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Gordon Wildlife’s mission is to provide a knowledgeable, safe, and nurturing environment in which to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured and orphaned wildlife found by the members of the Central New York community.

This summer, as a Field School Fellow working with CCHS, I managed the pilot launch of an oral history project called Chenango Stories. Chenango Stories collects and organizes audio stories and related photographs from Chenango County community members.

As the Pollinator Project Fellow, I am one of the primary advocates for the needs of pollinators. Not only does the Pollinator Project educate folks about the importance of protecting pollinators, but it also empowers them to continue to educate others, widening the circle of knowledge and reducing human hierarchies over nature.

This summer, I have had the privilege to work as a Field School Fellow within the village office and improve my understanding of how municipal government operates.

Because the Mansion House has such a rich history, there is a wide array of individuals connected to it, from descendants of the original community to any one of the three thousand employees of Oneida Limited.

This summer I created a promotional video and short historical documentary for the Chenango Canal Association in order to reach out to the community for volunteers as well as to raise awareness.

My project for this summer is conducting research on the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) Community Sponsorship Program. LIRS is a faith-based non-profit organization that provides support for refugees entering the United States.

The Chenango United Way’s work includes improving education in local communities, helping people achieve financial stability, and promoting healthy lives.

This summer, I had the opportunity to advocate and raise awareness of suicide prevention for Madison County, New York, working as a Field School Fellow for BRiDGES, the Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Ekaterina Balsan ’25 is one of 26 student fellows conducting research with a community-based organization in upstate New York this summer as a part of the Upstate Institute Summer Field School.