ADK Talks
ADK Talks brings you the stories behind the people, places, and things to do in the Adirondack Park of New York State. With 6 million acres, the Adirondacks are the ultimate playground.
We take you beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of one of America's most breathtaking regions. Just like we do on our website, adktaste.com, our podcast uncovers the hidden gems of the Adirondacks, offering hand-picked recommendations for the best places to stay, eat, shop and do in the Adirondack Park.
But this isn't just about places. It's about the people who make the Adirondacks so special and unique. In each episode, we talk to people from all walks of life—restauranteurs, farmers, innkeepers, historians, artists, local leaders, writers, hikers, and more. Hear real stories about what they do, their passions, and how they found their way here.
And they'll share their insider tips on the best things to see and do in the Adirondacks – insights you won't find anywhere else.
So subscribe now to ADK Talks to get real stories from real people, sharing the real Adirondacks.
You can also visit us online at adktaste.com.
ADK Talks
The Adirondacks as a Classroom: Inside the Adirondack Semester at St. Lawrence University
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In this episode of ADK Talks, we talk with Jacob McCoola and Nicole Panek about St. Lawrence University’s Adirondack Semester, an immersive fall program where students live off-grid in a yurt village on Massawepie Lake.
They share what daily life looks like without phones or laptops, how students learn through outdoor leadership and place-based study, and why the experience leaves such a lasting impact. From shared meals and handwritten coursework to loons, lake water, and deep community, this is a fascinating look at a one-of-a-kind semester in the Adirondacks.
Jacob and Nicole also explain how students balance rigorous academics with the practical realities of living in the woods, from cooking and hauling water to learning how to communicate, solve problems, and live closely with others. They talk about the kinds of students the program attracts, the personal growth that often happens over the course of the semester, and why the Adirondacks offer such a rich setting for this kind of education.
What you’ll hear in this episode
- Living in a yurt village for a full semester
- Starting with a seven-day canoe trip
- Learning without phones or computers
- Building community through shared daily life
- Why the Adirondacks make such a powerful classroom
- How the experience changes students long after they leave
Resources:
- St. Lawrence University Adirondack Semester
- Adirondack Semester Weekly Updates
- Donnelly’s Soft Ice Cream
- Mt. Arab
- Raquette River Outfitters
- Why Loons Return to the Same Adirondack Lake Each Year
Produced by NOVA