John MacKinnon

Faculty in Outdoor Education

John MacKinnon stands in a room full of outdoor gear holding rock climbing rope.

Prior to joining the faculty at Sterling, John spent ten years teaching in two different college outdoor education programs in Colorado. He has also worked as a climbing guide, backcountry ski guide and outdoor educator in Colorado and throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

John believes the role of an educator is to provide well-structured, growth-oriented experiences grounded in what the teaching and learning scholar, Ken Bain, calls natural and critical learning environments. As a teacher, John hopes to foster lasting and meaningful connections between his students, the subject matter and the natural world. John studied geosciences and history as an undergraduate and then pursued a master’s degree in education; similarly, he approaches teaching in an interdisciplinary manner with a focus on place-based experiential education. He strives to incorporate multiple perspectives into all of his courses while blending relevant educational theory with hands-on practice and reflection.

John has been involved with several large-scale curriculum projects in the snow and avalanche industry. He has developed and delivered avalanche safety curriculum and avalanche instructor training programs for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). Additionally, he helped build a 2-year certificate program that focused on avalanche science for Colorado Mountain College. 

John’s favorite outdoor activities include rock climbing, trail running, and any form of skiing. He lives in Craftsbury with his wife, Reed and two daughters, Eleanor and Josie.

John started teaching at Sterling in July 2021

    • B.A. in Geosciences and History from Williams College

    • M.Ed. in Education and Human Resource Studies with a specialization in Adult Education and Training from Colorado State University

    • Experiential education

    • Adult education

    • Outdoor and adventure education

    • Curriculum design

    • Multicultural education

    • Institutional risk management

    • Snow and avalanche science

    • Land-based outdoor travel skills--navigation, backpacking, backcountry camping/campcraft

    • Technical outdoor skills--rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, glacier travel

    • Skiing--alpine, telemark, alpine touring (A.T.), nordic

  • Experiential Endeavors:

    • SS/NS 258: Environmental Education

    • SS 482A: Outdoor Program Management

    Intensives in Community and Skill Building through Outdoor Experience:

    • INT 100: A Sense of Place–Expedition 1

    • INT 100: A Sense of Place–Winter

    • INT 100B: A Sense of Place–Rock Climbing Expedition

    • AS 190: Introduction to Rock Climbing

    • AS 190A: Intermediate Rock Climbing

    • AS  230: Advanced Rock Climbing

    • AS 282: Winter Backcountry Travel

    • SS 108: Foundations of Outdoor Education

    • SS 112A: Community Building Through Winter Recreation

    • AS 372: Expedition Planning and Management

    Intensives in Education Theory and Practice:

    • SS 228: Experiential Curriculum Design

    • SS 240: Education and Learning Theory

    • Coit, R., Elder. K., Greene, E., Hodgetts, B., Lazar, B., MacKinnon, J., Reardon, B. (2018). A College-Level Training Program for Avalanche Safety Workers. Proceedings from the International Snow Science Workshop. Innsbruck, Austria

    • Transferable Thoughts and Ideas from a Summer of Hybrid Curriculum Design. – Colorado Mountain College Faculty In-Service 2020

    • Re-thinking Student Supervision: Risk Management Strategies in a College-Level Training Program for Avalanche Safety Workers.— Bend Snow and Avalanche Workshop 2018

    • AIARE Instructor/Staff—member of the AIARE Education Committee, curriculum developer, instructor trainer (2014 - 2024)

    • Staff Trainer at Colorado Outward Bound School (2014 - 2016)

    • American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Rock Guide (2014)

    • AMGA Certified Ski Guide (2013)

    • AMGA Single Pitch Assistant Provider (2015)

    • AIARE Level 3 Avalanche Certified (2009)

    • AIARE Course Leader for AIARE 1, AIARE 2 and Avalanche Rescue Courses (2009 - Present)

    • Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association (2009 - Present)

    • Member of the American Mountain Guides Association (2003 - Present)

    • Member of the Certified Guides Cooperative (2014 - 2024)

    • Wilderness First Responder and CPR Certified (2005 - Present)
      Leave No Trace Trainer (2012)

    • Co-Owner of Buena Vista Mountain Adventures (2019-2024)

    • Avalanche Forecaster in Crested Butte, CO (2009-2013)

    • OREC Program Advisory Board--Lyndon Institute

    • GMC Trail Adopter for the Long Trail

    • Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice by Wayne Au

    • The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

    • A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

    • Trail running

    • Mountain biking

    • Gravel Riding

    • All forms of climbing and skiing

    • Spending time with family

    • Photographing snow crystals

    • Weather

    • Public radio

    • Local Geology

    • Reading

    • Espresso

Email John