The following message was written by Camp Treetops and North Country School Executive Director Todd Ormiston.
Dear North Country School Families,
Today, our country is in a sustained state of unrest that is deeply rooted in centuries of violence, inequity, grief, and loss. The names of those killed—George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others—reverberate through our collective consciousness. For me, the past week has felt like an untenable balance of agony and hope. It has revealed my lack of knowledge of the plight of black people in our country, and in many countries around the world. I know I cannot understand the experience of being black in this country, but I can try harder. I can do the work of educating myself. I can start by saying black lives matter.
At North Country School and Camp Treetops, we strive to cultivate an environment of support and growth, but it is not enough. We need to work with a renewed sense of urgency to ensure that the power of every child is recognized, along with their responsibility to honor the power in others. As an institution, we will address this crucial work through our professional development, Camp and School programming, and hiring practices.
Part of our continued work is in listening. We want to hear how your experience at NCS/CTT prepared you to confront the realities of injustice in our world, and how it could have empowered you more profoundly. If you would like to help us in our planning and action, please contact me directly.
Be safe and be well.
Todd Ormiston
Executive Director