The Honors Program proudly presents a series of fabulous guest speakers, lectures, discussions, films and field trips exploring the forces that have shaped the ecology and communities of the St. Lawrence River. Be amazed by what you don't know about the North Country and what it can teach you about being a citizen of the modern world. Everyone welcome!
It is a set of lessons about so many things- the power of engineering, the importance of respecting what you don't know, the enduring legacy of unintended consequences, the balance between the practicality and initiative to get things done and who gets hurt in the process, the temptation to make power the goal instead of a means to an end, the rights of native americans, inequity in how relatively poor and sparsely populated areas are treated vs urban areas - many tough issues worthy of some serious thought!
| Date | Topic | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday July 2 6 PM Adirondack Lodge |
Prof. Jeanna Matthews will kick off the series with background on the engineering marvel that is the St. Lawrence Seaway and a discussion/preview of the many unintended consequences on the river and the communities surrounding it. |
The St. Lawrence Seaway - The Eighth Sea
Modern Marvels: St. Lawrence Seaway Seaway at 50: Lost Villages Seaway at 50: The Workers Remember St. Lawrence County towns seek more compensation from NYPA, 6/30/2014 Nearly same story 10/10/2013 |
| Wednesday July 9 6 PM Adirondack Lodge |
Excerpts from and summary and discussion of the Pulitzer Prize winning book,
"The Power Broker" by Robert Caro
Jim Ransom, former Tribal Chief of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, will discuss how the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe orginally sued the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Administration (American) and Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (Canadian) over the opening of the Seaway and how the Seaway has impacted Akwesasne. |
Video
Transcript
from a hearing on the St. Lawrence River held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the early 1980s. It captures a Mohawk perspective on the natural world and the St. Lawrence River in particular.
Jim Ransom's slides Power Broker Excerpt |
| Wednesday July 16 6 PM Adirondack Lodge |
Prof. Michael Twiss will discuss the geology, history, ecology and economics of the Saint Lawrence River as the gateway to the Laurentian Great Lakes | The Saint Lawrence River: Flowing Towards Regional Governance |
| Saturday July 19 |
Drive the Seaway Trail along the river and lake to Niagara Falls; Stop at some historic lighthouses | |
| Sunday July 20 |
Classic day at Niagara Falls - Films in Niagara Adventure Theater, Aquarium of Niagara, Cave of the Winds Trip, Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, Maid of the Mist, Goat Island | |
| Monday July 21 |
New York Power Authority Visitor Center, Lockport Locks | |
| Wednesday July 23 6 PM Adirondack Lodge |
Local author and activist, Tom Snider, will discuss his book, "Power Dam Politics" and the lessons about grass roots activism that you can apply to fighting for any cause near and dear to your heart | |
| Friday July 25 |
Individual camping opportunity | |
| Saturday/Sunday July 26-27 |
Visit to the New York Power Authority's Hawkins Point Visitor Center with a view of the hydro-electric power plant
Visit to Eisenhower Lock to watch a ship go through the lock Hiking at the Nature Center Possible visit to museum ( Lost Villages Museum or Akwesasne Cultural Center ) Campfire dinner and smores and stories from before the seaway! |
St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Videos Massena Museum Track ships through the seaway Call for today's schedule |
| Wednesday July 30 6 PM Adirondack Lodge |
Robert Matthews will bring pictures, maps and many stories of Louisville and Massena before and after the seaway Wrap up discusssion; What have we learned; What next |