Paul Smiths, NY, Dec 28, 2012 — This fall, an ecology professor at Paul Smiths College traveled thousands of miles to learn about a new culture, and share a bit about life in the Adirondacks. Celia Evans was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and conduct research in Siberia. She, and her two daughters, spent three months in Russia's Altai Republic studying primary school students' relationships to their environment, community and culture.

Evans, who also shared her love of folk music with her Russian hosts, told Todd Moe that she also wanted to find out how students in Siberia are learning about their natural world compared with students in the North Country.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Sep 23, 2010 — St. Lawrence University alum Charles Burrall returns to campus to sign copies of his book, Captured by the Russians -- A True Story on Saturday. Burrall told Todd Moe that today he lives a relatively quiet life as a school teacher in Maryland. But it wasn't always so. In 1984, he was a crew member on a small ship off the coast of Alaska that was seized by the Soviet Union. Burrall told Todd about his eight-day confinement, relations with his captors and how faith helped play a part in his eventual release. He'll sign copies of his book Saturday, 2-4 pm at the Brewer Bookstore in Canton.  Go to full article

Nov 14, 2006 — Earlier this fall, three Adirondack women traveled to a Russian province to assist with training on wilderness ethics and stewardship. Adirondack Mountain Club's education director, Jen Kretser, Paul Smith's College professor Karen Boldis and ADK employee Julia Goren visited the Siberian province of Altai Republic. The region has looked to the Adirondacks as a land-use model. The women helped train Altai Nature Park staff, nonprofit groups and tour operators as part of an exchange program. Achieving balance between environmental protection and economic development is a strong focus of the Altai Assistance Project. Todd Moe spoke with Jen Kretser about the September trip.  Go to full article

Sep 21, 2006 — The North Country will have the opportunity to join the worldwide centennial celebration of the birth of the famous composer Dmitri Shostakovich with "A Shostakovich Festival: A Centennial Celebration of Soviet Russia's Greatest Composer", presented jointly by SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music and St. Lawrence University. Todd Moe has a preview.  Go to full article

Aug 29, 2006 — Three Adirondack women travel to a Russian province Sunday for two weeks to assist with training on wilderness ethics and stewardship. Adirondack Mountain Club's education director, Jen Kretser, Paul Smith's College professor Karen Boldis and ADK employee Julia Goren will visit the Siberian province of Altai Republic from September 3-17. Susan Cutting of the Altai Project in New Hampshire will join them. The Altai Republic has looked to the Adirondacks as a land-use model. The four women will help train Altai Nature Park staff, nonprofit groups and tour operators. Todd Moe spoke with Julia Goren and Jen Kretser about the trip.  Go to full article

Apr 27, 2006 — Arts activist and organizer Naj Wikoff, from Keene Valley, returned this week from a year in Russia. He lived near Lake Baikal, helping hospitals and other community groups develop arts programs. Wikoff says he used lessons learned here in the North Country to inspire projects and partnerships in rural Russia.  Go to full article

Feb 06, 2006 — Naj Wikoff from Keene Valley is spending a year in Ulan Udea, in Russia's Lake Baikal region, developing arts programs at a government hospital. He's has been keeping an on-line journal on NCPR's website and sending occasional audio diaries. This week, Naj describes a village's effort to rebuild a sacred Buddhist shrine, called a stupa, in a small village on the edge of Siberia. Buddhists were persecuted during by the communist regime, especially during the Stalin era in the 1950s. But over the last decade, the religion has experienced a renaissance. The new stupa will serve as a place of worship and pilgrimage to honor the 12th reincarnation of the Khambo Lama.  Go to full article

Dec 26, 2005 — Naj Wikoff, from Keene Valley, is spending eight months in Ulan Ade, in the Lake Baikal region of eastern Russia. Since August, Naj has been keeping a web-diary of his journey here at NCPR.org. He's described his travels and his work as a Fulbright scholar, a teacher and artist at the East Siberian Academy of Culture. This morning, Naj sends this audio diary of his journey across Russia and his first encounter with Lake Baikal and its people.

Naj's audio diary was produced by Brian Mann with web production by Dale Hobson.  Go to full article

May 14, 2002 — A St. Lawrence University student begins his summer travels with an internship at the Cannes Film Festival. Alexei Boulokhov, who was born in Russia, also plans to spend the summer traveling through eastern Europe and visiting family in Russia before returning for his final year at St. Lawrence. He's been awarded a fellowship to work on a documentary video in Europe that will focus on gay teens. Todd Moe spoke with Alexei about his summer trek and the Cannes Film Festival.  Go to full article