When summer groups arrive at Raquette Lake this year, they will be greeted by a friendly, familiar face, Ian White ’13. Ian
is finishing his master’s program in Environmental and Outdoor Education through the Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies Department (RPLS). As the summer program assistant at Raquette Lake, Ian will instruct in both the Outdoor Adventure Education for Teachers (PED 308) and Outdoor Education Practicum classes early in the summer and serve as an instructor for the Adirondack Trail Blazers program in August. In between, he’ll reside at Camp Huntington and provide program support for resident groups both here and at Antlers.
Ian first came to SUNY Cortland in 2011 after two years at Hudson Valley Community College. His high school physical education teacher, Mr. Citrolo, recommended Cortland as the best place to pursue his passion to become an educator. He attended PED 308 at Raquette Lake the spring of 2012, where he had Corey Ryon ’99, M ’03, lecturer in health and physical education, as his trip leader and fondly remembers Steve Langendorfer’s ’72 playful personality and corny jokes after meals. Ian also served as a resident advisor and orientation assistant while on campus, allowing him to return to Raquette Lake for training. After graduating in 2013, he was hired as a student assistant for PED 308 a position he has continued to hold each year since.
After a brief and unfulfilling semester at graduate school in North Carolina studying higher education, Ian embarked on
a cross-country journey of self-discovery, encouraged by his parents. He skied many of the larger mountains in Colorado,
then headed north for even bigger challenges in Alaska, where he ended up teaching cross-country skiing to native children at Nana Nordic. Ironically, he was selected for the job because the manager knew another Ian White and thought that’s who he was hiring. It wasn’t long before Cortland’s Ian White proved himself a naturally gifted outdoor teacher, and his self-discovery was achieved.
In the spring of 2014 he returned to teach another section of PED 308 and enrolled in the master’s program at Cortland
that fall. Because of his flair for teaching and commitment to the College, Ian was given a graduate assistant position in the RPLS department. He also became a familiar face at Raquette Lake and last summer was offered the position of summer program assistant. In that role, Ian helps orient new groups, provides program support, leads off-campus day trips, supervises the Liberty Partnership Program and assists with the camp historical tours.
When asked what excites him about Raquette Lake, Ian says it’s the staff he works with and the people who come to the camp. He also loves teaching in a non-traditional role and sharing his love for the outdoors with others. Some of his
best memories are playing 20 questions with students while canoeing on the lake and sharing good stories and laughs
around the campfire.
We are looking forward to having Ian back for another exciting summer and wish him well as he ventures out to put his considerable teaching skills and enthusiasm for adventure to work in improving the lives of others.