The brand-new Timbuctoo Climate and Careers Institute hosted its first ever cohort of students for the summer, just a year and a half after the concept of the program had been initially discussed. The program, which was created in partnership with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and CUNY Medgar Evers College, brings high school students from New York City to the ESF campus in Wanakena.

The program exposes students to green spaces they may not otherwise have access to, as well as to green careers, with the aim of diversifying students’ career considerations. The program was championed by the Adirondack Council’s "Forever Adirondacks" Director, Aaron Mair, the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who sponsored SUNY ESF’s funding request last year.