Jacob McCoola

Director of Outdoor Studies & ADK Semester Outdoor Studies
Jacob McCoola

Jacob was born and raised on the southern edge of the Adirondack Park, where his passion for outdoor education was sparked by a high school job as a ski instructor. After graduating, he journeyed westward to explore the landscapes and communities of the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, where he studied Outdoor Education and Sustainability at Colorado Mountain College. He then when on to receive an MS in Educational Leadership and Policy with a focus on Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University. Jacob’s continuing experiential studies examine the intersection of place-based education, systems science, sustainability leadership, socio-ecological justice, and outdoor recreation. He enjoys making noise on his banjo, carving spoons, walking around on skis, floating on rivers, reading, and adventuring with his partner, who is a forest pre-school teacher, and their dorky dog-ter, Jinora.