Mission Statement

The mission of the Adirondack Semester is to enable students to study nature and human relationships with nature through academic classes enriched by direct experience. Important elements of the semester include understanding of critical environmental issues; living in a materially simple, close-knit community and in close connection to wild nature; learning the skills to recreate safely and pleasurably in wild nature; understanding elements and interrelationships of the natural world; and reflecting critically and creatively on the experiences of the semester and the many questions it raises.

Appropriate technologies at Arcadia:

•  Include items that do not distract from our engagement with and immersion in the natural world
• Promote discretionary use which must support the greater mission of the program
• Encourage students to critically reflect on the impacts of technology on their lives and on society and the environment
• Adopt technologies in academic, extracurricular, and on-site operations that support and promote the Semester’s mission and guidelines.
• Examples of technologies generally considered inappropriate include:
  • Laptops
  • Cell phones and Smart Phones
  • Radio
  • Television
  • Speakers

Students may use their cell phones while off site, but only limited to the period set aside for town run

Sustainability:

• Support local businesses and enterprises when feasible
• Reuse items when possible
• Reduce consumption
• Promote self-sufficiency for students and within programming

Material Simplicity:

• Minimize consumption of goods and services
• Rationale:
  • Minimizes distraction
  • Promote environmentally-friendly lifestyle that demands less of our Earth’s resources