Organic Roots Summer 2023

Editorial Director

Ken Aaron

Layout & Design

Kelly Hofschneider

Illustrators

Gavi Mallory

Nip Rogers

Contributors

Ken Aaron Stanzi Bliss

Christie Borden

Reiley Burwell

Elizabeth Davis

Hannah Edwards

Emily Eisman

Jane Hudson

Becca Miller

Todd Ormiston

Mara Wallace

Photographers

Nancie Battaglia

Reiley Burwell

Meredith Hanson

Becca Miller

Barbara Morgan

Todd Ormiston

Larry Robjent

Dan Slutsky

Masthead

Gail Brill Designs

Printing

Print Management Pittsburgh, PA contact: communications@ncstreetops.org

www.northcountryschool.org

www.camptreetops.org

www.rock-e.org

ORGANIC ROOTS I SUMMER 2023

BOARD LEADERSHIP

Barkley Stuart, Chair

CTT 69–72, parent 03–07, NCS parent 09–11

Pamela Rosenthal, Vice-Chair NCS parent 07–09

Mara Frankel Wallace, Secretary CTT 77–80, parent 14–15

Emanuel Weintraub, Treasurer

CTT 73–81, staff 85–87, parent 11–present

TRUSTEES

Lisa Beck

CTT 70–73, parent 03–16, staff 08–present

Ed Biddle

CTT parent 01–08, 10–12

Ami Brabson NCS parent 16–18

Barry Breeman NCS parent 07–10, CTT parent 10–13

Peter Brest CTT 56–62, parent 93–06

Veronica Dunlap

CTT parent 13–16, NCS parent 15–17

Nick Hewitt NCS 65–70, CTT 64

Dorsey Barnett Horowitz

CTT 82–84, parent 14–16, 21, NCS parent 18–19

Tori Hunt

CTT 76–79, staff 84–85, 09–12, parent 01–11, 13

Carla von Trapp Hunter NCS 95–96

Greg Marchildon

CTT 74–79, staff 83–86, 10-13, parent 08–12, 14–15, NCS 75–80, parent 12–13, staff 12–13

Davlyn Grant Mosley

CTT 86–89, staff 04

Stefan Nowicki

CTT 87–91, 93, staff 97–03, 06, 11

Robert Parker

CTT parent 92–04

Skye Raiser

NCS parent 20–23

Matt Salinger

NCS 72–74, CTT parent 04–08

Allyson Shames

CTT 82–85, staff 90–93, parent 13–21, David Stewart

NCS 94, CTT 95–96

Bill Waddington

NCS 77–79, parent 10–13, CTT 80, parent 09–12

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Joan Davidson

CTT 38, staff 46, parent 62–72, grandparent 98–04, NCS staff 51–52

Colin Tait

CTT staff 54, 57, 67–82, parent 67–78

Richard Wilde

CTT staff 60–82

TRUSTEES EMERITI

J. Matthew Davidson

CTT 62–67, parent 96–06

David Kenney

CTT parent 81–97, NCS parent 83–84

Rose Kean Lansbury

CTT parent 73–78, grandparent 99–01, 05–07, 10–18, NCS parent 73–82

Sandra Gray Nowicki

NCS 52–57, staff 67–12, parent 83–84, CTT parent 79–93, CTT staff 96–14

Sumner Parker

CTT 37–40, parent 73–79, grandparent 92-04, 10–12, 15–16, 18–19, 21–present, NCS 40–41, parent 77–82

BUILDING A BOLD

Todd Ormiston Executive Director

Through the yearlong process of building our next strategic plan, I have enjoyed many conversations with colleagues, campers, and students as well as our devoted alumni and parents. It has been gratifying to hear the ways in which the people and programs at Camp and School have transformed the lives of so many.

My conversations also inspired me to consider past strategic initiatives that have guided the trajectory of our incredible organization. How did past generations of leaders reach big decisions at a time when the world was less complex, and less connected?

This led me to the basement of Clark House—our archives, a place where more than 100 years of Camp and School’s history is stored in countless pictures, documents, and artifacts.

What an incredible journey to pore over the history of Camp and School in photos and docu-

ments. Helen and Doug Haskell and Walter and Leo Clark were the architects of our Dewey-inspired educational philosophy. Their guiding principles shaped the future of Camp and School.

In those archives, I found the first Board of Trustees notes, which began with the purchase of Camp and School from the Haskells and Clarks in 1966. I listened to a recording of Walter Clark at his retirement party in 1971 when he declared, “North Country School is the most independent of all independent schools.”

It also led me to watch a 1995 interview with Leo Clark. She recounted a conversation in which Doug Haskell said, “You and Walter want to build a school. I want you to build it here. I want to go back to New York to study my field and the three of you could work out something very well here.” That talk led to the beginning of North Country School in 1938. Going even further back, you can explore materials that document the pivotal moment the Slesingers moved here from Maine in 1923 when they opened Camp. It’s all there. It’s fascinating and inspiring.

Those were bold decisions. They were also the foundation of our quest to cultivate the character of children, honor their voices, and teach them about themselves and the world around them.

We will need to channel that same sense of daring and focus as we prepare to roll out our next strategic plan. A transformational experience doesn’t just happen; it is the product of thoughtful planning and execution. As we look ahead at our continued evolution, we will employ the “many hands make light work” mantra that has aided in the removal of trees from hiking trails, planted thousands of pounds of potatoes, and filled countless loads of the honey wagon. You can read about the course we’re setting on page 14.

This is ongoing work, and I welcome your participation and encouragement in the continuing evolution of Camp and School. I imagine Walter and Helen would agree that there is always more we can do, and the process is just as important as the outcome.

Home When Treetops Becomes

Hannah Edwards Camp Director

Unlike many of you, my introduction to Camp Treetops came later in life It was 2004 and I was about to turn 20. Reluctant to venture far from my home state of Vermont and craving a summer outdoors, my high school counselor suggested I consider working at Treetops—a place she spent many years and loved dearly.

That June, with most of my possessions crammed into my Subaru, I wound my way up the mountain from Keene. Passing by Lower Cascade Lake, the setting sun’s rosy light hit the luminescent trunks of the birches on Cascade’s slope, the mountainside aglow in pink. As I drove into Camp, over the stream and through the trees, I was stunned at the eastern view: the flower bed lining the garden pasture, horses grazing on lush grass among clumps of buttercup, and those ancient sentries in the distance, Balanced Rocks and Cascade. I was surprised when my eyes welled with tears and I had the overwhelming feeling that I was home.

My first summer here was a blur, from learning the extensive Treetops lexicon (Early-Early, Late-Late, the various rocks whose names seemingly had very little to do with their location—I’m looking at you, Goat Rock, and what in the world is Clifford’s?) to helping a wildly excited group of Junior Campers pack for a day trip (and realizing each was missing at least one major component of the packing list). Though I was a foreigner in this place, I found solace at the barn where I was fluent in the language of physical labor. At Treetops, working for the community is an integral part of the program. In Barbara Morgan's Summer's Children, Treetops stalwart and beloved longtime director Helen Haskell remarked on the importance of work and that even “small camp children can do many jobs. They can make their beds, sweep a cabin floor, hang up their clothes … as children increasingly understand what makes their place go, and see themselves as part of its functioning, they develop pride and self-confidence.” It’s always been through meaningful work that campers and counselors play a vital role, gaining a sense of belonging and learning that they are crucial cogs in a Treetops day.

