Emerging Stewards Initiative
Emerging Stewards Initiative works to create new generations of ADK stewards from BIPOC communities across New York State who are invested in the sustainability and longevity of the Adirondack Park.
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The Emerging Stewards Initiative facilitates several programs:
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Scholarships for Students
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The Alternate Spring Break & Live Now experiences for university/college participants
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Claiming Space for BIPOC outdoor enthusiasts and tourism professionals
Outcomes for the Emerging Steward's Initiative
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Strengthens ethical partnership between Adirondack youth and their peers from NYC and other urban schools
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Supports learning from each other avoiding the risk of promoting a false teacher/student paradigm
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Can offer opportunities for knowledge and skill acquisition not available in learner’s home community
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Provides exposure to different modes of cultural consciousness
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Empowers individuals to be agents of change in their communities
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Encourages opportunities for novel approaches to centering equity and justice that places the individual's lived experiences as expert knowledge from which to build understanding across differences
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Cultivate ADK stewards from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities across New York State who are invested in the sustainability and longevity of the Park
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Provide opportunities for cross-cultural interaction and knowledge-building between peers of NYC & ADK children, adults and families
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Facilitate teacher/worker exchanges between partnering ADK camp hosts and recreational organizations
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Supports formation of new collaborations in education
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Improves understanding of ADK culture at partner site and thereby can improve the experience of future learners traveling to the ADK Park
Scholarships for Students
Scholarships for Students promotes and facilitates equity, inclusion and belonging by sending kids from under-served and historically marginalized communities to overnight summer camps in the Adirondacks. These scholarships introduce students from outside of the Adirondacks, to experiences and learning opportunities that often don't exist or that they maybe unaware of.
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In addition ADI works with local host camps to diversity and provide cultural consciousness training for their staff. When campers see themselves reflected in their educators, this has a lasting impact on youth, especially those who had little, if any, access to the outdoors - they come to understand that the Adirondacks are theirs and they feel empowered to explore and protect them.
Alternative Spring Break
College students are engaged through programs such as the Potsdam Alternative Spring Break wherein students from BIPOC communities in NY colleges and universities utilize their spring break to explore the Adirondacks, meet with local college students and focus collective minds on the intersections of racial and environmental justice. These conservationists of color will be the future stewards of the Adirondack park and beyond.
Claiming Space
Claiming Space is for BIPOC Outdoor Enthusiasts of all ages and tourism professionals. ADI welcomes excursion and tourism groups from BIPOC communities; introducing participants to the Adirondacks in ways that are safe, affirming and promote belonging. Individuals and groups come to learn about what the Adirondacks have to offer in terms of recreation while promoting positive experiences within their networks to build tourism and promote stewardship of the Adirondacks.