ABOUT OUR DIRECTORS:
We believe that our Directors, JB Balmut, Juanita Chapman, and Richard Cook, are the force behind MountainShadow Challenge and the reason our programs are unlike any others.

One explanation is that they collectively have close to 50 years experience as psychotherapists. They are both licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, a discipline which focuses on system changes. It is reasonable to say that they are systems change experts. They are attuned to examining how people are working or not working together, and making assessments and interventions for change. They are professional communicators. They are creative problem solvers.

Add their experience and expertise to the dynamic approach of experiential learning utilized in all of our programs, and you will find that your challenges and goals are met much more effectively than through traditional 'talking / consulting / training' approaches. Their challenge courses are powerful transformation tools.

Our Directors know how to custom design programs, and even improvise experiences in the field to gain maximum benefit, whether the goals be trust building, improving communication, teambuilding, creativity, problem solving, or any other desired outcomes.

JB Balmut
JB has a passion for creating possibilities out of problems. He loves building individual and community resources. This has been a force in his years as a therapist, a developer of programs for the community, an administrator, and an active leader in his profession in the state of Nevada.
Core Beliefs:
• Life and possibilities are abundant
• Discovery is a human instinct
• Satisfaction in life comes when we take action
• Put your passion first and the rest will follow

Juanita Chapman
Juanita's love for horses brought her to advanced certification through EAGALA in 2009.  Since that time she has incorporated horses into nearly everything she does, from individual, family and group thereapy to leadership and teambuilding with corporate and community groups. The horses make great co-facilitators and trainors for all of us.
Core Beliefs:
• Go big or go home
• Animals make great teachers
• Trust the process
• Confidence is a habit

Richard Cook
Rich's career began as a high school teacher. That love for teaching has flowed naturally into his years as a therapist, parenting educator, designer and supervisor of internships and, like JB, an active leader in his profession. Rich is committed to sharing the magic of experiential education.
Core Beliefs;
• Say yes to something
• Beauty is often in the details
• A sound process increases the potential for success
• Dreaming big is the only thing that has ever produced greatness

The effectiveness and power of their work is amplified in all of the
challenge course programs. They use perceived risk in a safe and supportive
environment which creates a unique opportunity for accelerated learning.
Challenge courses in the hands of such skilled facilitators are like magic.
That is another primary reason for their doing this work. They love the
magic.