Many people think that our young take the place that they live in for granted. Not this North Country youth. Consider this quote and take a deeper look at what is around us:

“This town is filled with beauty. … Keep it clean and help make the Earth a safer and more sustainable place to live.”

Clean air, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests and the seasons. All this can be marred by garbage left on roadsides, dumping refuge in woods and streams, unchecked sewage in our lakes and on our trails, driving cars and snowmobiles on ice that is too thin and not caring for multi-use trails and roadways.

Caring for our environment means that we can keep it healthy for all of us to use and enjoy. It can be a simple thing that everyone can do. Just be aware of what we have and be part of keeping that beauty sustainable.

In 2023, North Country young people were invited to enter an essay contest describing their dreams for their community. The contest was sponsored by the Community Engagement Project of Adirondack Voters for Change and the Adirondack Center for Writing.

Sue Abbott-Jones

Saranac Lake