Letters to Arcadia

By Jordyn Bell & Jordanna Samburgh
November 14-21, 2025

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November 14, 2025

Dear Arcadia,
Today marks one week until we leave you, a day all Arcadians have dreaded since meeting you. Arcadia, we've been given an impossible task, that is, to say goodbye. We have much to say, but not the words to say it. Our time together is coming to an end, a fact none of us can wrap our minds around. We have spent these past three months with you, and yet no amount of time will ever be enough for us. Arcadia, you have given us more than we could have imagined. To quote our Clive, “We will walk out of here with more in our hearts than [we] could ever carry out on our backs.” And as the time to walk away is upon us, we reminisce. Arcadia, you have taken root in our souls and fostered a deep love for the natural world in each of us. You have become our safe place and taught us skills that will benefit us for the rest of our lives. Our minds are filled with the memories and stories of love and laughter we have shared with you. For us, Arcadia now means home.

November 15, 2025

Dear Arcadia,
This morning we woke up and gathered around the table for breakfast. How is it that this time next week we won't be sitting at this table anymore? All of the giggles, morning hugs, and cups of coffee will no longer be in this space with these people. We came to you as twelve individuals, all from different places with different stories. Now we are leaving you as a family, a family you've helped foster. From laughter in the sauna and singing in the kitchen, through sleepovers in the loft, chaotic cook shifts, and dreams shared at breakfast, you brought us together by letting us exist in your space. We all remember how it felt when we first arrived, all excited and anxious about the next few months. Were you excited to meet us? Were you worried at all? We sure were. We had no idea how the next few months would go, but we knew we had each other. Jacqui says that she has lived in many communities, but this one has surpassed any expectations she had. Because of you, Arcadia, we built a community here. We have learned to rely on one another, work together to resolve problems, and look at things from new perspectives. We all brought many things into this space:

• Lots of Darn Tough socks
• Passion for the outdoors
• Summer clothes we never got to wear
• Pictures of loved ones

And now we are leaving with more than what we came with:

• Arcadian version of “By and By”
• Haircuts
• A deeper connection with the natural world
• Many ankle braces
• A family

We have had the opportunity to grow as individuals but also as a group. We became aware of each other's routines and habits, noticing when someone was feeling sick or when someone was upset. We came together to celebrate each other: Jordyn, Jacqui, and Beckley's birthdays; Emily and Garen’s marathon; and Lars passing their EMT exam. You have watched us support each other through spring semester decisions, injuries, sicknesses, and big family news. You have managed to connect twelve people in ways no one will ever understand. We are all lucky to say that we are leaving you as a group who has become a family.

November 16, 2025

Dear Arcadia,
We woke up late this Sunday morning and enjoyed one last leisurely Arcadian breakfast. On the walk to the kitchen, the sun shone through the branches of your trees, illuminating your beauty. Arcadia, you have shown us your leaves, your grasses, and your dirt. You have given us fertile soil to lay down our roots. We have grown to learn your trees and can now ID them from ten feet away. Throughout this semester, we have grown comfortable walking your paths. We have braved your dark and learned to love your stars. Even when the shadows press in around us, we take a breath and know your warmth surrounds us. Each of us Arcadians have come to you from far and wide. To some your woods are a new acquaintance, to others they are an old friend. Leah said that she used to come to nature to escape the “real world,” but now after meeting you, she knows that nature is the real world—because we really are nature. This is a conversation you must be familiar with, Arcadia. We've had countless debates over our human connection to your natural world. After these past three months of feeling your love, none of us could ever argue that we aren't connected.

November 17, 2025

Dear Arcadia,
You have housed now for the past three months and have opened your doors to us without second thoughts. You have grounded us, Arcadia, and have shown us the importance of place. Rachael said that before coming to you, she was homesick for a place she'd never been, but now, after meeting you, Arcadia, she knows that you are the place she's been homesick for. Many of us can echo this statement. We have been lost and adrift, but you have tethered us to your soil. You have shown us your beauty in each sunset, early morning snowfall, and rainy afternoon. Through these gifts, you've given us a strong sense of place that we will each carry close to our hearts in the transition to come. Do you feel this connection, Arcadia? Have we impacted you as much as you have us? We hope we can leave you now stronger than ever before, strengthened by our love.

November 18, 2025

Today was our final class. It marks the end of our academic journey. But in truth, Arcadia, we have learned the most from you. We have challenged ourselves against your elements, and we have learned to paddle through your waters. You have provided us with sticks to start our fires. You have grounded us as we have learned to cook for a group of hungry Arcadians. You have been there for every cowboy yoyo first, cheering right along with us. Your trails, with their twists and turns, have taught us the ins and outs of navigation. You have been our map as we learned to use a compass. You've given us wood that we have carved into paddles, earrings, and many, many spoons. We've sprinkled your ground with their shavings in return. Even in our last two weeks, your winter chill has taught us maybe the most important lesson: how to layer up to stay warm in these cold Adirondack months. With each of these new skills we have gained, you have met us with patience and grace. You have been our greatest teacher, Arcadia, and a wall to test our skills against.

November 19, 2025

Dear Arcadia,
Do you remember that day we all hauled wood from the cove to you? And how we almost sunk the barge because there was too much wood and too many people? We thought about that day today and laughed. Did you laugh with us? We've been reflecting on the memories you've given us as the semester winds down: the nights we've spent gathered around the kitchen table playing Skip-Bo, yelling “Brusilov” at each other; the time we explored the abandoned and haunted Camp Forester and swam with some flying fish; how we sang Hamilton in the van while heading to field trips, doing dishes, or cleaning Clive. You have listened to all of our post-dinner singing and guitar playing, giving us a place to cozy in while it rains or the wind is too strong, and you helped us come up with many inside jokes like:

• Drunk Bear
• She Must Be Possessed
• Celiac
• Don’t You Know the Government Is Shut Down!
• If I’m Drunk, It’s Her Fault
• Take this Onion, B***h!

Arcadia, you have provided us with many stories and memories that will last a lifetime, stories we can share and think about to always remember this place and the impact you've had on us.

November 21, 2025

Dear Arcadia,
How are we supposed to say goodbye to you today? How do we pack our bags and just leave? No amount of time will ever be enough. But we want to thank you, Arcadia. Thank you for providing us a place to be our true selves. Thank you for never judging our silly singing or our lack of showers. Thank you for the wood stove fires that kept us warm during the cold nights. Thank you for all the morning paddles, runs, and walks. Thank you for the snow on top of the trees and the sun hitting the ferns. Thank you for listening to our guitar playing, stories, and laughter. Thank you for always being a constant in our lives throughout the months, forever someone to lean on. Although we have to say goodbye to you, you will always be in our hearts. We will always be able to call this place our home, no matter how much time has passed. We are sad to leave you, your trees, your love, and your comfort, but we are so grateful to have spent this time with you. We will never be able to fully put into words our love and gratitude for you. Arcadia, tell our story to future Arcadians. Tell them how we all would pile in the loft and gather around after dinner to sing. How we loved watching the otters and beavers play and swim. How we drank too much chai and ate too many quesadillas. How we loved to go on silly adventures and wear each other's clothes. But most importantly, tell them to take care of you for us. Tell them that this is a special place that means a lot to many people. Goodbye, Arcadia, Don't forget us.
All our love,
The Arcadians 2025