Tracing History Through the Adirondacks

Now in its third year, History of the Adirondacks offers Upper School students a dynamic opportunity to explore the environmental and political history of one of New York’s most iconic landscapes. Led by History Teacher and Department Chair Stefan Stawnychy, the course uses case studies centered on Indigenous land, abolitionism, conservation, and equity in outdoor recreation to deepen students’ understanding of the region and its broader significance.

This spring, 14 seniors culminated their study with a five-day immersive expedition into the Adirondacks—the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. During their journey, students camped in primitive conditions, canoed across expansive lakes, endured unpredictable spring weather, and visited key historical sites. More than just a change of scenery, the trip embodied the School’s commitment to experiential learning: engaging the senses, testing resilience, and connecting intellectual inquiry with lived experience.

A highlight of the trip was a visit to Dreaming of Timbuctoo, a permanent exhibit at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid. The exhibit chronicles a little-known chapter of 19th-century history in which wealthy abolitionist Gerrit Smith granted land to 3,000 free Black men—an effort to empower them with voting rights in the face of discriminatory property laws. Students were guided through the exhibit by Martha Swan of John Brown Lives! and also had the rare opportunity to workshop ideas with children’s author Loree Griffin Burns, who is currently writing a book on Timbuctoo. Students helped her explore ways to communicate the complexities of Black suffrage to younger readers.

Reflecting on the impact of the experience, Stefan noted, “The immense benefit of experiential education notwithstanding, the exhibit itself provides my students with an opportunity to assess how the Timbuctoo narratives ultimately get communicated. They are invited to inquire not just about what happened, but how we tell these stories—and why that matters.The students’ engagement with the Timbuctoo history served as the foundation for their final presentation to the school community, exploring themes of land reform, citizenship, and belonging. Their research was further enriched by historian Amy Godine’s The Black Woods, a text that Stefan describes as “an indispensable resource offering both sweeping context and personal stories that bring this history into sharper focus.”

Stefan’s own love for the Adirondacks began in his teenage years and continued through roles as camp counselor and director. With support from a Third Century Grant, he mapped out this ambitious trip, combining academic rigor with outdoor exploration. “Part of what I love about Friends is having the academic freedom to explore and share my passions,” he said. “It’s exciting to open a window to a part of New York that is new to many students. Outdoor education has been a part of the Friends experience for many years, and this course is a meaningful extension of that tradition.”