Brittany Lofton
News Reporter

The Outdoor Program’s long-awaited Assistant Director Ryan Dutch started helping the OP in 2003, as a Mesa State student.
“My parents always pushed me to pursue physics because it is a better paying job, but this is where my passion is,” Dutch said.
Dutch started guiding trips for the OP while he was a student. That helped him land a job at Outward Bound, an outdoor leadership program. After graduation, he taught math, owned his own rock-climbing wall, and finally landed a job at the OP as assistant director.
“I wanted the job, and I was committing myself to the job,” Dutch said. “I had job offers and I turned them down, I wasn’t sure I was going to get the job so it was a gamble.
OP Director Chad Thatcher said, “We needed someone here that had a passion about getting students outdoors. Ryan has that passion.”
“I want the program to be the best in the country,” Dutch said. “I want this program to be the reason that people come to MSC. I want everyone to experience the outdoors and be safe.”
Among Dutch’s many ideas for the OP, is a fun and educational rafting trip. Having taught astronomy and having a passion for geology, Dutch’s idea includes exploring the rock formations and geology of the river on a rafting trip during the day, and the stars and the sky at night.
Thatcher said he is excited about bringing Dutch to the OP family. He said he is also happy to bring in extra help and bring in a different view of activities and trips to help mold the OP into a program that will forever be a part of MSC.
“He is a jack of all trades,” Thatcher said. “He knows how to break things apart, analyze it, and put it back together looking even better, and that’s what we need in this organization. We needed some fresh knowledge to bring in different perspectives.”
Drop by the OP and welcome Dutch to MSC once again. Visit www.mesastate.edu/op/ to learn about trips and other activities that are happening throughout the year.

blofton@mesastate.edu