
Marketing and Development
Hawea/Wanaka, NZ
Amanda Richards was named to the board of Directors of Mountain Spirit Institute, at the organization's recent annual retreat held in Sunapee, NH in 2009. She was also elected treasurer.
Amanda brings a wealth of marketing and business background plus great energy and ideas to MSI. She has also been a backcountry hut Ranger for the Department Conservation in New Zealand's Mt. Aspiring National Park. Amanda has trekked extensively in the Himalaya, climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa, and done extensive adventures in New Zealand, Australia and other parts of the world. She is a classically trained Homeopath and has a degree in science. She speaks conversational Spanish and English.
 Yannick Jooris
Project Coordinator and Photographer
Bhutan Cultural Atlas
Thimphu, Bhutan & Rocamartin, France
Yannick is devoping a web-based database aiming at holistically inventorying cultural heritage in Bhutan. She coordinated the set-up of an audiovisual centre for the national Institute of Language and Culture Studies (ILCS) in Bhutan, co-funded by UNESCO. She was Assistant to the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO in Tehran, Iran, and in 2001 produced various communication materials; TV programmes, educational videos for U.N. Agencies in Bhutan such as UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP. She is headed back to southwestern France, where she plans on running spiritually-based programs and a retreat center,of which Mountain Spirit plans to be a part.
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Brief History
| 1995-1998 |
Mountain Spirit Institute concept developed in Washington State and Oregon, first MSI programs conducted: Peru. |
| 1999 |
First participants to Peru under MSI's name, first "Kearsarge Wilderness Experience" program conducted. |
| 2000 |
(Spring) Name registered with NH as a non-profit organization, first corporate teambuilding seminar conducted.
(Summer) Second experiential trip to Peru, participants in climbing programs, professional development programs conducted.
Second Kearsarge Wilderness Experience course conducted, Board of Directors named, timeline and action plan developed. |
| 2001 |
Third trip to Peru, this time with teens to a remote village, second professional development seminar delivered. |
| 2003 |
(Summer/Fall) Founding B.O.D. formed, Articles adopted, NH Non-Profit Status approved. |
| 2005 |
(Winter) 501(c)-3 Non-Profit Status obtained, Bylaws, Safety Policies & Risk Mgmt. completed, first Speaker Program (Dr. H. Cutler) presented, Peru, Solo and KWE programs continued. |
| 2006-'11 |
Sunapee Holistic Health & Sustainabilty Festival (x3), Art of Living with Theo Paredes, Solo Programs, Lakota Studies on the Rosebud, Cusco Music Program in USA a wonderful success. |
| 2012-14 |
New Zealand Sanctuary developed in Wanaka. We re-focus our energies on outdoor mountain programs with the focus on healing/connection and training. We add |
Organizations of which some of our staff or board are members:
Randall Richards
Professional (Non-Certified) Member |
Randall Richards, Certified |
Randall Richards |
Mountain Spirit Institute |
Bob Stremba |
Bob Stremba, Randall Richards,
Andrew Bobilya |
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International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations
New Zealand Alpine Club
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
American Mountain Guides Association
Professional Ski Instructors Association
Association for Experiential Education
Wilderness Education Association
International Eco-Tourism Society
Mountain Spirit is a member of the following associations:
- New Hampshire Center for Non-Profits
- Utah Non-Profits Association
- Guidestar
- Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce
- Sustainable Travel International
- South American Explorers Club
College Credit
Transferable college credit is available for a certain MSI programs. Offered through certain university’s Adventure Education Departments, credits are awarded to you for transfer to your college or university . Our programs range in scope and focus. The more academically, culturally, leadership or communication focused programs (which are the majority of our programs) will offer college credit. A syllabus is available for such courses. To receive information on optional college credit please contact the MSI office.
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