File photo: Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute

SUNY Chancellor King Celebrates ESF Adirondack Summer Experience for NYC High School Students

Innovative program puts New York City’s aspiring environmentalists on a path to careers in climate, natural resource management, and the green economy

07/23/2026

ALBANY, N.Y. – July 23, 2026 — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. celebrated SUNY ESF’s Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute program for New York City high school students. The institute is named after Timbuctoo, a historic black suffrage settlement in the mid-1800s, located in the Adirondacks, that created electoral access and opportunity. The program connects students, particularly those from underrepresented communities, with hands-on environmental research, mentorship, and career exploration opportunities.

Championed by State Senator Zellnor Myrie, State Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, and the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus, and the Adirondack Council, ESF’s Timbuctoo Institute has quickly become a model for experiential, inclusive learning, introducing students from urban environments to climate science since 2022. The Adirondack Program hosts three two-week sessions, serving cohorts of 16 students at a time and includes stops in Brooklyn, Kingston, and Syracuse where students learn about environmental justice and career opportunities, before traveling to the Adirondacks. The Institute’s Brooklyn Program offers one-week experiential learning sessions to six cohorts of 16 students to explore climate science and social justice.

“SUNY ESF’s Timbuctoo Institute is creating opportunities for students to explore careers in environmental science and be at the forefront of efforts to abate climate change,” said King. “The summer program engages New York City high school students in experiential learning that helps them dive deeper into the intersection of environmental science and societal issues. Thank you to Governor Hochul, the State Legislature, and the SUNY Board of Trustees for creating meaningful opportunities for New York’s students.”

“The Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute creates new opportunities for high school students, helping them connect with the natural world and explore future careers in environmental science,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney “We are grateful for the support of Governor Hochul, the State Legislature, Chancellor King, and the SUNY Board of Trustees and thank everyone who makes the Timbuctoo Project a reality.”

“The Timbuctoo Institute’s summer program embodies SUNY’s steadfast commitment to increasing access to experiential learning opportunities across New York State. By engaging students in real-world climate science and connecting them with educators and professionals across our system and beyond, this program is building a stronger, more diverse pipeline of talent ready to tackle the climate challenges of tomorrow. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for their continued support,” noted the SUNY Board of Trustees.

The Timbuctoo Institute brings together partners from across SUNY and CUNY systems, as well as public and private organizations and state agencies. A key partner is CUNY Medgar Evers College, which collaborates closely on programming designed to bridge communities from downstate to upstate New York.

During the program, which has multiple sessions during the summer, students will visit: 

• Brooklyn: Students gain hands-on experience while learning about academic and professional careers at the intersection of climate, environment, and justice.
• Kingston: This visit will focus on social justice and food justice, as students learn about Sojourner Truth and the YMCA Farm Project.
• Syracuse: Students will learn about climate justice and explore college and careers, including landscape architecture and the impacts of the I-81 redesign; and participate in discussions about social justice and climate injustice.
• Adirondacks: From ESF’s Newcomb Campus, students spend the week hiking Coney Mountain, paddling the Hudson River, and learning about the climate impacts on wildlife, and forestry and forest management.

Plans are underway to launch additional Timbuctoo programming in Western New York in 2027 as a result of continued support from Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, which approved an additional $2.1 million in funding for the Timbuctoo program in the Enacted 2026/27 State Budget.

“The Timbuctoo Institute is a model of partnership and collaboration, creating a unique experiential program for high school students interested in the intersection of science and society,” said Paul Hai, associate director, Adirondack Ecological Center, and director of the Timbuctoo Institute, and the Northern Forest Institute. “The program introduces students to a wide range of career pathways and connects them with professionals they may not have otherwise encountered.”

 “Every day we see the urgent need for action to protect our climate. Fortunately, today’s young people are tomorrow’s leaders. I’m so proud to have secured funding for the Timbuctoo program in this year’s budget, which will expose the next generation of our students to climate careers and New York's incredible history. I look forward to learning about these cohorts’ achievements and contributions to our State in the years to come,” said State Senator Zellnor Myrie. 

“Investing in the next generation of climate leaders is one of the most important things we can do for New York's future. I am thrilled that the Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute has secured additional funding to expand this vital work. This program introduces young people from urban and historically underrepresented communities to careers in environmental science, connects them with the natural world, and teaches them the rich history tied to New York and the Adirondack Park. When we give young New Yorkers the tools and knowledge to understand climate science, we empower them to become the next generation of leaders in this field. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued investment in this program, and I am proud to stand with Chancellor John B. King Jr., SUNY ESF, and Medgar Evers College as we work to ensure this institute continues to thrive for years to come,” said New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus Chairwoman Michaelle Solages.   

To learn more about ESF’s Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute, visit: https://www.esf.edu/timbuctoo/index.php.

About SUNY ESF

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.