John Kascenska, Ph.D.

John Kascenska, Ph.D. (Adventure Leadership) currently teaches SOLO Wilderness First Responder, Ice Climbing, and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) 1 & 2 Avalanche courses for the Mountain Recreation Management Department.  Dr. Kascenska is the Associate Academic Dean, as well as a 1982 graduate of Lyndon State College.  Before moving into his current administrative role, John founded and coordinated the Adventure Leadership program.  He has been climbing for 33 years and has 30 years of outdoor adventure program experience teaching courses in rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, avalanche education, SOLO wilderness medicine, outdoor leadership, risk management and research.  John is an American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Single Pitch Instructor, SOLO Certified Wilderness First Responder, SOLO wilderness medicine instructor, American Heart Association – Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, AIARE 1 Course Leader, AIARE 2 Course Instructor, professional member of the American Avalanche Association, and owner of Kingdom Adventures Mountain Guides, LLC.  For the past 10 years, he has served on the Board of Directors of Lyndon Rescue, Inc.  John’s passion for the mountains has brought him to lead climbing adventures on four continents, including four successful ascents of Kilimanjaro (the highest point in Africa).  John shares his passion for the mountains with students through the courses that he teaches at Lyndon; his work as a professional mountain guide; and his volunteer work with the American Alpine Club where he has served two terms as a member of the Board of Directors.  He also remains active in his profession, publishing articles, giving presentations, and most recently serving as a contributing author for the newly published book, “Technical Skills for Adventure Programming: A Curriculum Guide.”