Rocky Mountain Pathways Ranch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping teens grow and develop socially and emotionally. Our program accomplishes this by creating a supportive and challenging environment that pushes students out of their comfort zones, and encourages them to try new experiences. We then ask the students to reflect on their experiences at the ranch, and we work to instill tools and values that help them carry the lessons learned here back home with them.
We employ a diverse team of dedicated mentors and educators whose contributions to the ranch and our programming are paramount to our success, and to the success of our students. Please take a moment to learn more about our leadership team.
Jesse Beightol – Ranch Manager
The Rocky Mountain Pathways Ranch Manager, Jesse Beightol grew up in Minnesota before attending Northland College in Ashland, WI where he earned his B.S. in Outdoor Education. While at Northland, Jesse worked with Challenge Alaska and Wilderness Inquiry, leading wilderness expeditions for people with disabilities. As soon as he finished school, he moved to Estes Park and started working with Eagle Rock School, leading 24-day wilderness courses for students that were struggling to find success in traditional public school settings.
From 2000-2006, Jesse led remote expeditions for a wide variety of populations throughout North America. Working with the National Outdoor Leadership School, Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge, Wilderness Inquiry, Kent Mountain Adventure Center, the Wilderness Classroom, and Eagle Rock School gave him a broad experience base in the outdoor education field. In 2006, Jesse returned to the University of New Hampshire to earn an MS in Outdoor Education, focusing his research on youth development and resilience. From 2008-2017 Jesse served as the Outdoor Education Instructional Specialist at Eagle Rock School in Estes Park.
Jesse is passionate about working with youth and helping them develop their leadership skills through a variety of outdoor and experiential activities. He most looks forward to expanding the outdoor education offerings, strengthening our instructor development opportunities, and becoming a model youth development program.
Brian Lenihan – Food Service and Hospitality Manager
Brian grew up in a small town in New Jersey just outside of New York city. His first kitchen job was in a small Irish pub in a nearby town where he worked as a dishwasher. He attended The Culinary Institute of America after getting a letter of recommendation from his boss and mentor. He graduated in December of 2003. After graduation, Brian worked as a sous chef at a catering hall where he honed his cooking skills preparing food for large elaborate weddings and other special events. Brian continued his career as Executive Chef at The Good Food Family, where he cooked food for universities and private schools in Manhattan. In 2014, Brian moved to Colorado to escape the city life and get into the mountains!
Brian started working at RMPR in May 2015. He loves working up in the mountains, and spends his free time hiking around the property. On his breaks, you will often see him outside talking with the students about the Rockies and all of the wildlife Colorado has to offer. He loves talking to the students about cooking, and really loves showing them his skills as a chef. He is always willing to share his life experiences, and he loves mentoring students that desire to go into the cooking field.