Skidmore College gets more land through a donation

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Michael and Margaret Roohan have donated a land tract of 189 acres in the Town of Greenfield to Skidmore College.

The owners of Granite & Marble Works in Wilton, N.Y., made the donation Dec. 27. It’s adjacent to land tracts of 200 acres donated by the couple in 2010, and nearly 120 neighboring acres donated in 2014.

All parcels are undeveloped woodland in Greenfield, located near Skidmore College’s North Woods property that lies behind the College’s Van Lennep Riding Center.

The North Woods tract serves as a resource for various fields, including biology, environmental studies, geosciences, history, anthropology, English, art and American studies.

“We feel strongly about supporting Skidmore College,” said Michael Roohan. “Its people and programs add so much to the quality of life in Saratoga Springs, and we are very pleased to have the opportunity to give back to the College.”

In making their earlier land donation, the Roohans explained, “Skidmore’s creative, multidisciplinary approach to using this land for teaching, research, and recreation assures the most valuable use for the greatest number of participants, and most importantly assures the education of future generations in the care of our natural surroundings.”

Few northeastern colleges have woodlands as large and as near to campus as Skidmore’s, notes college President Philip A. Glotzbach, adding that the gifts are highly valued by the college “and will be of great interest to our faculty and students.”

Skidmore’s woodlands have been used for research and classroom learning in disciplines ranging from environmental studies and sciences to anthropology to American studies. The college is currently working on a sustainable stewardship plan for all of its undeveloped land.

In 2014, Karen Kellogg, associate professor Environmental Studies and Sciences Program, said more than 30 courses, ranging from English to environmental students, already use the college’s woods.

“The substantial wetlands on the new parcel will increase the biodiversity of Skidmore’s woodland properties, and will be of particular interest to students, staff and faculty,” said Kellogg.

Research projects have focused on everything from the impact of invasive species to the relationship between art and nature. In one project, Robert Jones, associate professor of economics, and a team of four students created an online atlas of Skidmore’s undeveloped lands, including detailed information about the 200-acre parcel donated by the Roohans.

To check out the online atlas, check out http:// www.skidmore.edu/sustainability/documents/UpdatedWoodlandAtlas.pdf