Standing in front of high schoolers eager to learn about the Repair Fair I helped the Canton Sustainability Committee organize, I knew I had chosen the right degree and the right place to study it. Each year, The Wild Center hosts the Youth Climate Summit, and I was invited to lead a session with fellow committee member Dustin Bowman. We shared how we organized Canton’s Repair Fair last spring and offered guidance on how students could host one in their own communities.
The students asked incredible questions, had big plans, and offered a wellspring of hope. Their enthusiasm inspires me to continue studying and working in the Environmental Communication field.
About Me
My name is Evelyn Laferriere, and I’m a Clarkson alum and current graduate student. I completed my BS in Environmental Science & Policy in December 2022, with minors in Literature & the Arts and Communication. This December, I’ll graduate again — this time with a Master’s in Environmental Policy.
I’ve always been interested in the connections between communication, literature, and the environment. As an undergraduate, I researched how fictional literature can be used as an environmental education and activism tool. As a graduate student, I’ve just completed my thesis on public communication best practices for environmental non-profits in the North Country, inspired by both my studies and the work I’ve done across the region.
Work Across the North Country
After graduating in 2022, I moved to Orlando and worked at Disney World for six months. I loved it there, but I missed the North Country. Afterwards, I returned in June 2023 and became the Center Manager at the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation. I interacted with visitors, managed the gift shop, and learned a lot about loons.
Then, after the busy season, I began a nine-month AmeriCorps term at St. Lawrence University, working on energy efficiency and climate projects. Through this program, I was trained by Nick Hamilton-Honey at Cornell Cooperative Extension and became an Energy Navigator Volunteer, helping residents save money on their home energy bills. I also supported the Village of Canton’s Climate Smart Communities campaign and attended regional clean energy conferences and farmers’ markets representing the North Country Clean Energy Hub.
This volunteer work taught me so much about energy — and helped me land my dream job with the Hudson Valley Regional Council (but more on that later!).
Environmental Education + Community Collaboration
While serving as an AmeriCorps member, I collaborated with Nature Up North and received Certified Interpretive Guide training. Soon after, I was invited by Indian Creek Nature Center to assist with their annual Conservation Field Days for 5th graders. That experience led to an invitation to serve on their board, where I’ve now volunteered for a year and a half.
These experiences deepened my love for the North Country and its environmental organizations, and ultimately led me back to Clarkson for graduate school.
My Thesis: Giving Back to Local Non-Profits
At Clarkson, I’ve worked in the Institute for a Sustainable Environment (ISE) as the Acting Sustainability Coordinator, managing a team of student interns and helping run projects like food waste diversion and meadow restoration. I also continued volunteering as an Energy Navigator and helped Canton organize its first Repair Fair. Read more here about the ISE with their September newsletter.
Working with so many local non-profits, I wanted to give something back. So my thesis became a way to support them. I researched best practices in interpretation, environmental communication, and non-profit communication, then interviewed leaders from six North Country organizations. Using their insights, I developed a public communications best practices guide designed specifically for small environmental organizations in the region.
Many of these groups rely on volunteers and lack dedicated communication staff. My guide helps them use their limited time effectively, connect with their communities, and increase support for their work. In early November, I presented my findings to representatives from Save the River, Indian Creek Nature Center, Nature Up North, and Grasse River Heritage. I’m excited to hear how the guide helps them and what they might need next.
Looking Ahead
The North Country is full of people and organizations deeply connected to the environment. I’ve loved the six years I’ve spent living here, and I know I’ll return often. Every experience I’ve had here prepared me for my next step as a Clean Energy & Climate Smart Communities Coordinator with the Hudson Valley Regional Council.
I’m excited for the future — and I have the North Country and Clarkson to thank for the bright path ahead.
