Leahy Institute for the Environment

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Leahy Institute for the Environment St Ed’s, 119
Developing environmentally conscious citizens as leaders, advocates, scientists, artists, humanitarians, thinkers & business people.

Join us for an Author Talk and Q&A with Rick Bass!"Finding Common Ground: Building a Shared Blueprint for People and Pla...
09/30/2026

Join us for an Author Talk and Q&A with Rick Bass!

"Finding Common Ground: Building a Shared Blueprint for People and Planet"

Rick Bass is the author of more than 30 books of fiction and nonfiction exploring the natural world and our relationship to place. His honors include the Story Prize and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship.

📅 October 13, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 The Farrell Room, St Edmunds Hall (3rd Floor)

All are welcome!

From The Farm at SMC to the forests of Maine.Where can an Institute for the Environment experience take you? For Eliza B...
09/17/2026

From The Farm at SMC to the forests of Maine.

Where can an Institute for the Environment experience take you? For Eliza Byrne ‘24, the answer includes forest monitoring, invasive species management, ecosystem planning, ArcGIS, and even overnight trips to Northern Maine to collaborate with Native tribes on Ash seed collection.

Now serving with the Maine Conservation Corps, hosted by The Nature Conservancy, no two days look quite the same.

“The great thing about my position is that there is not a ‘typical’ day.”

Looking back on their time at Saint Michael’s, The Farm at SMC remains one of the most influential experiences in shaping their career.

“Being in a space where asking questions was encouraged and curiosity drove your skill building has allowed me to feel confident in the work that I do now.”

From troubleshooting irrigation leaks at 7:00 a.m. to finding creative solutions for an abundance of kohlrabi, the lessons learned at the Farm continue to show up in unexpected ways.

Their advice for current students?

✨ Ask questions.
🤝 Make connections.
🌱 Stay flexible.
💡 Trust yourself—and learn from those around you.

“You are not responsible for knowing everything.”

Environmental careers don’t always follow a straight path—and that’s part of the adventure.

“It might not be your dream job or opportunity, but you may meet some amazing people and learn some amazing things.”

We love seeing where the roots of an I4E education continue to grow. 🌳

Happy First Day of Classes! Welcome back to campus and to SMC’s Fall 2026 academic semester! We are SO excited to have y...
08/31/2026

Happy First Day of Classes!
 
Welcome back to campus and to SMC’s Fall 2026 academic semester! We are SO excited to have you back and to share new and exciting opportunities with our community!
 
Are you a student looking to add more environmental opportunities to your schedule? The list above includes the courses offered this semester with environmental themes!
 
Questions? Concerns? Stop by STE119, Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm to learn more about what the Institute offers!
 
Here’s to an amazing academic year!

You belong in environmental leadership.You belong in the greenhouse, the classroom, the forest, the watershed, the lab, ...
06/18/2026

You belong in environmental leadership.
You belong in the greenhouse, the classroom, the forest, the watershed, the lab, the policy meeting, the restoration site, and the community conversation.

Your questions matter.
Your leadership matters.
Your joy matters.
Your future matters.

This Pride Month, the Leahy Institute for the Environment celebrates our LGBTQIA+ students and the many ways they shape a more just, creative, and sustainable world.

Environmental work is not only about land, water, climate, food, and energy. It is also about power, access, safety, dig...
06/17/2026

Environmental work is not only about land, water, climate, food, and energy. It is also about power, access, safety, dignity, and care.

Pride Month is a reminder that sustainability must include the lived experiences and leadership of LGBTQIA+ people, especially those whose identities and communities are most impacted by environmental harm, exclusion, and inequity.

At the Leahy Institute for the Environment, we are committed to learning, practicing, and teaching environmental work that is rooted in justice, relationship, and shared responsibility.

“What began as uncertainty often became excitement, questions, and connection. Visitors who entered quietly would leave ...
06/16/2026

“What began as uncertainty often became excitement, questions, and connection. Visitors who entered quietly would leave vibrantly talking about marine life, coastal ecosystems, climate change, or what they could do to help protect the bay.

That summer showed me something I continue to carry into my work today: environmental education often begins with a single moment of connection.”
 
Read the full story by Jenna Wilbur ‘26 on the Stories of Teaching & Learning blog! Link in bio!

This Pride Month, we celebrate LGBTQIA+ students, colleagues, alumni, and community members who help make environmental ...
06/15/2026

This Pride Month, we celebrate LGBTQIA+ students, colleagues, alumni, and community members who help make environmental work more imaginative, just, and alive.

At the Leahy Institute for the Environment, we believe belonging is not separate from sustainability. It is part of it. A thriving campus, watershed, food system, forest, classroom, and community must make room for the full dignity and leadership of all people.

Pride belongs in the field.
Pride belongs in the lab.
Pride belongs on the farm.
Pride belongs in policy, restoration, education, research, and action.

This month and always, we honor the people cultivating a more just and livable world

Pride Month invites us to notice what ecology has always taught us: life is diverse, adaptive, relational, and beautiful...
06/11/2026

Pride Month invites us to notice what ecology has always taught us: life is diverse, adaptive, relational, and beautifully complex.

Across ecosystems, diversity creates resilience. In our human communities, the same is true. When people are safe to bring their full selves to the work of learning, leading, restoring, growing, and caring for place, our collective capacity expands.

This month, we celebrate q***r joy, q***r leadership, and the many ways LGBTQIA+ communities help us imagine more liberated and life-giving futures.

“Women now represent more than one-third of U.S. agricultural producers. As that leadership continues to expand, higher ...
06/11/2026

“Women now represent more than one-third of U.S. agricultural producers. As that leadership continues to expand, higher education has an important role to play in cultivating the next generation of food systems and agricultural leaders...                                                                   
                                                                                       At The Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy Institute for the Environment at Saint Michael’s College, we see this shift every day through our Farm & Food Systems programming—one of the Institute’s flagship career-connected content strands where students engage agriculture not only as production, but as leadership, community stewardship, and climate resilience work.”         
                                                                                     Click the link in our bio to read the full story!

Summer has begun! Yesterday was the first Harvest, Wash, pack Wednesday for the 2026 Summer Crew!   Don’t miss your chan...
06/04/2026

Summer has begun! Yesterday was the first Harvest, Wash, pack Wednesday for the 2026 Summer Crew!
 

 
Don’t miss your chance to visit The Farm at SMC during Reunion Weekend!
 
We’re offering TWO farm tours — Friday, June 5th at 3PM and Saturday, June 6th at 10AM.
 
Meet Farm Manager, Christine Gall, outside the Pomerleau Alumni Center and enjoy a guided tour of this special campus space!

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One Winooski Park
Colchester, VT
05446

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