Thus, I found my place at Treetops: through mucking stalls, teaching a lesson, or sweltering in the dusty riding ring. Soon, I felt at home in other areas of the program, too. In 2004 I was a tent counselor for the

youngest campers, and I adored them. My dearest memory is of singing “Dream a Little Dream of Me” every night at bedtime; they knew every lyric. And though my first summer at Camp was not easy, I left confident that I would return the following year.

Nearly 20 years later, when I was selected as camp director following Karen Culpepper’s retirement, I had a full-circle aha moment: this beautiful mountain campus that instantly felt like home so many Junes ago is now literally my home.

In retrospect, I realize Treetops is not only bringing up campers. We’re bringing up our young counselors, too. It was here that I began to grow into myself as a

young adult, both as an educator and a leader, because of the wonderful mentors I met at Camp. In my third summer, I was asked to take over the Junior Camp riding program when the riding head fell ill. I doubted my abilities, but others’ confidence helped me believe I was up to the challenge. Leading the riding staff of five, many older than I was, scheduling lessons, ordering materials, conducting weekly meetings, and holding people accountable if they fell short of expectations were just a few of my new responsibilities. As one who struggled to ask for help, I learned the importance of delegating and sharing the work as a means to include and empower others.

Though I didn’t have the privilege of being a camper, I credit Treetops with shaping me into who I am. It was over the course of my camp summers that I learned how to listen, when to lead and when to follow, how to advocate for others, how to accept and incorporate feedback, and how to apologize and make it right, all things and more that I’m still learning. With the help of our passionate and dedicated Treetops community, I’ll continue to learn, to grow, and to do my part to continue the legacy of this special place for the generations of campers and counselors to come.

In retrospect, I realize Treetops is not only bringing up campers. We're bringing up our young counselors, too.

THIS WEEK AT NCS

Staff writer and photographer Becca Miller shares insights into our students' day-to-day

lives in This Week at NCS. These excerpts share just a few highlights from the academic year. Read more at northcountryschool.org/ thisweekatncs and stay tuned for more weekly updates beginning again in September.

Stewardship Starts Here | Oct. 14

Our 4th-grade scientists studied how the different seasons affect the coniferous and deciduous trees in our region, while also learning how Leave No Trace principles of outdoor ethics can guide how people interact responsibly with nature. To accompany this unit, the class participated in a program offered to 4thgrade classes through the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), a local conservation and education organization. The group visited the ADK headquarters for a guided hike up Mt. Jo, where they learned about the history of the land, the science of photosynthesis and fall foliage, and how they can responsibly enjoy and care for the wild spaces all around us in our shared global environment.

Play’s The Thing | Oct. 21

North Country School’s annual WARP event, or Wilderness Action Role Play, brings our larger community together for what is unquestionably the most fantastical day of the school year. This year’s WARP followed in the long tradition of WARP days that came before it, engaging everyone from our youngest faculty children to our most seasoned faculty and staff in an ongoing storyline about a mythic quest. Our students spent the day banding together to participate in epic battles, solve complex riddles, and meet magical creatures of all sorts. The day was an unforgettable one, and was an excellent reminder that, no matter our ages, there is joy and wonder to be found when we take time to play.

Carrying the FISU Flame | Jan. 20

This year, our region had the privilege of hosting the 2023 FISU World University Games, a collegiate winter sports event that is attended by the highest-level athletes from colleges and universities around the globe. As part of this event, our students joined peers from other area schools in the Torch Relay that kicked

off the games’ opening ceremonies. Each student on the relay was able to carry the torch for part of the three-mile run, which ended with a community social at the Olympic Center. We are so proud of our students for how well they represented North Country School, Lake Placid, and the United States during this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Engineered Art | Jan. 27

In our Design and Build classes, students work collaboratively with one another to create large constructions and sculptural installations for the NCS campus and partner organizations around our region. In the past these classes have built on-campus bridges that cross streams, reclaimed-metal sculptures that take the shape of delightful and fearsome mythical creatures, and recreation spaces that provide the opportunity to practice climbing skills and play games together. Throughout the Winter Term, our loon sculpture class worked on a commissioned loon for the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation. The piece was built using materials left over from the construction of the Walter Breeman Performing Arts Center (WallyPAC) construction, including rebar, door frames, and metal framing.

Spring’s Sweet Bounty | Feb. 24

In preparation for the maple sugaring season on the North Country School campus, Garden Manager Kim Narol and the farm interns gathered the community for a presentation explaining the science behind sugaring. One of our Edible Schoolyard classes, along with a visiting group from the Pingry School in New Jersey, began our sugaring season by tapping the first few maple trees of the year. After learning how to identify sugar maple trees, the group drilled holes in the wood, hammered spiles, and hung covered buckets on those spiles. Hundreds of trees were tapped in our sugarbush, and sugaring was in full swing when our students returned to campus after Spring Break.

DISCOVER WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE

Tim Wennrich (NCS 85) urges Class of ‘23 to push their comfort zones

I’m guessing many of you have been up Owl’s Head, probably the biggest reward for the shortest hike in the Adirondacks. In the spring of 1984 I signed up for an outtime with Hock, my house parent, to go rock climbing there. I’d never been climbing, but had been hiking every weekend and read every climbing book Hock gave me.

Just below the summit you can take a right into a

descending gully and arrive at the base of a 40-60’ cliff. At the top of the gully on the left side of the cliff is the easiest climb. Hock was belaying up top. I don’t remember feeling nervous, but I’m sure I was. What I do remember is all the other students were above and behind me watching as I made my way up. Halfway up is a little resting spot and when I arrived there, I not only stopped climbing, but burst into tears. I’m not talking about silently whimpering—I’m talking about gut-wrenching sobs. I don’t remember how long I stood there but I remember the encouragement from the other students (especially the cute ones) and Hock. But Hock also made it clear that he wasn’t lowering me and going up was the only option.

We define and control our comfort zones. It is only when you cross those lines, even a little bit, that you begin to discover what you are capable of. In your journey, don’t be afraid to seek them out, push a little bit, and see who, as in you, is out there. I know you can do it; I’ve seen the results. To this day, climbing is one of my favorite pastimes and it doesn’t matter what cliff I’m scared of, I often pull that memory out of my chalk bag and keep going up.

At lunch yesterday, I was talking with Martin, who, incidentally, is the cousin of my Guatemalan housemate from Mountain House. He asked me what

2023

has changed since I was here. My response was, “Not much, maybe the plates.” Which I know is not remotely true on many levels, but at the core, the feeling in my gut was the same. Listening to the piano before lunch, hearing the table chatter during dinner, walking through the classrooms, listening to the recital, watching the play. The foundation, the energy, the engagement, the curiosity are everywhere and feel just the same as they did when I arrived here in 1984.

When I left NCS I cried. I cried through this ceremony, through saying goodbye, and on the drive home. The sense of place, the sense of community, the sense of not only belonging, but of being needed. Those horses need you to brush them. Those lambs need you to snuggle. And yes, those algebra problems need you to solve them. There was a hole in my soul as we drove away. Over the years since, I have worked to re-create this incredible example of community in my own life, wherever I am, for however short of a time. As you embark on your journey, challenge yourself, take your map and compass, push your comfort zones, discover what makes you feel alive, and seek out and engage a strong community to support you. Hold true to the values and lessons you learned at NCS as you find your people, discover what you offer, and be a part of creating something unique and truly yours.

