Trained and Dedicated Educators
Elk Creek Ranch is owned and operated by a group of educators with a wide variety of backgrounds and skill sets. Any of us would be more than happy to discuss the ranch program with you.
Hap Ridgway
President
Hap was born and raised in Cody. He graduated from Dartmouth College, followed by a two-year tour in the Army before completing a Masters in International Affairs at Columbia University. Hap was the headmaster of Berwick Academy in Maine for 18 years before he and his wife Susan retired and moved back to Wyoming and Sunlight Valley permanently in 2007. In 2019, Susan unexpectedly passed away. For more information, click here.
Tina Moore
Director
Tina graduated from University of Montana with degrees in English and History. She taught both subjects for four years in Darby, Montana, then received a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She is in her 25th year of working as a learning specialist with at-risk students at Corvallis High School. Tina has also been coaching track and field for 13 years.
Melissa Stanley
Director
Melissa manages the day-to-day operations at Elk Creek Ranch, ensuring our days are filled with rewarding challenges and lots of laughs. She graduated from Connecticut College in 2006 and moved to Bozeman, Montana where she worked in the counseling program at the Hawthorne School. She now teaches Nordic skiing and winter ecology to youth groups at the Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center.
Aly Ridgway
Director
With sisters Melissa and Kyle, Aly also manages the day-to-day operations of Elk Creek Ranch. Showing us all a bit of true grit, Aly finds time to complete her marathon training before a full day of ranch work. During the school year, Aly teaches in the toddler program at Little Tree Education in Bozeman, Montana. Previously, Aly was a ski instructor at Vail Resorts in Colorado. Aly is currently pursuing her masters degree in secondary education.
Kyle Bishop
Director
While not at Elk Creek, Kyle Bishop teaches Spanish to high school students at Berwick Academy in Maine, where she also serves as the dean of the sophomore class and coaches girls lacrosse. Kyle graduated from Connecticut College in 2004. Kyle heads up the Leadership Program at Elk Creek Ranch.
Debbie Moore
Director
Debbie is an artist and educator living in Duvall, Washington, working with disabled children. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in studio art. At Elk Creek, Debbie always has an open ear for a rancher in need of a conversation. She is also our resident prankster. Debbie's son Sean Watson is now a senior counselor at the ranch.
Rob Plakke
Director
Rob is Elk Creek's fishing guru—always ready to take ranchers on adventures to the rivers of the Absarokas or the lakes of the Beartooths. While not fishing, Rob will be found heading up one of the more ambitious construction projects at the ranch. During the school year, Rob teaches English at Corvallis High School in Montana. Rob, Tina and their daughter Keenan return to Elk Creek every summer providing a vital addition to the staff.
Connie Dover
Cook
Elk Creek Ranch is incredibly lucky to have Connie Dover as our cook in the summers. Not only is her food nutritious and delicious, but Connie is also a singer of Scots, Irish and American traditional ballads. This poet and Emmy-winning producer and songwriter is a very special addition to our Saturday night campfire sings.
2022 Counselors
Oliver Kendall
Charleston, South Carolina
Colorado College
Elk Creeker since 2015
Senior Counselor/Med-staff
Henry Oliver
Stamford, Connecticut
Montana State University
Elk Creeker since 2016
Senior Counselor
Lucy Pelletier
Cambridge, MA
Wesleyan University
Elk Creeker since 2017
Senior Counselor
Gaylan Ryus
Hamilton, Massachusetts
Montana State University
Elk Creeker since 2018
Senior Counselor
Alice Schubert
Cleveland, Ohio
Colorado College
Elk Creeker since 2018
Senior Counselor/Med Staff
Matthew Zehner
Chicago, Illinois
Case Western Reserve University
Elk Creeker since 2017
Senior Counselor
Michael Harvey
Atlantic Beach, Florida
University College Dublin
Elk Creeker since 2016
Senior Counselor/Med Staff
Olivia LeBlanc
Scottsdale, Arizona
Desert Mountain High School ’22
Elk Creeker since 2017
Junior Counselor
Taylor DeVore
Tucson, Arizona
University High School
Elk Creeker since 2019
Junior Counselor
Emma Dominick
Bozeman, Montana
University of Utah
Elk Creeker since 2021
Junior Counselor
Toby King
New York City, New York
Northfield Mount Hermon School
Elk Creeker since 2019
Junior Counselor
Ansel Scholl
New York City, New York
United Nations International School
Elk Creeker since 2018
Junior Counselor
Tad Faulkner
Hopkinton, NH
Derryfield School
Elk Creek Since 2019
Junior Counselor
Christian Bell
New York City, New York
United Nations International School
Elk Creeker since 2018
Junior Counselor