Mark started working with Spirit in 1994, continuously working as a freelance instructor, while also delivering team building activities in schools acoss the west country with his company Adventure Challenge.

He was the joint founder of the Young Spirit programmes for schools 2008.
In 2020 he took on the sole directorship of Spirit, taking the company forward while, maintaining the values that the foundation encourages in the beginning.

Mark was inspired by his father who gave him a lifelong passion for teaching and outdoor living. He is a keen climber who has made first ascents of many rock routes in the South West. He and his wife Kate along with his now grown up children have had many adventures world wide. He and Kate still go on trekking trips and are planning more adventures in the future.
Mark trained in outdoor leadership and is an Accredited Practitioner of the Institute of Outdoor Learning. Has a range of National governing body awards in climbing, mountaineering and water sports.

Mark has also studied and practiced skills and techniques in bushcraft and off grid living. Managing 10 acres of woodland, building a traditional cabin and producing fire wood for our bunkhouses.
These skills have continued to inform and support our programmes particularly at our Dartmouth site.

Martin has worked in Spirit’s office for 25 years and looks after bookings, finance and all the admin side of the business.

He is in the office every weekday afternoon from 1:30pm to 5:30pm and combines this job with working in a local school for children with Special Educational Needs.

As age catches up with him, he has swapped his running shoes for cycling lycra!

Sandy had a very successful career in the Royal Navy for 26 years before opting for a life-style change. Sandy has retired from full-time involvement but is still providing moral support.

Both John and Sandy have travelled extensively and have been members of some of the big mountain expeditions of the 80’s and 90’s.