Adirondack Midstory, created to help young people make connections and build community within the region, has grown to over 200 members.

The Adirondacks are a beautiful place, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Some fall in love enough to want to call it home. But the Adirondacks can also be a lonely place, with small, tight-knit communities separated by miles of forested roads and snowy mountain passes. Many who move here realize that despite the beauty all around them, they are missing the social ties that make someone feel really at home. 

Surveys, interviews, and informal conversations have shown that a strong sense of community and local peers are critical for young people to make a long-term commitment to living in the Adirondacks. Yet it can be hard to meet other young people looking to connect. As one person in her late twenties said, “In a region where communities tend to be older, it can be difficult to find opportunities to connect with other young people living here.” 

To try to overcome this obstacle, the Center and partners created Adirondack Midstory. Named for layers of younger trees in the forest canopy, Midstory aims to help young people make those important connections, increasing the chance they will stay in the Adirondacks for the long term. 

Midstory is one facet of the Center’s Attracting New Residents Strategy. Without young people – whether they are transplants from away or people who grew up here – Adirondack communities can’t thrive into the future. Midstory aims to make it easier for young people to feel like a part of a broader Adirondack community. 

Currently, Midstory has more than 200 people in their 20s, 30s, or young-at-heart on its mailing list. and most of them have attended at least one event. Of the participants, most work for non-profit or government organizations, but Midstory is increasingly attracting people from the outdoor recreation and service sectors – the other large fields of employment in the region. 

With recent funding from the Pearsall Foundation, the Center will ramp up Midstory in 2026. One goal is to host at least one public event every month throughout the region. Using happy hours, cross-country skiing, and summer picnics, Midstory hopes that bringing people together will help them connect to new people and new places. “We are excited to have funding to expand Midstory’s offerings, allowing us to foster more connections between people and the place we all love,” said Adam Bailey, the Center’s Adirondack program manager and primary lead on Midstory. 

Collaborating with other organizations is also core to Midstory’s work and ability to cover a region the size of the Adirondacks. “We’ve been fortunate to collaborate with Adirondack Land Trust, Champlain Area Trails, and Adirondack North Country Association to reach new audiences and present appealing events,” said Bailey. Beyond events, Midstory hopes to help young residents build the kind of networks that can keep them roped in, with news about housing, job opportunities, and events. Midstory will continue creating events where people can meet and mingle and plans to become another resource to help people find elusive jobs and houses. 

“Midstory continues to grow, and we hear excitement from people who learn about it,” said Bailey. “That continued excitement is all the proof we need to know that Midstory is having an impact.” 

To sign up for the Midstory email list, complete this online form. You can also follow Midstory on Facebook and Instagram for events and other updates.