-Remarks have been edited and condensed.

TIM

WENNRICH (NCS

85,

NCS

PARENT 20–21) spent just a short time at North Country School. But it was transformational, establishing a foundation of community, curiosity, exploration, and perseverance. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he taught for 10 years before starting Meadowstone Farm in northern New Hampshire in 2004. There, next to a school started by his wife, Jessie, they grow vegetables and raise animals while adhering to sustainable and regenerative practices. They have three children, including Ani (NCS 2020–21), and continue to maintain strong roots in the Adirondacks.

Congratulations, NCS Graduates 2023!

Emma Bruderer

Xiangyi (David) Bu

Lauren Coburn

Joseph Hardman Novak

Jingru (Jennifer) Huang

Samuel Maitin

Yehor Shudrenko

Elizabeth Strut

Ezra Wekin

Ruhan (Enola) Yong

THIS YEAR’S GRADUATES WILL CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES AT THESE SECONDARY SCHOOLS:

The Crefield School, Culver Academy, The Frederick Gunn School, George School, The Masters School, Northwood School, Pomfret School, Saint James School, Vermont Academy, Wayland Academy

Jamieson Roseliep Work Award: Zephyr Larson NCS 24, Val Parker NCS 25, Joseph Hardman Novak NCS 23 Literary 46er Award: Liz Strut NCS 23, Jingru (Jennifer) Huang NCS 23

CHILDREN’S GARDEN

Garden Flower Tea

BY BECCA MILLER

At North Country School and Camp Treetops, the vibrant flowers grown in our garden beds aren’t just pretty to look at. They also serve as a favorite ingredient for students and campers to use in creative recipes. Sunflowers and calendula, bee balm and violets, nasturtium and beach roses, borage and squash blossoms—the list of flowers that can be used in tasty food and drinks prepared in the Teaching and Learning Kitchen is an expansive one, and includes blossoms of all shapes, sizes, and flavors.

For children at Camp and School, one of the easiest and most eye-catching ways to use the bounty of edible flowers grown in our garden beds is in a simple garden flower tea. Steeped in glass jars, it’s easy to see the beauty of the assorted blooms used in each batch.

Mix and match different flowers to create interesting flavor combinations (like the cool cucumber taste of borage with the slightly citrusy and botanical essence of rose) for your own custom tea blend that can be sweetened with a bit of local honey or maple syrup and served over ice. This adaptable tea is simple to make, and is a great way to celebrate an ingredient that can sometimes be overshadowed by the abundance of fruit, vegetables, and herbs we harvest throughout the growing season.

Garden Flower Tea Recipe

1 half-gallon glass mason jar with lid

Any mix of fresh edible flowers—calendula, bee balm, violets, borage, rose petals, sunflower petals, or other mild-tasting blossoms

Water

Honey and/or maple syrup

Ice

Note: Each half-gallon jar makes 4 servings of tea.

Instructions

Gently rinse off flowers to remove any soil or debris. Fill the jar ¼ of the way up with the flowers of your choice, taking care not to crush the petals. Add room-temperature water to the jar, leaving a few inches of room at the top. Shake a few times and leave on the counter overnight or for up to 24 hours.

Add honey or maple syrup to your preferred level of sweetness. Serve over ice, making sure to include a few flowers or petals in each glass.

For a stronger-tasting beverage that takes much less time but isn’t nearly as pretty, pour just-boiled water over the flowers in the jar until the halfway point. The hot water will make the flowers translucent and remove a good amount of the color from the petals. Let steep for 15 minutes before topping off with cold water. Sweeten and serve over ice.

Giving Back

Camp and School rely on your generosity to thrive. Here are just a few of the ways that you can help:

PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT

Annual Fund

Balanced Rocks Circle Legacy Giving

Capital Projects

Endowment Support

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Admissions or Enrollment Volunteer

Annual Fund Volunteer Class or Camp Decade Leader

Community Giving Week Advocate

Event Host

NCS Faculty & Staff Appreciation Committee

NCS Intersession Visiting Instructor

There are numerous ways to get involved and give back to North Country School and Camp Treetops. If you have an idea that is not listed here or you’d like to talk more about making a gift, please reach out to us by contacting the Advancement Office at advancement@ncstreetops.org or 518-523-9329.

Trail to Tomorrow

MAPPING OUR FUTURE, HONORING OUR PAST

Since 1921, we’ve been providing transformational and enduring experiences for our children. In our new strategic plan, we set a course toward a future that will build on and sustain this century-old legacy, enhance our community and campus, and extend our reach far beyond the Adirondacks. By upholding the following three commitments, we will ensure the North Country School & Camp Treetops story will continue for generations to come. We will: Continue to deliver exceptional PROGRAMS guided by our unique educational philosophy, and find new opportunities that build on our past and leverage our unique strengths and experiences.

Strengthen our community and invest in our PEOPLE, who are the heartbeat of our organization, including empowering our team of educators and adults by finding innovative and generous ways to support and nurture them.

Broaden our PURPOSE to expand our reach and influence, by establishing ourselves as thought leaders in teaching and learning for children in the middle years and partnering with educators and experts to bring our expertise to bear.

Learn how you can help us map an inspiring future for the next century and beyond. Visit northcountryschool.org or camptreetops.org and stay tuned for more updates.

STRATEGIC PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE

Mara Frankel Wallace Committee Chair, Trustee 17–present, CTT 77–80, parent 14–15. Barkley Stuart Board Chair, Trustee 08–present, CTT 69–72, parent 03–07, NCS parent 09–11. Todd Ormiston Executive Director. Ed Biddle Trustee 20–present, CTT parent 01–08, 10–12. Christie Borden Director of Advancement, NCS 92, parent 17–19, CTT parent 19–present. Ami Brabson Trustee 21–present, NCS parent 16–18. Matt Davidson Trustee Emeritus, CTT 62–67, parent 96–06. Sarah Davidson CTT 96–99. Hannah Edwards Camp Treetops Director. Emily Eisman Associate Director of Advancement. Molly Malmfelt-Frank CTT 90–93, staff 13–14, 21–present. Chris Moore Director of Facilities. Bill Newman Director of Admission. Stefan Nowicki Trustee 18–present, CTT 87–91, 93, staff 97–03, 06, 11. Caroline Hlavacek Perry NCS faculty 15–present. Skye Raiser Trustee 20–present, NCS parent 20–23. Larry Robjent NCS Faculty 00–present, CTT parent 16–17, 19, NCS parent 18–21. Pamela Rosenthal Trustee 11–present, NCS Parent 07–09. Fritz Sabbow CFO and Business Manager. Erv Shames Trustee 95–04, CTT parent 82–85, grandparent 13–21. Matthew Preston Smith Director of North Country School. Dave Steckler NCS faculty 08–22. David Stewart Trustee 20–present, NCS 94, CTT 95–96. Yunga Webb NCS Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Solid Footing

When we bought Rock-E House in 2015, we did it as a way to protect the Round Lake of our memories. The purchase ensured the lake would remain motorless, and preserved the serenity of Round Lake for future campers and students.

As we contemplated how to use the property, our goal was to work with like-minded organizations that align with the best parts of North Country School and Camp Treetops. We’ve succeeded: Rock-E House has become home to short-term programs that offer hands-on learning through the arts, sustainability, farm-to-fork education, and outdoor pursuits.

