It’s a beautiful day in the Adirondacks!
I woke up this morning to loons, calling back and forth across Osgood Pond. They sounded like wolves. The moon is waning and the earth is waking. Trillium and trout lilies are popping along the trails. Deer that hunkered down for the winter have pushed further into the woods—preparing for birthing season. The last few days have been sunny and dry. Earth beneath the evergreens smells like cotton candy. It’s a blessed and bug-free time of year in the Adirondack Park.
Last weekend, a few hundred students at Paul Smith’s College donned their caps and gowns, walked across the stage and entered a new chapter in their lives. Six years ago, I was one of them. It was a damp and cold day—wind streamed across Lower Saint Regis and pummeled the tent. Power went out during the President’s opening address. Nonetheless, it was remarkable. And quite fitting to the spirit of the Adirondacks—which can be harsh, yet rewarding.
What connects people to place?
There’s no denying, Paul Smith’s College is a special place. Conduct a random poll on campus asking why people come here and the majority will say something about the landscape or nod towards the lake and silhouette of Mount Saint Regis. Something pulled me here as a student and something pulled me back as a faculty member.
What connects people to place? What makes a place worth protecting? This blog aims to capture life on Osgood Pond through a mix of essays, reflections, recipes, poetry, images and video. Students in the program are exploring current environmental and social issues through unconventional college life and recreation inside the amazing Adirondack park. The purpose is to tell a story and record a history—not just of this generation, but the ones before and the ones to come.
I hope you enjoy!
