Professional Staff

Professional staff members play a critical role at the Saint Michael's College Wilderness Program. They are selected based on experience, professionalism, dedication to outdoor pursuits and the ability to create safe learning environments. We are fortunate to have "state of the sport" instructors/coaches in a variety of diciplines to serve as mentors for our student staff and to lead advanced programs.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Todd A Johnstone-Wright '96
Director of Wilderness Programs

Todd has worked as a professional guide and outdoor pursuit’s instructor for over 14 years and believes that wilderness experiences are a critical component of a liberal arts education. His career has afforded him the opportunity to trek, climb and paddle throughout North America, South America, Africa and Europe but he always returns to Northern New England. Todd teaches wilderness medicine, rock/ice/alpine climbing, sea kayaking, whitewater and leadership courses.

Credentials:

  • Certified American Mountain Guide Association Single Pitch Instructor
  • American Mountain Guide Association Rock Instructor Course Graduate
  • Individual Member of the American Mountain Guide Association
  • American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Open Water Instructor
  • American Canoe Association Whitewater Instructor
  • American Canoe Association Surf Kayak Instructor 
  • British Canoe Union Coach Level 3 (Sea)
  • British Canoe Union Canoe Safety Assessor 
  • Certified Wilderness EMT
  • Certified Vermont EMT 
  • SOLO Wilderness Medical Instructor
  • Level 1 Avalanche Training  

---------------------------------------------------------------

Eben Widlund 
Assistant Director of Wilderness Programs

Eben has been teaching wilderness medicine for SOLO Wilderness Medicine and outdoor skills throughout North America for over 10 years.  Eben joined the Wilderness Program Staff as the Assistant Director in 2006 and is responsible for instructor training, expedition programming and program development. 

 

Credentials:

  • SOLO Wilderness Medical Instructor
  • Certified American Mountain Guide Association Top Rope Site Manager
  • Individual Member of the American Mountain Guide Association
  • British Canoe Union 3 Star
  • British Canoe Union Canoe Safety Award
  • NATO Telemark Instructor Training
  • SOLO Wilderness EMT
  • Nationally Registered EMT Basic
  • Level 1 Avalanche Training
  • SOLO Search and Rescue Instructor
  • Search and Rescue Team Leader
  • SMC Alpine Instructor Training 

---------------------------------------------------------------
 
John Carmody
Senior Sea/Surf Kayak Coach/Guide

John is a retired vetinarian, accomplished kayaker and one of the highest accrediated coaches in New England.  John has navigated the ocean in all types of vessels but of late has found the interface of small boats and big water the most rewarding.  John is a master educator and guide whose knowledge and skills are always at the "state of the sport."  John provides various trainings and clinics throughout the year in addition, to developing expedition programming.

Credentials:

  • British Canoe Union Level 4 Coach Sea A1*
  • Registered Maine Guide (Sea Kayak)
  • British Canoe Union Canoe Safety Assessor
  • American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Instructor
  • American Canoe Association Surf Kayak Instructor
  • SOLO Wilderness First Responder


---------------------------------------------------------------
 
Derek Doucet
Senior Rock/Ice and Alpine Instructor

Derek Doucet holds a master's degree in Outdoor Education from Prescot College and has been involved in outdoor education for over a decade. He's a longtime Outward Bound Instructor, rock and ice guide, avid climber and has served in outdoor education faculty and staff positions at numerous colleges and universities. His 20+ years' experience in mountain adventure have involved numerous first ascents on rock and ice, and ranged over 7 countries and 4 continents. He is a lead expedition climbing instructor and teaches rock and alpine instructor courses.

Credentials:

  • Registered New York State Guide (Rock/Ice)
  • SOLO Wilderness First Responder
  • Associate Member of the American Mountain Guide Association
  • American Mountain Guide Association Rock Instructor Course Graduate
  • American Mountain Guide Association Alpine Guide Course Graduate 
  • AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Training

---------------------------------------------------------------
 

Marty Molitoris
Senior Rock/Ice and Alpine Instructor

Marty is the owner and program director of Alpine Endeavors Climbing School where he guides professionally throughout North America, South America and Asia. Marty instructs AMGA programs for Saint Michael's College and advanced rock programs.

 

 

Credentials:

  • Registered New York Guide (Rock, Ice, Hiking and Camping)
  • American Mountain Guide Association Rock Guide
  • American Mountain Guide Association Alpine Guide Course Graduate
  • American Mountain Guide Association Ski Mountaineering Course Graduate 
  • Professional Member of the American Mountain Guide Association
  • SOLO Wilderness EMT
  • New York EMT Basic
  • Level 2 Avalanche Training

---------------------------------------------------------------

Ben Lawry
Senior Kayak Coach/Guide

Ben has been paddling for over 25 years, and teaching for over half of that. He has taught paddling on four continents and competed on three. Presently he works as a factory rep for P&H Kayaks and is co-owner of BEAKayaking with his wife, Elizabeth. He has competed in sprint, sea kayak, slalom, rodeo, marathon canoe and kayak, outrigger, surf ski and wildwater. Ben loves learning and enjoys training with different coaches to improve his technique, expand his teaching theories and increase his understanding of paddlesports. He has been lucky enough to take coaching in various disciplines from over 10 international coaches.

Credentials:

  • American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Sea Kayak Open Water
  • American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Surf Kayak
  • American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Whitewater 
  • Wilderness First Responder

---------------------------------------------------------------


Dovid Yagoda
Kayak Coach

Dovid is an award winning middle school educator who spends his summers as owner and program director of True North Kayak Tours. Dovid has paddled whitewater and sea boats throughout North and Central America and is a sea kayak and whitewater coach for Saint Michael's College.

 

Credentials:

  • British Canoe Union Level 3 Coach
  • BCU Canoe (Kayak) Safety Assessor
  • SOLO Wilderness First Aid
  • BCU 4 Star Sea
  • BCU 4 Star Inland (Whitewater)
  • American Canoe Association Whitewater Instructor
  • SOLO Wilderness First Aid

---------------------------------------------------------------


Scott Thompson
Whitewater Instructor

Scott moved to Vermont in 1993 to pursue a degree in environmental science and quickly developed a passion for kayaking.  As a middle school math teacher he has honed his teaching skills on the most discerning of audiences with great success.  Scott graduated from Saint Michael's College in 2007 with a Master Degree in Education and has been teaching whitewater kayaking for the Wilderness Program since 2006.

Credentials:

  • American Canoe Association Whitewater Instructor
  • SOLO Wilderness First Aid

---------------------------------------------------------------