Adventure experts

Ryan Holder is a highly skilled and dedicated professional with expertise in mental health counseling, education, and team development. As the Program Director at Adventurelore, Ryan brings a wealth of experience in guiding individuals and teams toward achieving their fullest potential.

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A 4x team captain for the University of New Hampshire Wrestling Team and an NCWA All-American, Ryan pairs his athletic leadership background with his professional credentials as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified School Counselor, and Certified Physical Education Teacher. His multifaceted expertise allows him to connect with diverse groups and foster growth in both personal and professional settings.

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Throughout his career, Ryan has focused on helping individuals identify their strengths and overcome challenges to reach their goals. By promoting improved communication, empathy, and mutual understanding, he empowers teams to enhance productivity while maintaining a supportive and caring environment. This approach creates a foundation for long-term success and cultivates a thriving, collaborative work culture.

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Ryan’s commitment to personal growth, leadership development, and fostering positive team dynamics continues to inspire those he works with, driving meaningful change and impactful results.

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Dr. Jason Holder is a seasoned executive coach, clinician, educator, and leader with decades of experience in mental health, leadership development, and adventure-based learning. As the founder of Adventurelore Programs and Health Wealth Inc., Jason has dedicated his career to helping individuals, teams, and organizations develop resilience, improve communication, and achieve peak performance.

His journey began in the late 1970s as the Health and Physical Education Department Head at Timberlane Regional High School, where he pioneered experiential learning by leading canoe trips for students struggling in physical education. This transformative approach sparked a passion for helping individuals overcome challenges, leading him to earn his doctorate in education and become a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC).

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Expertise & Experience

With a deep background in mental health counseling, leadership, and performance psychology, Jason has built a highly successful private practice, working primarily with ADHD, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, and family dynamics. His work extends beyond clinical practice into corporate and team-based settings, where he facilitates community-building, effective communication, and leadership development for executives, athletes, and high-performing teams.

Jason has shared his expertise as a faculty member at Boston University, Bridgewater State University, Golden Gate University, San Diego State, and Salem State University. Over the past 15 years, he has authored two books on Adventure Therapy and Adventure Activities, further cementing his role as a thought leader in experiential learning and personal development.

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Athletic & Leadership Background

A lifelong athlete and competitor, Jason’s experience includes:

Plymouth State University Wrestling Captain

Two-time NESCAC Champion & Outstanding Wrestler

Member of the U.S. All-Marine Wrestling Team

Founding President & Captain of Plymouth State Football

Jason’s unique blend of athletic achievement, leadership, and mental health expertise allows him to guide individuals and teams toward resilience, peak performance, and success under pressure. Whether coaching executives, facilitating team-building programs, or mentoring individuals, his mission remains the same—to empower others to grow, lead, and excel.

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Dr. Jason J. Holder is an accomplished educator, researcher, and coach with extensive experience in physical education, sport leadership, and wrestling. As an Associate Professor and Head Wrestling Coach at Springfield College, Dr. Holder combines academic excellence with a deep passion for athletic development, fostering success both on and off the mat.

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Dr. Holder earned his Ph.D. in Teaching and Administration from Springfield College, an M.Ed. in Health, Physical Education, and Coaching, and a B.S. in Psychology from Boston University. His research focuses on leadership in sport and the psychological skills required for peak performance, exemplified by his publication, Coaching Leadership Behaviors: A Comparison of High School and Collegiate Wrestling Coaches (The Sport Journal, 2021).

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A distinguished coach, Dr. Holder’s achievements include leading Springfield College wrestling to multiple regional and national successes, earning accolades such as 2020 Northeast Region Coach of the Year and 2020 NEWA Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, the program has produced 73 regional placers, 52 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, 27 national qualifiers, 12 regional champions, 12 All-Americans, and one national champion. His contributions to the sport have earned him induction into the New England Wrestling Association Hall of Fame.

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As an athlete, Dr. Holder excelled at Boston University, where he was a 4x team captain, NCAA Division I national qualifier, and 3x CAA placewinner. At Timberlane High School, he achieved remarkable success as a 2x New England wrestling champion, 3x NH State Champion, and NHSCA High School All-American, earning induction into the Timberlane High School Hall of Fame.

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Dr. Holder leverages his expertise in psychology and sport performance to guide professionals in developing strategic plans for achieving success.  

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Corey has a background in playing and coaching a variety of different sports to include college football. Corey earned his bachelors degree in sociology with a minor in coaching from Castleton University. After earning his degree, he graduated the 175th NH police academy and worked as a police officer in the lakes region of New Hampshire. After finding his passion for working with at-risk youth, he went back to school to earn his masters degree in clinical mental health counseling at Rivier University. Corey’s clinical experience includes working as an InShape health mentor, residential treatment counselor, and mobile crisis response team clinician in Manchester, NH. Corey is also a certified personal trainer which allows him to deliver a true holistic approach to therapy.

Jen holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a minor in Adventure Education from Springfield College. Driven by a deep passion for supporting youth, she joined the Adventurelore team in 2021.

