Education in the Wild: Paul Smith’s College
Shaping climate resilience, careers, and the future of the Adirondacks
Paul Smith’s College is a place where learning happens in the field — sometimes literally.
Where else can your morning class involve snowshoes, your lab take place in a 100-year-old white pine stand, and your campus stretch across 14,000 acres of Adirondack wilderness? Paul Smith’s College is a place where learning happens in the field — sometimes literally — and that’s precisely why we love it.
This week on ADK Talks, we head to the shores of Lower St. Regis Lake with Dr. Brett McLeod, Dean of Faculty and Professor of Natural Resources, to explore what makes Paul Smith’s unlike any other college in the country.
All photos courtesy Paul Smith’s College.
From forestry and fish restoration to culinary arts, climate resilience, and the beloved Visitor Interpretive Center, the “College of the Adirondacks” blends outdoor tradition with forward-thinking science, community partnerships, and a whole lot of boots-on-the-ground experience.
What you’ll hear in this episode.
How a 19th-century wilderness hotel on Lower St. Regis Lake evolved into Paul Smith’s College — and why forestry, hospitality, and the liberal arts still anchor its identity.
What it means to have a campus where every classroom door opens directly into the forest — including wildlife labs, winter ecology lessons, and fieldwork 20 steps from the parking lot.
The story behind Paul Smith’s VIC: its origins with the APA, its role as a community hub, and why it’s one of the most accessible entry points for visitors curious about the college.
How students earn a real Adirondack advantage through internships, DEC partnerships, guest speakers, and a strong pipeline into regional conservation and recreation careers.
Forestry students in the living lab.
A primer on modern forestry — long time horizons, carbon, wildlife, timber, and the art of thinking 100 years into the future.
New initiatives that broaden the college’s reach: artisan culinary training, specialized institutes, and programs like Battlefish Academy for veterans seeking a path into guiding and small business.
How the Adirondack Watershed Institute works to protect lakes, prevent invasives, and educate boaters — and why firewood rules matter more than you think.
A quick detour to a host favorite: the hike up St. Regis Mountain and its restored fire tower with views over the St. Regis Lakes chain.
Paul Smith’s renowned culinary programs.
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