So far, Rock-E has welcomed groups including The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Summit, museum and

libraries specialists from the New England Aquarium, and school programs at which students explore the outdoors and our farm and garden programs. It has also become home to Access Wild Places, a weeklong outdoor program for under-resourced children designed by students in the NCS Outdoor Leadership Program.

Round Lake remains preserved, much like you remember. And our purchase of “the white house across the lake” will also continue to connect us to the outside world. As our strategic plan calls for us to make a lasting impact on our world, Rock-E is one more way Camp and School create transformational and enduring experiences for children and adults.

—Todd Ormiston

At North Country School, children explore, create, and learn in a community that inspires them to lead lives of purpose in an everchanging world.

Jamie Pener attended

Camp Treetops from 2015–2018. In his years here, Jamie built on the love for the Adirondacks he inherited from his mother, Katie Bacon (CTT 81–84, staff 89–92, parent 15–18). As a camper, Jamie loved spending time in the woodshop, the craftshop, on the sports field, and in the garden, but most of all he loved challenging himself on the trails of the High Peaks. The strength he gained there helped him become a top distance runner in high school. He died in a car accident in 2022. Dan Chiasson, a professor at Wellesley College, author of five books of poetry, and longtime friend of the Pener family, wrote this poem in honor of Jamie.

Peak s

Remembering James Tufts Pener, 2004-2022

Basin, Colden, Skylight, Dix: A young man climbed all forty-six.

Marcy, Gray, Algonquin, Cliff Dawn touched the maple leaf

On Esther, where an owlet cried On Porter, since she wanted food

On Seward, and a redstart sang That it was spring, and morning

When a warbler answered back From high up in a tamarack

And volleyed songs from Rocky Peak To Hough, Armstrong to Saddleback

To Whiteface blushing at the dawn (It saw, across the lake, its twin)

Then Gothics brought the morning in And bobolinks on Redfield sang

Since it was spring on Tabletop And (campers blushed) on Nippletop

Couchsachraga spelled out its name To welcome wrens and kinglets home

To Emmons, Nye, and Colvin came A sparrow and a grackle home

Or far from home, but welcome, here On Dial and on Blake, to shelter

And to nest, and rest, and sing On Cascade: here it was, the spring–

The orange streak became an oriole The oven bird an oracle, a rustle

In the brittle understory

As a squirrel salutes the pageantry.

On Sawteeth, Grace and Santanoni Dawn blurted out its story

The whispers turned cacophony On Street and Big Slide, Iroquois

Upper to Lower Wolf Jaw grinned To hear the riot on Donaldson

Quieted by noon, quiet at the peak Of Panther, Giant, Haystack–

Where Jamie led the way for Katie, Or camp friends, or Mark and Bisi

Up Wright Peak, Marshall, Macomb, Towards home, though far from home–

Last November when I was home I stood on the shore of Lake Champlain

And saw the Adirondacks, cold steel

Between two bands of blue, cold metal

Ridgeline where, when I was nine, Olympians By ski, luge, bobsled, barrelled down

The diagonals like veins in marble Across the lake, on my walk to school:

The Great Escape–or so it seemed to be–A landscape designed for gravity.

I never thought to go the other way. I never sought the summit or the sky.

But the ordinary force of gravity Was nothing, no match for this boy–

Seymour, Allen, Phelps, South Dix–Jamie climbed all forty-six.

—Dan Chiasson

From the top: Jamie and his mom, Katie. Jamie, third from left, with fellow campers.

Anyone look familiar?

Let us know! We'd love your help identifying the individuals pictured here. If you have your own memories and photos you'd like to share, send them our way. They might end up on our social channels or in a future edition of Organic Roots. Email them to communications @ncstreetops.org.

Lessons From the Farm

By Erica Burns

was raised on a farm. As a kid, I would have been the first to tell you it was not always fun, yet as a grown-up I am often the loudest proclaiming the benefits of “farm life.” When students and campers do barn chores and work with animals, I try to incorporate the lessons from my childhood that I appreciate most as an adult—the ones that are simple yet profound, like responsibility and respect.

To me, responsibility means coming to chores on time before breakfast; it means coming to chores after out time during the school year, dressed and ready to do the work. Responsibility is understanding that the animals still need someone to show up and make sure they have food, clean water, and a warm shelter, even if it doesn’t seem exciting or fun. Doing hard things, or having to postpone what you want to do until you’ve done the things you have to do, is a life skill.

The ability to work as a part of a team is something we practice on the farm daily. I often say to the kids, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” It’s cheesy, but true. It’s hard to farm alone—mentally, physically, spiritually. Being a team member is learning about personal thresholds and understanding that you have to take care of your job and yourself before you can really be of help to others. On airplanes, the flight attendants tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. That applies to planes, the farm, and life. Being a part of the team at chores is learning that when you can help, you should, but also knowing when you can’t, and how to

communicate that with kindness and thoughtfulness. Respect is a common topic of discussion at the barn, and it comes in many forms. Through example and by setting expectations, children learn that the way they talk to the animals matters. Animals can sense things, and we practice the mantra “be kind or be quiet” to remind us that if what we are about to say isn’t going to be of benefit to anyone, it’s OK to keep it to ourselves.

Similarly, respect for each other is important. We might have different opinions about food and food sourcing, or be in different stages of our farm experience. It doesn’t matter where you are, we’ll meet you there. It’s OK to be nervous around the horses, or scared of the chickens. It’s OK to think that the goats are loud, and the sheep feel weird. By meeting children where they are, we are teaching them to extend that same courtesy to others. The farm is a great place to show children that they matter and that their contribution is critical to the success of the farm.

Understanding where food comes from is an important part of the School and Camp experience. Our 9th graders who sleep in the barn to help with the newborn lambs know those lambs are going to be raised for meat in our kitchens. The 4th graders who

study the chicks’ rate of growth in science class understand that whether we raise chickens for meat or eggs, they’re meant to provide food for our community. By knowing and understanding where their food is coming from, and how it gets to the table, children are able to have a deeper connection with the animals, but also with the responsibility that comes with caring for them.

In the barn, the lessons we teach are learned slowly. Children don’t come to the barn, take care of animals, and then say, “I’m responsible now” or “Look at what a good work ethic I have.” Similarly, they don’t say to me, “I’m so glad that I learned how to communicate with others,” or “I appreciate the perspective I gained here yesterday.” They don’t say those things … yet.

They do say them when they come back as alumni. They do say them when they’ve left this place, and gone out into the world. They come back, grown into adults, and they talk about the lessons, experiences, and memories they have of the farm. They talk about the creatures they cared for and how hard it was. They talk about those hard times with pride. Helping to contribute to the education of children who are going out into the world, hopefully becoming well-rounded and contributing adults, is what makes my job worthwhile. And it’s those lessons they come back and share that fuels me. I always say I have the best job in the world. And I always mean it.

By knowing and understanding where their food is coming from, and how it gets to the table, children are able to have a deeper connection with the animals, but also with the responsibility that comes with caring for them.

Alumni Profile

HORSESENSE

By Ken Aaron

There is a video of Hosea Johnson (CTT 17–21) riding a horse that, his mother says, does a good job encapsulating his personality. It also freaks her out a little. In the video, Hosea—Zae for short—is in the middle of a riding lesson when, off-balance, he abandons ship. “He just jumped off,” says his mother, Andrea Pyatt. In her youth, she rode horses, too; this is not an orthodox maneuver. “Off the front of the horse. I’m glad I wasn’t there.”