Before pursuing her career in adventure-based therapy, Jen served as a college volleyball coach at Roger Williams University, bringing leadership and mentorship to student-athletes. In addition, she is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and has worked extensively with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in home-based therapeutic service programs.

A two-time All-American volleyball player at Springfield College, Jen brings the same dedication, resilience, and teamwork to her work with Adventurelore. Her diverse background in athletics, education, and mental health allows her to connect with and empower the youth she serves.

Lee is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who holds a Master of Science degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University. She is also an approved supervisor for licensure candidates by the state of New Hampshire.

With over seven years of experience in group home settings for adolescents and more than twelve years in community mental health with adult populations, Lee brings a wealth of expertise to her practice. Her clinical background includes roles within a psychiatric hospital and as the lead clinician in a specialized school program designed for students with emotional and behavioral needs.

Additionally, Lee has played a pivotal role in developing a therapeutic curriculum for a local Intensive Outpatient Program for adolescents and has served as the lead facilitator for clinical group sessions. Since 2012, she has been a valuable member of Adventurelore.

As a general practitioner, Lee emphasizes a strong focus on grief, substance use disorders, personality disorders, and clients with co-occurring disorders.

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Joanne joined Adventurelore in June of 2023. She graduated from Salem State University with a degree in Office Administration.  She is very fond of seeing the young ladies and gentleman come through the door of our Summer camps and year round programs. She also can't exclude loving all of Adventurelore's four legged friends that visit her through her workday!

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Stop by the office and say hi!

Carla earned her Master of Education in School Counseling after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her work in education began in 2006 when she created a school-based alternative program for youth exhibiting risky behaviors. For most of her career, Carla has worked as a middle school counselor, recently transitioning into the role of a service coordinator at the high school level. She integrates experiential and solution-focused approaches in her practice, supporting clients by leveraging their strengths while helping them navigate day-to-day challenges. Carla's counseling philosophy is deeply intertwined with her personal passions. She is happiest while "playing outside" and staying active, believing in the power of nature and physical activity to promote well-being. This enthusiasm for an active lifestyle not only contributes to her personal joy but also informs her professional approach. Since 2003, Adventurelore has been at the heart of Carla's practice, both as a counselor and as an individual. This long-standing connection has profoundly shaped her holistic approach to personal growth and client support, making her a dynamic and effective professional in the field of education and counseling.

Suzi is one of our Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Suffolk University in 2011 and a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling degree from Salem State University in 2017. She has several years of experience working with individuals challenged by anxiety, depression, autism, and ADHD in both school and residential settings.

Suzi tailors her approach to each client, drawing from person-centered, mindfulness-based, behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. She often incorporates nature and humor into her sessions to build connections and create a comfortable environment.

When Suzi isn’t working (and sometimes when she is!), she enjoys adventures including canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking.

Lexi completed her Masters of Social Work at Louisiana State University and her Bachelors of Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. Lexi recently took on a new role as a School Social Worker at a Wilderness Special Education Program. She loves helping her clients build confidence through outdoor experiences and adventure. She often brings her fur baby Dixie to work with her, which is a favorite for many participants at Adventurelore! Lexi has been a part of the Adventurelore team since 2016.

Rob Graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2009 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology, then again in 2011 with a Masters of Education in School Counseling, and later earned a Certificate of Education in Special Education. After two years as a Special Education Program Co-Coordinator in the Goffstown School District, Rob has been with Pinkerton Academy for 11 years as the schools Autism Inclusion Facilitator, supporting students in their academic and social growth.

Rob is passionate about outdoorsmanship and athletics. He has hiked all 48 of the 4000 footers in the state of New Hampshire and has been heavily involved in New Hampshire wrestling, both as an All-New England wrestler and as a coach for the past 16 seasons. Beyond hiking and wrestling, Rob is a three time Sandown Old Homes Day frog jumping contest champion and has been with Adventurelore since 2009.

Elissa holds a Master’s of Education in School Counseling from the University of New Hampshire (2008) and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a focus on Education. She has been a Certified School Counselor since 2008, with much of her counseling experience focused on elementary and early middle school aged children. Before her counseling career, Elissa worked at a local Boys & Girls Club, where she was the S.M.A.R.T. Moves Coordinator and provided academic, social, and emotional support to teens during after-school hours. Elissa specializes in solution-focused approaches and teaches therapeutic strategies to help youth manage anxiety and build resilience. At Adventurelore, she is passionate about helping young individuals overcome challenges, tap into their strengths, and thrive through both individual and group experiences.

Phoenix is our office dog, whom lives on site with our director Ryan, his wife Lee and their children. Phoenix is an English black lab who loves to steal snacks, chase rocks and provide love to our clients and groups. You can always anticipate on being greeted by a loud bark and a tail wag from Phoenix when you step foot on the property.

Jon and Beau Holder are the children of Ryan and Lee Holder, growing up immersed in the Adventurelore way of life. Living right next to the main office, they are a familiar presence around the grounds, especially after school and throughout the summer.

They love being part of the Adventurelore community, sometimes interacting with program participants and helping prepare for summer camp trips. Whether lending a hand or simply enjoying the adventure-filled environment, Jon and Beau embody the spirit of fun, exploration, and connection that defines Adventurelore.