MY
Madison Young
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Class of 2019
  • Marcellus, NY

Madison Young Explores Hudson River from Source to Sea

2016 Sep 2

Madison Young of Syracuse, NY, studied the Hudson River from source to sea during a unique SUNY Oneonta pre-semester field experience from Aug. 21-27.

Led by Michael Koch, associate professor of philosophy, and Tyra Olstad, assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability, a group of 13 SUNY Oneonta students camped, hiked and paddled in and around the Hudson, starting in the Adirondacks and ending in New York City.

The six-day field trip kicks off a semester of interdisciplinary learning for Young, who is majoring in Environmental Science at SUNY Oneonta. All the students who participated in the trip will build on what they learned and discovered in two related courses this fall: PHIL 230 (Environmental Ethics), taught by Koch, and ENVS/GEOG 268 (U.S. Environmental History), taught by Olstad.

The trip began with a hike up Pharaoh Mountain. Afterward, Young got training in canoe safety and paddled around Paradox Lake, including a night paddle under a starry sky.

The next day, the group embarked on another canoe trip before learning about Ironville and the surrounding area. Mid-week, students had the chance to explore Mills Norrie State Park on their own, then met back up to tour Olana State Historic Site, stop by Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area, and note some of the art and architecture on the Bard College campus.

After observing the Hudson Estuary at the Norrie Point Environmental Center, most of Day Four was dedicated to the Catskills, including a hike up Overlook Mountain and discussion of the water supply for NYC at the Ashokan Reservoir.

To round out the field experience, the group took Metro North into Grand Central Station, and from there traveled to and learned about the lesser-known corners of Manhattan, including Inwood Hill Park, Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters, ending at Battery Park on the tip of the island.

"All along the way, students gamely enjoyed camping at a number of state parks (perfecting the art of putting up and taking down tents), engaged in robust discussions around picnic tables and in vans, were exposed to a variety of new places and ideas, and formed friendships around common interests in philosophy and environmental science," said Olstad. "Throughout the semester, we'll continue to build upon and deepen this knowledge and these relationships and perspectives."