”’I figured I just needed to get off. That wasn't going to work,'" Andrea recalls Zae telling her. ”And then he went and got back on the horse.“

The lesson, in Andrea’s eyes: “When things get tough, or things don‘t actually come out the way that Hosea expects, he's just like, ‘All right, well, I learned from that. And I move forward.’”

Today, Zae, 16, is going into his senior year in high school. The love of horses he discovered as a Junior Camper at Treetops is now a career path, as he wants to become a veterinarian. And it’s also become a big part of his present: Zae has become an avid polo player. He’s on a team sponsored by the Charm City Youth Polo Club in Baltimore, which introduces kids, often of color, to the Sport of Kings.

When his Charm City team shows up to play, Zae knows what opponents often think. “When people imagine a tall, Black boy, they imagine basketball, or football, or some type of sport that is common,” he says. “They don’t expect a Black person on a horse playing polo the way I do it.”

And that way is?

“I’m good at it.”

Zae is not lacking for confidence. He also likes keep-

the Adirondacks would be a good place to get away.

Zae is 6'3" now, but in 2017, he was a lot smaller. And the horse, very big. “When I got into a stall my first time with a horse, I just was all types of a mess,” he says. “I was nervous. I didn't know how to react. But I just knew that the horse wasn't going to hurt me, unless I did something to provoke it.”

That was the first thing he learned around horses. There have been many other lessons, also. Such as: If you show the animals respect, if you show them love, you’ll get the same back. He’ll often talk to his horses while he’s riding, going at a full gallop up a hill, sharing stories about his day. “You can tell that they’re listening,” he says.

Some mounts are easier to handle than others. Erica Burns, the Camp Treetops barn manager, says Zae had

ing people on their toes. “I kind of want to be different,” he says. “I don’t want to be, quote-unquote, normal. I want to do something different.” Now, as he looks for colleges, he’s targeting the handful with polo teams. He’s already garnered interest from some coaches. He makes a point of thanking his mother for her support, as well as his friends, family, teammates, and the trainers he works with, “who are family to me.”

He was looking to try something new back in 2017, too, when he arrived at Treetops. His parents had recently split up; he had a jaundiced view of the world. One of his best friends had been a camper, and it seemed like

an uncanny ability to ride the hard horses, fall off, and get back on. “He’d have a good ride and he’d tell me about it. He’d have a bad ride and tell me about it,” she says. It was all the same. Each ride was a learning experience. He was “like a sponge,” Erica says.

Zae said he’d come to empathize with those horses that were hardest to stay on. “Different horses have different personalities, but it's not really the horse’s fault,” he says. “It's what's in the past that affected the horses.”

At Treetops, he said, he found a place where he could find his own refuge from harder days.

“Connecting with these animals—to be able to ride them, and to be able to take care of them, it gives me a little bit of peace,” he said. “Treetops has made me realize: I can be loved. And that I'm protected. Things that happened outside of Camp are not going to affect me here.”

“Treetops has made me realize: I can be loved. And that I'm protected. Things that happened outside of Camp are not going to affect me here.”

Leave Your Legacy Balanced Rocks Circle

“Loyalty is the number one reason donors make a gift that will extend beyond their lifetime. Planned gifts leave a legacy that strengthens our offerings for children and increases access to our programs. Please consider joining us as members of the Balanced Rocks Circle, our planned giving society, by including Camp Treetops and North Country School in your estate plans.”

For more information about legacy giving and the Balanced Rocks Circle, please contact Director of Advancement Christie Borden at cborden@ncstreetops.org or 518-837-5402.

—Barkley Stuart (CTT 69–72), Chair, Board of Trustees, and Ann Glazer (CTT parent 03–07, NCS parent 09–11)

THIS YEAR’S FRIENDS’ WEEKEND AT ALTA LODGE got off to an interesting start when record snowfall in the Wasatch Mountains closed Little Cottonwood Canyon in the face of avalanche threats. This temporarily blocked access to the road and ski areas for the first few days of the weekend. In characteristic NCS and CTT style, alumni, families, and friends adapted.

Cassie Levitt Dippo (NCS 66–70, staff 80–82, CTT staff 80) and Marcus Dippo generously opened their home in Salt Lake City to those who couldn’t make it to the Lodge. Once the canyon opened, the group of more than 40 headed up to the Lodge, ready and eager to enjoy world-class skiing. We are grateful, once again, to host Mimi Muray-Levitt (CTT 51–52, NCS 51–57, parent 66–70, Balanced Rocks Circle) and all Lodge staff for making another great year of sharing memories and fun on the slopes possible. Save the date for Alta Friends’ Weekend 2024, April 10–14.

FRIENDS’ WEEKEND AT ALTA LODGE

FROM Hatch TO HarVEST

THE JOURNEY OF FOOD AT NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL & CAMP TREETOPS

By Stanzi Bliss and Becca Miller

If there’s one thing that recent graduate Jenny (NCS 19-23) will remember about the food during her time at North Country School, it’s the eggs—the best she’s ever had. So good, in fact, she jokes, “I can never eat hard-boiled eggs at home again,” the day before graduating this spring. “The eggs are just so fresh, right from the farm and barn. It’s really something special.”

And the food at North Country School and Camp Treetops really is something special and unique, especially when you stop and consider how our food reaches our plates.

For our eggs, it starts in the barnyard, where students and campers collect eggs from the chicken coop during daily barn chores. The eggs are then carefully transported in a wire basket back to the Main Building or Senior Camp and our egg-washing stations, where they’ll be cleaned for the kitchen to use in meals. Some mornings, they’re scrambled up into breakfast burritos; others, they're used to make French toast, or hardboiled for salad toppings and afternoon snacks.

This daily ritual of collecting eggs is just one of many tasks that ensure our campus community is fed and our animals are cared for. But it is representative of so much more than that. Our eggs are the consummate symbol of that remarkable journey food takes across our campus—and the central ethos that

at North Country School and Camp Treetops food isn’t just fuel for our community. It is our foundation.

“Everyone eats food,” says Barn Manager Erica Burns. “It's essential to live, but not everyone knows where their food comes from, and not everyone knows how to make good decisions about what they nourish their body with. Here, I'm farming, but I'm also really educating. We harvest birds with our campers and students, and they take part in every stage of the process. I'm farming and educating the world on why. It's pretty cool.”

Food with Purpose

The philosophy behind what we eat and how food gets to our plates has been woven into everything we do since Camp was established in 1921, followed by School in 1938. Just as it was then, today our community members continue to have a hand in the meaningful work and care involved in bringing healthy food to our tables.

This plays out across our campus all year long. North Country School students hand off farm and garden duties to Camp Treetops campers during the summer, and then, come fall, help harvest the remainder of our crops. In spring, students tap hundreds of maple trees before collecting sap and boiling it down into syrup that is enjoyed by our entire commu-

nity year-round. Each day, students and campers care for our barnyard creatures during chores. And after every meal, food waste from our kitchen becomes nutrient-rich compost that is transformed into the soil in which next year’s crops will be grown.

“It’s so full circle here because the kids care for their food,” says Garden Manager Kim Narol. “They harvest the vegetables and wash them. They love the animals. They sing to the tomato plants in the summer. And then from all of that joy and hard work, they get to eat a meal with their peers and an adult they look up to.”

