I acknowledge and appreciate the saying "Every day is Earth Day," but don't you think Mother's Day should be a bit longer than just 24 hours? It doesn't have to be every day. I was thinking somewhere in between spring break and summer vacation. It's just a thought. 

Well, to work up an appetite for Mother's Day, a trip to North Country School may be the trick. Founded in 1938, North Country School is a boarding and day school for children grades 4-9. In addition to a traditional curriculum, North Country School offers unique wilderness, farm and arts activities to enrich and support a diverse and sustainable educational environment. It shares its facility with Camp Treetops, an overnight co-educational camp for children ages 8-14. 

On Saturday, May 7, 2011, North Country School (NCS) is holding their annual Community Pancake Breakfast from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at their school at 4382 Cascade Road just outside of Lake Placid. Walk-ins are welcome but large parties are asked to call 518-523-9329 so the kitchen can be prepared.

After feasting on homemade pancakes and local syrup from their own facility and South Meadow Farm, enjoy tours of the chicks, lambs, horses, piglets and resident llama. For the first time the school also welcomes a baby goat. Nothing goes to waste at this school. Either the compost pile or pig get any remaining breakfast scraps. 

Children will be able to participate in crafts and face painting activities or peruse the used book sale. The greenhouse will be available for tours to show how NCS tries to provide as much of its own produce as possible. Don't forget to ask about organized tours to the "green" resident housing building or the student art show at the Pavilion.

So as I organize the petition for a Mother's "month" of celebrations, we will start it off with a tour of North Country School. Happy Mother's Day!

Adirondack Family Time Tip: Look for students using the indoor rock-climbing wall. There is also an indoor slide, just in case the stairs are a bit too much! 

All photos ©Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Time and used with permission