Protecting the Park

BY KELLY CARTER

In addition to “Protecting the Pack” this year, Northwood is aiming to do its part to protect the Park as well. As an educational institution located in the Adirondacks, a 6-million-acre state park, we have a unique opportunity to educate and empower the next generation of leaders to protect the environment and to build a better world.

Northwood is taking this responsibility seriously by preparing our students to address the intersecting social, economic and environmental challenges of our time. That’s why this year we established a sustainability team of passionate people who share a common interest in creating a cleaner, greener school and community. This dedicated group of faculty, staff, and students are committed to developing a plan that fosters a culture of sustainability across campus.

Kate Broderick ’22, a student member of the sustainability team says, “Sustainability is important because in order to slow or reverse climate change, every effort counts. As a school located in the Adirondack Park, I think it’s important that we work to attain a more sustainable campus and collaborate with the surrounding community to do our part. I joined the sustainability team both as a student, and a local, to carry on what past members and teachers have started in order to help continue making Northwood School and the Adirondacks more sustainable.”

This fall we learned more about the local Mirror Lake watershed, as we partnered with Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute to launch the inaugural Adirondack Water Week program. The webinar series focused on environmental issues impacting our lakes and waters such as road salt in Mirror Lake, invasive species spread, and the effects of warming winters. Partnering with the Adirondack Watershed Institute provides Northwood students place-based, experiential learning opportunities to apply science practices and engage in solutions to protect our valuable natural resources.

Additionally, we surveyed the Northwood community to assess our school’s sustainability performance and environmental literacy. Using the results of the audit and community input, the sustainability team is developing goals and identifying actions we can take to reduce our carbon footprint. Our main goal this year is to develop a sustainability plan

Building a sustainable school is important because it helps us develop sustainable habits which help us live a more sustainable life. It is crucial that our generation is environmentally conscious because the health of our planet is at a tipping point. It will be up to us to fix it.”

– MADDIE KOSTOSS ’21

that aligns with our academic priorities, strategic plan, and mission to raise awareness of ecological solutions that promote environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

In addition to the sustainability team, a new sustainability advisory board has formed to guide our efforts as we move forward with implementing Northwood’s sustainability plan.