about us
about us
In everything we do, we seek to reveal the innate value and dignity of everyone we come into contact with. Because of this, we strive to bring individuals, families, and communities to a place of growth and development. We don’t want to stop at transforming people into the best they can be. We also want to transform educational programing into the best it can be. We want to use the outdoors to build people and educational programing into its full potential.
Nick and Katie had a dream of creating a non-profit outdoor therapy center for people of all walks of life to get the help and tools they’d need. Hannah and Keegan had a similar vision, but with an early aspect of an outdoor adventure after school program to develop students into people of character. As we all became friends we discovered the dreams and visions we had and couldn’t help but come together to make it happen.
Keegan has developed a Student Adventure Program curriculum that will be used to form the bases of what will be a long and prosperous business. Peñalva is a blend of education, outdoor recreation skills, and therapeutic helping skills that will build any student and family into people of character.
We believe education is vital. We are striving to be the front runners in transforming educational programing, not just in Kentucky but in the entire country through using outdoor recreation as a vehicle to build a student up in both intellect and character.
In 5-10 years, we also plan on incorporating a non-profit counseling program to the business. Hannah and Nick will graduate in 2020 with their Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and Katie has been working as a Social Worker for Bakita Empowerment Initiative helping survivors of Labor and Sex Trafficking. With all of these skills and perspectives we will be developing a program that can be applied in a counseling setting. We will be able to offer counseling in an outdoor/adventure environment. We also plan on joining the other front runners in wilderness/outdoor/eco therapy as we help transform traditional counseling and social engagement through outdoor recreation
Keegan Peñalva
Co-Founder
Program Director
Keegan graduated from Asbury University in the Adventure Leadership Program. He has been working with the Lexington Fire Department as wells as serving in the National Guard. He has dedicated his life to help others in their growth and development in life. He developed the After School program and curriculum in hopes to help students and their families grow in their lives and relationships.
Nick Porritt,
Co-Founder
Marriage & Family Therapist
Wilderness Instructor
Nick graduated with a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Nick specializes in experiential therapy utilizing the outdoors through adventure skills, equine, and photography. Nick uses his expertise by adapting the curriculum to be trauma informed and contain building blocks for self-improvement. Nick also facilitates therapeutic experiences alongside our instructors and other therapist for families and larger groups who would like to grow in relationships.
Hannah Peñalva
Marriage & Family Therapy Associate
Wilderness Instructor
Hannah graduated from Asbury University with a Bachelors in Psychology and Spanish. She went on to revise her Master's in Marriage and Family Thearpy at Asbury Theological Seminary. She seeks to provide therapeutic services to help individuals, families, and couples work through communication barriers for growth, and become the healthiest version of themselves. She has helped take our services from hiking trips to therapeutic transformation for people in relationship with one another.
Katie Porritt
Wilderness Instructor
Katie has a Bachelors in Psychology and Counseling as well as a Masters in Social Work & an MBA in Non-Profit Management. Katie is working as well at a non-proit as Chief of Staff at a Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation. She loves being outdoors and has a deep desire to go as high on a hard rock-climbing route as she can. She helps with putting the big ideas into a practical reality. She has helped the program be more than just guiding and teaching, but a tool that's transforming communities.