THE APPERSON AND SCHAEFER PAPERS TH E M ASSIV E PROJECT TO PROCESS THE PAPERS OF TWO T RAILBLAZE R S IN 20T H CE NT U RY CONSE RVAT ION
activism, John S. Apperson Jr. and Paul Schaefer, is coming to an end. Thanks to generous support from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), Union College was able to hire a team of archivists to make these resources available to the public. To celebrate the unveiling of these wonderful collections, College Librarian, Frances Maloy, and CLIR Grant Project Archivist, Abi Simkovic, have created an exhibit for the Schaffer Library that will open on Thursday, May 12 during Adirondack Week. The show will reveal aspects of the impact Apperson and Schaefer had on grassroots environmental activism that have lain hidden in their papers. The exhibit on campus will be complemented by an exhibit at the Kelly Adirondack Center, curated by Margie Amodeo and Hallie Bond. It will explain the center itself—the energy efficiency of the wing housing the offices and Adirondack Research Library, as well as the home of Paul Schaefer. Throughout the KAC will be information and photographs interpreting Schaefer’s friendships with other conservationists, his career as a builder of Dutch-style houses (including his own), the contributions of his family to Adirondack activism and study, and the story of his Adirondack Room with its enormous relief map (where so many gatherings of Schaefer’s colleagues and students took place). The KAC exhibit will open to the public on May 13.
The Kelly Adirondack Center and the Adirondack Research Consortium have partnered to publish Volume 20 of the Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies (AJES). The avian-themed edition features Teddy Roosevelt’s summer bird list and Larry Master’s Christmas bird count. Leading scientists have contributed research to the journal including, “Songbird Research from Sphagnum Bog to Alpine Summit” by Amy Sauer and David Evers, and “State of the Birds in Exurbia” by Michale Glennon and Heidi Kretser. In all, this edition features 11 articles, one organizational profile of Northern New York Audubon, and color photos contributed by Larry Master. You can receive a copy of Volume 20 of AJES by becoming an “AJES Member” of the Kelly Adirondack Center and the Adirondack Research Consortium. In addition to supporting the ongoing publication of AJES, members will receive updates on future volumes of the journal. TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER AND TO SECURE YOUR COPY OF AJES, VISIT WWW.UNION.EDU/ADIRONDACKS.
T H E K E L L Y A D I R O N D A C K C E N T E R at U N I O N C O L L E G E
WWW.UNION.EDU/ADIRONDACKS
CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF
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WINTER 2016
Boy scouts planting trees at French Point in the ’30s
VO LU M E 8
YOUTH CLIMATE SUMMIT AT THE WILD CENTER JUST AS PAUL SCHAEFER, WHOSE HOME IS NOW PART OF THE KELLY ADIRONDACK CENTER (KAC), TACKLED THE DAMMING OF RIVERS THAT WOULD FLOOD FOREST PRESERVE LAND IN THE 1940S, SO THE KAC AND UNION COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE TACKLING THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE ADIRONDACKS TODAY: CLIMATE CHANGE. IN NOVEMBER, I ACCOMPANIED A TEAM OF FOUR STUDENTS AND COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR, MEGHAN HALEY-QUIGLEY, TO THE YOUTH CLIMATE SUMMIT AT THE WILD CENTER IN TUPPER LAKE, N.Y. HERE ARE THE REACTIONS FROM TWO OF THE TEAM, PRANAV MAN SHRESTHA ’19, AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR WHOSE HOME IS NEPAL, AND ANGELICA DEDONA ’19, A DOUBLE MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND ENGLISH WITH A MINOR IN COMMUNICATIONS, FROM GLEN HEAD, N.Y.
ANGIE:
Climate change and global warming are going to be hot topics for economists, politicians and corporations around the world for the rest of this century and beyond. As redundant as we find talking about it, it is imperative to be aware and properly educate citizens on environmental issues. If not now, when? Nepal, where I come from, relies vastly on hydro-power and I have seen first-hand how an energy crisis can cause conflicts. It is one of the most vulnerable nations to be effected by climate change, and the slightest increase in temperature can hit snow formation in the Himalayas causing a whole array of problems in that region. On top of that, I wanted to participate in the summit to find creative ways to advocate for climate change and underpin my interest in sustainable energy. The conference made me quantify the effects of global warming, in terms of temperature and carbon emissions. I understood how international treaties, youth participation and green habits all play together in creating a sustainable future. Above all, I learned how to lead a happy life being kind to our planet.
There was a last minute opening to go to this conference and I was tentative about missing some classes, but I learned as much as I would in weeks of classes in only two days! The speakers and the workshops not only ignited an urgency for change in our society’s actions, but they also gave us the tools to make those hopes for a healthier world a reality. It was so energizing to be around so many people who care about our environment as much as I do, and our mutual love and passion for the environment bridged a couple strong and amazing friendships. I am so fortunate and grateful to have been able to go to this inspiring place surrounded by dedicated people with exceptional ideas. My brain has been buzzing with ideas ever since we’ve returned and I’m so excited to see what our new amazing green team at Union College is going to accomplish in the following years.
The students wanted to continue their work in climate change — as the banners around campus say: Learning more about this threat to the Adirondacks and their world, Connecting what’s happening globally to what’s happening around them, and Acting to slow climate change and mitigate its effects. As a result of this summit, the Union College Climate Action Plan Working Group was created and will meet regularly to update the college’s Climate Action Plan. New members— faculty, students and staff—are welcome.
WILDERNESS WATERWAYS&U
CONTACT MEGHAN HALEY-QUIGLEY (HALEYQUM@UNION.EDU) OR HALLIE BOND (BONDH2@UNION.EDU) TO HELP.
Director of the Kelly Adirondack Center Hallie Bond bondh2@union.edu
Special Assistant to the President’s Office and Kelly Adirondack Center Caleb Northrop northroc@union.edu
Kelly Adirondack Center Assistant Margie Amodeo amodeom@union.edu
Go paperless! If you’d prefer to receive this newsletter electronically, send an email to Caleb Northrop at northroc@union.edu
T H E K E L LY A D I R O N D A C K C E N T E R 897 Saint David’s Lane, Niskayuna, NY 12309 C O N TA C T U S : Email: northroc@union.edu Phone: (518) 388-6305 www.union.edu/adirondacks
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