Rooted in Reciprocity

Walking by our garden beds flourishing with life in the summer or visiting the barnyard during chores, you can see how this joy positively impacts the animals and plants across our campus. It reflects the cycle of reciprocity we are a part of—one rooted in understanding, compassion, and gratitude.

Our barn animals that we raise for meat offer a unique perspective on the relationship we have with our food. We intentionally dedicate time to learning about this connection in the classroom, kitchen, garden, dining room, and barnyard. Our chorizo, for example, comes from our team of pigs taken care of by our farmers, campers, and students. As we raise these and other animals for meat throughout the year, we engage in frequent conversations about the many choices we make to ensure they are healthy, safe, and cared for.

In Erica’s eyes, these are complex, eye-opening conversations. “The barnyard is a space that is always open to hard questions,” she says. “But usually the question isn't hard because the answer is hard. The question is hard because the topic isn't often discussed. It's uncomfortable. It's hard to talk about death; it's hard to talk about these processes. This is a space where children can do that, and I'll always answer honestly.”

Fostering Community

The hard discussions that start in the barnyard often continue in the dining room, where, at the start of every meal, the sounds of shuffling feet and a cacophony of chatter fill the air. Suddenly, the room quiets as arms extend to adjacent neighbors, and silence follows for a brief moment of reflection—a ritual that sets the stage for the day ahead, provides an opportunity to decompress, or offers a chance to express gratitude.

And then the meal begins, culminating a journey

that, in some cases, began months earlier. Executive Chef Jess Porter makes sure what’s on the menu honors our community’s hard work in bringing food to our tables.

“I've never worked with ingredients that are as fresh as what we grow and eat here. We are as farm-to-fork as it gets,” she says. “I’m constantly asking Kim, ‘What’s in season? What’s coming up? What are you harvesting soon?’ I try to make sure seasonality is balanced with nutrition—that there’s a protein, a starch, and a vegetable on the plate.”

Our food offers opportunities to make broader connections between our community and the world around us, too. Close to home, Jess does her best to make sure we source additional ingredients from as many area farms and partners as possible. A bit farther afield, our food weaves together annual gatherings, activities, and culinary-focused events that celebrate and honor our international students’ cultures and heritage during events like the Lunar New Year and our annual Holiday Banquet. Ultimately, she sees the menu she creates as not just a catalyst for sparking conversations, but a means to foster deeper connections within our community.

”For our international campers and students, I see if there are holidays and traditions that we can honor through food. I'll research them to understand the meaning and I'll search for traditional dishes served that we can actually make in a big quantity,” Jess says on trying to bring a taste of home to the menu during these occasions. “When I'm planning meals, I approach it as if it were for my own family.”

A Cycle of Love and Joy

Campers and students feel that sense of love that helps to make our food unique. It’s often remembered fondly, and perhaps blasphemously, as being “better than my mom’s,” Jenny’s classmate David (NCS 21-23) laughingly says.

This spring while prepping seedlings in the greenhouse for a long summer ahead on the farm, Kim reflects that it’s not only special. It’s also a thing of beauty.

“The pride people have in their food here is amazing—their respect for it and understanding that it takes time to grow,” she says. “We teach children about the respect and patience needed to do that and about slowing down. It’s a beautiful cycle of joy, hard work, respect, and growth. The ideas that we impart through our food, that there’s something bigger than yourself, is really impactful.”

IN MEMORIAM

Gerald Marchildon

CTT staff 64–83, parent 74–86, grandparent 10–12, NCS staff 72–89, parent 75–84, grandparent 12–13

We are saddened to share the news that Jerry Marchildon passed away peacefully at home on December 4, 2022, with family at his side. Jerry and his wife, Jean, have a long and meaningful history with North Country School and Camp Treetops that has stretched through generations. They met at Treetops in 1964, and their three children, Greg, Matt, and Tracy, as well as their grandsons, Oliver and Ben, attended both Camp and School.

That pivotal summer influenced the course of Jerry’s life and work for the next 58 years. He served as Treetops camp counselor, houseparent in Bramwell House, social studies teacher, and assistant head of North Country School, and Jerry’s impact and influence on friends, colleagues, students, and campers endures. The insight, understanding, and respectful manner with which Jerry approached children, adults, and circumstances will be remembered by those whose lives he touched. As one former colleague so aptly wrote, Jerry “was always like the perfectly balanced gyroscope, able to maintain the calm in the storms of Camp and School that engulfed the rest of us. I know how much he steadied me and others at Treetops, North Country School, and I expect, at Burgundy Farm School.”

He began working for that Virginia school in 1989, taking a job as head of school. His vision and progressive ideals made a

huge impact on that institution during his 15 years there, as he led a physical transformation of campus. But his concern for students, parents, faculty, and staff always remained at the center of his focus. “Jerry made everyone feel like he understood and cared about them,” one longtime Burgundy teacher said. “He related to us through storytelling. It seemed like he had a different story for each occasion or issue that arose. In that way, he put us at ease while putting everything else in perspective. Somehow, he guided all of us in the process.”

Our thoughts and condolences are with Jean and the rest of the Marchildon family. A private memorial was held in December 2022.

For those who wish to honor Jerry, the family has asked that gifts be directed to the North Country School and Camp Treetops Annual Fund.

If you have a story or memory to share about Jerry, you can email alumni@ncstreetops.org and we will share those memories with his family.

—Todd Ormiston

IN MEMORIAM

Glen Chidsey

1927–2022

Glen Alan Chidsey, Jr. (CTT 39–40), 94, of New London, NH, died December 9, 2022, after a short illness. Glen is survived by his wife of 35 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Lorimer Chidsey.

Glen was born December 20, 1927, in Flushing, NY, the son of Blanche Clark and Glen Alan Chidsey Sr. He graduated from Manhasset Bay High School in 1946 and enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Glen attended Colgate University and graduated in 1952. In 1958

Glen married Mary Ann Ash of Clinton, Iowa, and moved to Old Greenwich, CT, where they had three sons: John Clark Chidsey (deceased), David Ash Chidsey, and Alan Clark Chidsey. In the 1960s

Glen opened his own line of women’s clothing stores, The Salt Box, with locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Glen and Mary Ann later divorced.

In 1987, Glen married Betty Lorimer, a Manhasset high school classmate, whom he remembered as “the prettiest girl in the class.”

Glen was an avid woodworker as well as an ardent supporter of the Colgate football team.

In addition to his wife, Betty, Glen is survived by his sons David (Rachel) and Alan Chidsey; a granddaughter, Ellie Chidsey; stepchildren Ernest Lorimer (Ginny) and Sandra Lambert (Barron); and step-grandchildren, Alec Lambert, Sally Lambert, Kelly Lorimer Mixsell, and Peter Lorimer.

Elizabeth Kaplan Fonseca 1929–2022

Elizabeth Kaplan Fonseca (CTT parent 66–72, grandparent 09–11) of East Hampton, NY, died on December 19, 2022, of long-term Alzheimer’s disease. She was 93.

She was one of the first campers at Camp Treetops in the Adirondacks. “All her life, she remained an effective advocate for progressive education, for learning by doing … particularly in her long and active involvement with the Bank Street School, which her four children attended,” her family said.

