The mountains, lakes, and fields of Farm & Wilderness aren’t the only things that feel far away these days, as I constantly check my phone and computer, obsessively following the news on Twitter, Facebook, and NYTimes.com. It seems like F&W’s core values – environmental stewardship, peace-making, integrity, community, equity – are under constant attack, along with communities, rights, and principles we cherish. Like many of you, I’m sure, I worry about my children’s futures and the country and planet they will inherit.
And yet, Farm & Wilderness is one of the things that gives me hope i
n these challenging times. When I was a teenager and young adult, Farm & Wilderness taught me lessons I still use today, as we continue to strive for peace, justice, and equity:
- In the garden and doing work projects, I learned that we accomplish more when we work together.
- Building trails and testing the water quality in Woodward Reservoir, I learned that I could help preserve our environment.
- In Silent Meeting, Town Meeting, and even staff meeting, I learned to listen carefully, speak clearly, and craft solutions that work for everyone.
- Living, working, and playing with people of different races, class backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, I learned how essential it is to bridge our differences and create equitable communities, no matter how hard that work can be.
I sent my children to Farm & Wilderness because I wanted them to experience the pleasures and joys I found there – the incomparable taste of a just-harvested carrot, the excitement of standing on top of a mountain, the pleasure of diving into a lake, the close friendships developed in a cabin or on a trip.
But I also wanted them to thrive in a community of shared values, with a long history of standing up for peace, civil rights, and the environment, where they too would learn to speak up and act on their beliefs.
And that’s why Farm & Wilderness gives me hope. As a former staff member, those values and lessons ground my life and work. As a parent, I see them in my children and their friends, who are determined to shape a future they can believe in. As a Trustee, I am honored to steward F&W as we continue to inspire the generations of young people who will be our leaders, long into that future.
In the last few months, I’ve been reminded repeatedly of the importance of community in challenging times. I am so grateful to share and support the Farm & Wilderness community with you.
In peace,
Becca Steinitz
F&W Trustee
Indian Brook Director (1993-95)
Barn Day Camp, Indian Brook and Tamarack Farm staff alum
F&W parent at Barn Day Camp, Indian Brook, Saltash Mountain and Tamarack Farm
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