John Arsenault is a busy man who has dedicated his life to outdoor adventure and to providing nature experiences to young and old. John is a founding member of the Reno Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) Leadership Team, is the Reno ICO Equipment Coordinator, and is an active Reno ICO Trip Leader. He is a teacher at Proctor Hug High School and is the advisor to the Hug High Adventure Club and the Hug High Green Club. John was the Trip Leader for the first Reno ICO Trip, a snowshoe trip to Donner Lake on January 28, 2023.
Based upon his hard work, John has been awarded the Sierra Club's Madelyn Pyeatt Outdoors for All Award which annually honors one Sierra Club volunteer who has worked proactively to make outings more accessible and more inclusive for persons of any age. The award is named after Madelyn Pyeatt who was a founder of ICO in the 1970s, back when ICO stood for “Inner City Outings.” For decades, Madelyn has been Rob Schamberg’s mentor – If it wasn’t for Madelyn, there would be no Reno ICO! Full circle!
Under John’s leadership, Reno ICO has developed a clothing and equipment inventory of over 1300 items to take 35 participants on snowshoeing, hiking, camping, backpacking, and other outdoor adventures. John manages the Reno ICO clothing and equipment storage facility centrally located in Reno. He supports our 7 trip leaders in checking out and checking in gear, keeping all the gear in tip-top shape.
John’s perseverance, people skills, and technical outdoor skills combined with his passion for the outdoors, and for experiential education are what has made him so effective as a leader and doer in Reno ICO.
John is creative, has unmatched skills in working with youth, unbounded energy, adept communication skills, a genuine warmth, and he is deeply connected to the regional outdoor and school district communities. Before coming to Reno ICO, John worked as a guide for many years for the Appalachian Mountain Club and Outward Bound and he continues to guide trips in the Sierras for paid participants. Along with supporting others at Reno ICO, John has led four ICO trips for students in the Hug High Adventure Club.
John’s nomination for the Madelyn Pyeatt Outdoors for All Award describes the incredible impact John has had in jumpstarting Reno ICO along with his direct work with youth from marginalized communities in the greater Reno area. John was an essential member of the team that built Reno ICO to benefit youth, the community, and our environment. His passion for getting people outside is contagious. John’s work in creating a solid base will impact so many in the coming years and decades.
Several people participated in developing John’s nomination. Reading their comments provides a deep sense of how special this man is!
Margaret Walsh, Hug High School Art Teacher & Hug High School Adventure Club Co-Advisor: "John is mercilessly optimistic. There does not seem to be a limit to his ability to find, support and advocate for opportunities to use the natural world to bring people together. John promotes experiences in nature as a way to foster appreciation, skills, independence and leadership."
Tracey Pomeroy, Reno ICO Leadership Team & Reno ICO Volunteer Coordinator: "I attended a Reno ICO snowshoe trip with John and was very impressed with his ability to engage the students and answer their multiple questions about science and the natural environment. He explained things in just enough detail to peak their interest."
Tyler Post, Reno ICO Trip Leader, Innovations High School: "John's ability to make kids feel comfortable is second to none. He uses the right words and has a great smile to go with it!"
Cristina Oronoz, Principal, Procter R. Hug High School: "John makes an impact on students' lives both as an English teacher and mentor. Because of John's efforts with the Hug High Green Club and the Adventure Club, students experience the importance of giving back to the community and the power of the natural world. John holds high expectations of students at the same time as providing the necessary supports they might need. As an educator, John impacts students, families, and staff by developing positive relationships with all."
Jeremy Lin, State Park Interpreter, California State Parks, Member Reno ICO Leadership Team: "John Arsenault deserves high praise for his unwavering passion, admirable patience, and dedicated commitment to organizing and facilitating snowshoe tours at Donner Memorial State Park for his Hug High School students through Reno Inspiring Connections Outdoors. I've witnessed John imparting knowledge and teaching his students the art of navigating using snowshoes. John's students hold him in great respect, appreciating not only his guidance but also the enjoyable atmosphere he creates. Despite the inherent challenges of learning to snowshoe, many moments were filled with laughter and lighthearted banter with John, making their snowshoeing experiences truly memorable. His dedication to both education and fostering a sense of camaraderie is commendable, and he is a true asset to both the Sierra Club and California State Parks communities."
John will be receiving this national award in a virtual ceremony on September 17, 2024. Reno ICO will also hold several events to celebrate this achievement. Stay tuned for details! Congratulations John, on your well-deserved award!