As a girl, she was a fearless equestrian who competed as a jumper on the East Coast, including at Madison Square Garden when she was just 11. When she was 16, at the end of World War II, she volunteered with the American Field Service and was sent to Belgium, where she and four others were in charge of 80 orphans and displaced children.

Later she worked at The New Republic and then on the political campaigns of Adlai Stevenson and Henry (Scoop) Jackson. In 1955, she moved to Italy to study painting. Although Ms. Fonseca was an accomplished painter, she preferred to “champion the works of other artists,” her family said. She was a trustee of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, dedicated to historic preservation, open space, farmland, city parks, wilderness, and social justice.

Ms. Fonseca is survived by her sister, Joan K. Davidson; her son Caio Fonseca; her daughters Quina Fonseca and Isabel Fonseca; and four grandchildren: Pablo Marvel, Isabel Marvel, Fernanda

Amis, and Clio Amis. One niece and three nephews survive, as do three stepchildren: Suzanne Schutte, Peter Cornuelle, and Jenny Krusoe.

Diana Britt Franklin 1932–2022

Diana Britt Franklin (NCS 43–47), born Peter D. Franklin in Bournemouth, England, in May 1932, passed away February 24, 2022, after a long, spirited battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Diana had a distinguished career as a newspaper reporter and editor, public relations executive, cookbook reviewer and syndicated columnist, author of corporate histories and true-crime books, and community advocate. Pete was sent to the United States with his brother and sister as a child to escape the bombing of England during World War II, and settled in Lake Placid. Pete thrived in winter sports, becoming an accomplished skier. He served two years in the U.S. Army, where his expertise led to an assignment with the Army's ski patrol in Europe.

After retiring in 1993 he continued a cookbook review column in collaboration with his wife of 48 years, Eleanor. Cookbook Nook was syndicated in more than 150 newspapers.

Pete transitioned to Diana Britt Franklin in 2004, explaining that, "For many years I felt as though I was born into the wrong body. Now my mind and body are at peace with one another." After her transition, she became active in the LGBTQ community, helping others transition to new identities. She is preceded in death by her

IN MEMORIAM

son, David, and spouse, Eleanor, and is survived by her daughter Cathy Sturdivant, as well as many members of her chosen family. Special friends who cared for her in so many ways are Norma and Terry Iffland and Stephanie Singer.

Andrew Namm

1927–2022

Andrew Namm (NCS 40–42) died peacefully at his home after a short illness and 94 full years of life. Andy was known for his humor, charm, and dedication to his family. Andy was born in 1927 in New York City to Benjamin and Margaret Namm. He was predeceased by his parents, and two sisters, Nancy Namm and Peggotty Doran. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Anne Bresler Namm; son, Blain Namm; daughter Whitney Namm Pollack; son-in-law Joe; and grandchildren Henry and Oliver Pollack. Andy loved theater, travel, food, retail stores of all kinds, and the stock market.

After serving in the U.S. Navy, attending Middlebury College, and receiving his MBA from Cornell, he joined his family business at A.I. Namm and Son, a Brooklyn department store. After the store closed in 1957, he began a second career in investment management. He was involved in a number of charitable causes including his alma maters and the NYC College of Technology, where he founded and chaired the college's foundation. His family will remember him for his sparkling blue eyes, classic felt hats, four-letter words, and penchant for musical theater. Among his greatest joys were traveling the world, playing Namm ball with his grandsons, and Namm/Doran family gatherings.

Sarah (Sally) Louse Smith Warner

The indomitable Sarah (Sally)

Louise Smith Warner (NCS faculty 73–85, parent 72–74) died peacefully in her sleep on November 8,

2022, after a brief but acute illness that proved to be too much even for her to overcome.

Sally was born and raised in Lake Placid. A superb ski racer, she won the New York State Ski Championship. Sally met her future husband, Mark, at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where she graduated in 1958.

For nearly 30 years, Sally educated children in Lake Placid and the surrounding communities. She taught at several schools including NCS, where she was also the admissions director. Additionally, she taught downhill skiing and cross-country skiing.

As a councilwoman, Sally helped ban jet skis from Mirror Lake and said “no” to Walmart coming into the village. She was also a member of several local groups and was named Businesswoman of the Year in 2002 by the Business and Professional Women’s group. One of her greatest accomplishments in her later years was owning her own tour business, See the Sights with Sally. She was a 46er (#1,400) and also climbed the Matterhorn, canoed the Allagash, visited numerous countries and said many times that she had a good life.

Sally is survived by her son Christopher and his wife Paula and their two children, Jennifer and Michael; and her daughter Katherine and her husband Tom McQuade. She is also survived by her brother, Favor R. Smith, and his wife Dianne; her sister-in-law Catherine (Sue) Smith and her partner Barrie Ramsey; and numerous nieces and nephews.

NEWS & NOTES

NCS ALUMNI/AE

1971

Tanaquil T. Taubes

NCS 66–71

I am happily retired, living in NYC with my fabulous husband. We're soon to have a part-time house in Connecticut and plan to raise bees.

1972

Jamison H. Abbott

NCS 68–72, CTT 68

I am very pleased to report that my son, Alexander (Xander) Abbott, and his partner, have recently given birth to a girl, Lilah Belle Abbott. Xander and family live in Missouri, as he has a dream job as a talent scout (and farm team player) for the Kansas City Royals. Even better, from my perspective, is that they are going to move next spring to

near my location, as Xander will be working for the Boston Red Sox. My daughter, Mackenzie, also has a great job related to her studies in neuropsychology at the MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics, where she is working for Susumu Tonegawa, winner of the 1987

Nobel Prize for Medicine. Hopefully my daughter and my son and family will be able to make it to a future Friends', especially my granddaughter! (Wow, I'm old … and yes, I am still working as a software engineer, full-time, in what is considered a "young person's" field!)

Then and Now: Izzy and Sam and the Ski Hill in 2008 and with Larry in 2023

From left: Coco Dunmire (NCS 89–92, staff 01–02, CTT 89–90, staff 98–03) and Erica Dunmire with NCS Director of Admission Bill Newman and Jenny Smith–Yuen (NCS 80–84, CTT 86, parent 12–18)

Left to right: Matt Smith, director of North Country School, visited Dan Slutsky (NCS 65–70) while in Texas for the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference

Oscar Fjälltoft

1975

David Loud

NCS 71–75, CTT, 71–74

After a challenging 2022, which included spinal surgery, heart surgery, and the death of my remarkable father, Roger Loud, I am happy to announce the publication of my book, Facing the Music: a Broadway Memoir

After over 30 years of conducting Broadway musicals, I wanted to

share some of my stories from the podium and also pay tribute to the teachers who helped me find my way there. NCS-CTT readers will find reminiscences of Don Rand, Adirondack mountain climbing, chicken plucking, square dancing, and the compost pile. Facing the Music, which is inspired by a commencement address I gave to the North Country School graduating class of 2016, is published by Regan Arts, a division of Simon & Schuster.

2008

Izzy Cohan

NCS 06–08

Sam Cowan

NCS 04–08, CTT 07

We visited NCS in March 2023 and met up with Larry Robjent for some runs on the ski hill. Larry even dug up a photo of us from 2008!

2017

Oscar Fjälltoft

NCS 14–17

For the past two and a half years, I have been living in the beautiful city of Gothenburg, Sweden,

students

where I have been working in various restaurants and wine bars. Not only that, I also spent a ski season working in Verbier, Switzerland, surfing pow, skiing couloirs, and hacking cliffs.

