It’s no secret that the Adirondacks is a special place. Where else can you walk through an Ice Palace, stand in an eagle’s nest at the Wild Center and brag about hosting two Olympic games? It’s no wonder why so many people are moving to the Tri-Lakes. For newcomers, it can be tough to integrate yourself into such a tight-knit community, but there are dependable ways that locals help new people feel welcome. There seem to be three main aspects of being new in the North Country: making friends, discovering your resources and getting involved in your community.

Making friends was the tough part for me. My family moved here during the pandemic, and once we were able to go back to school it was my freshman year of high school. The first day, the only people who talked to me were my teachers. Day two, one person helped me figure out the lunch line. The third day of school I was outside, looking around to try and identify anyone I had classes with to sit with them, but with everyone masked, it was hard to learn faces that fast. I saw two people from my grade sitting on one of the benches, and stood a few yards behind them trying to work up the courage to say hi when one girl turned around and said, “Hey, do you want to come sit with us?” That day, when my mom picked me up from school, I gave her a big smile and said “Mom, guess what? I made a friend today!” That invitation meant the world to me, and when another new kid joined our school two months later I told my growing group of friends, “We should go say hi to the new girl!” My friends admitted that they hadn’t thought of doing that, but we all went up to that same bench and introduced ourselves, and that girl was my best friend through the rest of the year.

Unfortunately, her family moved away six months later, and that brings up the next step of moving here that can be challenging. Her family was from the South, and they didn’t know how to be prepared for the cold. Learning to deal with Adirondack weather can be a steep learning curve, and without knowing how to navigate the winter, they struggled with the climate here. You need someone to teach you what gear you need, and for them to tell you that you need to trade out the cute boots you bought in Louisiana for something with traction! Not sure what kind of gear you need? Consult the friendly staff at the Paul Smith’s College VIC, Hamlets to Huts in Saranac Lake, or any of the various outdoor gear stores around the Tri-Lakes.

The final thing I’ll add that newcomers are looking for when they’re trying to get involved is becoming part of community groups, whether that be a committee, club, or a volunteer organization. People sometimes assume that everyone is too busy to join these sorts of things, but joining a Facebook group like Saranac Lake Neighbors Helping Neighbors, volunteering for a beach cleanup, or joining a community garden can be really helpful to create a sense of belonging for other community members, especially newcomers.

It’s at this point that I should mention that my family has started an Adirondack Newcomers Club for new members of our community looking to get involved, make friends, and have adventures together. Last Winter Carnival, themed “Creepy Carnival,” we marched in the parade dressed as aliens with signs that said “We’re not from here!” We’re here to stay, and that’s why we created the club to help new people find each other and plug in to the incredible community that we have here. And it’s not just for the new kids on the block — anyone is welcome to join! If you’ve been here a long time and want to make the North Country more welcoming for newcomers we’d love to have you, because it takes all of us to build a strong community. Join us at adirondacknewcomers.com!

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Jenna Audlin is an incoming senior at Saranac Lake High School. They are the author of “The Explore More Challenge for Kids,” an outdoor activity book for families exploring in the Adirondacks.