But that's not all—in January I committed to studying welding and machining for two years, with the hopes of one day opening my very own workshop.

In my spare time, I continue to engage in adventurous activities such as climbing and mountain biking, as well as volunteer as crew and sailing tall ships!

Sending lots of love to my North Country family! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you find yourself on this side of the pond!

2022

Mia D’Arco

NCS 17–22

Mia came back to NCS to teach a dance technique and choreography class. She choreographed and co-choreographed solo dances and group pieces in various styles. She came to the class “Storytelling Through Dance” with five 8th and

Mia, center, with NCS

9th-graders and offered choreography suggestions and insights on creating pieces. Mia is currently a pre-professional trainee at Joffrey Ballet School in its New York City ballet program. She got to practice teaching what she's learned to our beginner ballet students in grades 7–9.

NCS FACULTY/STAFF

Meredith Hanson

NCS faculty 12–present

I have been named co-director

of Concordia Language Villages’ summer youth Japanese language immersion program, ”Mori no Ike.” I also presented “Normalizing ‘Foreign’ Language” at the NYSAIS Global Languages & Cultures Conference last winter.

Lauren McGovern

NCS faculty 02–present, parent 09–16, CTT parent 11–12

I was granted a Sunburst Award through the Essex (NY) County Arts Council. The Sunburst Award

is a microgrant program designed to support artists of all disciplines creating art in Essex County with a specific project or opportunity that will provide significant impact and expansion to their art career. The award will cover the cost for me to attend a conference for creative nonfiction writers in August 2023. For more about my work, visit laurenmcgovern.online.

From left: August (CTT 19–present), Lilac, Magnolia, and Scott Grossman with The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Isadore Gordon Nappi Mila Chloe Kahn

Molly, Maizie, and Tucker

Zach, Willa, and Cassie on Cascade

CTT FRIENDS

Shelah K. Scott

CTT 42–43, staff 50, parent 72–73, grandparent 21–present

My granddaughter came to Camp in 2022 for her second year. It was a huge success and she can’t wait for her super senior year in 2023.

Peter Gilbert

CTT 58–60

My wife, Linda, and I moved from Florida to Paso Robles, California, to better access the great outdoors in Wine Country. The Pacific is 30 miles away and Yosemite is a three-and-a-half-hour drive.

Cynthia Marvell

CTT 77–80

In July 2022 I was awarded a commemorative Lucas Cup for winning the World Championship in 1989 from Albert Lucas. It was an honor being recognized as the first woman to do so, making history. Planning the Boulder Juggling Festival Labor Day weekend. My son attends Putney School in Vermont.

Eliot Sloan

CTT 80–85

I am currently a college counselor living in Burlington, VT, with my family.

Magnolia Levy Grossman

CTT 86–87, parent 19–present

We celebrated our daughter Lilac’s (CTT 19–present) bat mitzvah on March 4, 2023. The highlight was a visit from a horse named The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Many CTT friends were in attendance to mark the occasion.

Brigitte (Gordon) Nappi

CTT 92–97

Liana (Gordon) Kahn

CTT 92

Brigitte and her husband, Dino, welcomed Isadore (Isy) Gordon Nappi on August 28, 2022, while sister Liana and her husband, Josh, welcomed Mila Chloe Kahn on January 4, 2023.

Tucker Culpepper and Molly Pytleski

CTT 96–03, staff 04–11,16–17

CTT staff 13

We welcomed Maizie Culpepper into the world on November 15, 2022, in Vermont. We are so excited to spend time in our garden and explore the woods this summer with our beautiful daughter.

Willa Vail

CTT 97–02, staff 07–present

On the last day of post-Camp 2022, Zach and I got engaged at the top of Cascade! I had no idea that this was the plan—we just wanted to squeeze in one last hike before returning to Brooklyn and the "real world." We hiked up with our dog Cassie and Dana Lindsay (CTT 99–06, staff 10–13, 15–17,19, 22–present), who knew what the plan was. While enjoying the view, Zach proposed with his grandmother's ring and an original poem. We're planning a September 2023 wedding with some Treetops folks as members of the wedding party: Dana, Jack Smart, Sarah Fuller, and Nolan Dumont. And for those who are wondering: Cassie is now a 2er!

From left: Abigail Pines (CTT 99–03) , Jay Lurie, Rachel Schwerin, Maddy Ruff (CTT 99–03), and Molly Malmfelt–Frank (CTT 90–93, staff 13, 21–present)

From left to right: Samuel Daunt, Dave Hassell, and Lauren McCarty at Brooklyn City Hall

Rachel Schwerin

CTT 99–03, staff 08

Jay Lurie (Friends Weekend '21 and aspiring 46er!) and I were married outside Ithaca, NY, on September

4, 2022. Many CTT faces participated in the festivities, even joining in for the father-daughter dance: the “Salty Dog Rag.” Kalle Condliffe (CTT 96–02, staff 07–09) and Sara Levine (CTT 83–87) read in the wedding ceremony, and Maddy Ruff (CTT 99–03) sang the couple’s first dance. My brother Ben (CTT 89–93) joked in his toast: “If you aren’t a member of Jay’s family, and you didn’t go to Camp Treetops, are you sure you are at the right wedding?”

Lauren McCarty

CTT staff 00–07, 12–16, 17–19, Balanced Rocks Circle

In June, Dave Hassell and I tied the knot at Brooklyn City Hall with Samuel Daunt (CTT 99–01, staff 07–09, 12–13) as our witness. We had a small family wedding in August in my parents’ backyard with

Molly Malmfelt-Frank (CTT 90–93, staff 13, 21–present) officiating and Rosie Colina (CTT 21–present) as our Official Flower Girl. Finally, in September we had a party in Brooklyn with many Camp folks in attendance. It was a joyful wedding season full of loved ones!

Lily Gordon

CTT 02–07, staff 10–15

Zach Siegel

CTT 03–07, CTT 10–13, 15, 22 In June 2022, we completed our 46ers on Whiteface Mountain during a weeklong celebration at Rock-E House! Other Treetops folks in attendance to help us celebrate included Emilie Munson (CTT 06–07, staff 13–14), Hannah Ronson (CTT 00–04, staff 07–09, 14–15), Daniel August (CTT 06–08, staff 11–13) Ace Clarke–Fisher (CTT 06–07, staff 10–13), Rachel Schwerin (CTT 99–03), Jay Smart (CTT 04–06, staff 14, 16–17, 22–present), and at seven months pregnant, Brigitte Gordon (CTT 92–97) drove to meet us at the top!

Kory Malone

CTT staff 05–present

Nimbe Medina Osorio (CTT 11, 13–15, staff 21–present) and Alex Medina Osorio (CTT 11, 13) stayed with my partner Esther and me for a few days in Madrid before they went to study in Barcelona and Portugal, respectively. It was great to show them around Madrid and Segovia— they were wonderful guests.

We want to hear from you! Do you have news to share? Get together with Camp or School friends recently? We’d love to publish your updates in News and Notes. Please email alumni@ ncstreetops.org or call 518-5239329 with questions or to submit an update.

Zach and Lily, top center, celebrate their 46er with friends on Whiteface Mountain

From left: Alex, Nimbe, Esther, and Kory

Camp Treetops North Country School

4382 Cascade Road Lake Placid, NY 12946