The Sustainable Living Summer Institute Prioritizes Individual Impact

From fashion to farming and everything in between, the Saint Mary’s College Sustainable Living Summer Institute shows girls in grades 9 – 12 how much impact aspects of their daily lives have on the environment. This week-long residential program runs from July 20 – 25, giving participants an immersive experience in how to live sustainably. 

 

Institute Director Melissa Bialko has a long history of sustainable practices here at the College. As an educator, she introduces SMC students to environmentally friendly practices, both large and small, in her lessons. 

 

Bialko stresses the importance of individual impact. “The Sustainable Living Summer Institute takes what the students already know, what they care about, and what they're motivated to do, and applies it to their daily lives through the small choices they make,” she said. “We're much more motivated to do something when we care about it.” 

 

All pre-college programs at Saint Mary’s provide students an opportunity to experience what it would be like to work in their desired field, in a college-like environment. The Sustainable Living Summer Institute, for example, is tailored to the interests of the participants. Because students arrive with a strong knowledge base and a passion for sustainability, the Institute focuses on topics that further expand their awareness. According to Bialko, participants at the Institute learn about a spectrum of issues, and investigate resources and perspectives regarding those issues. 

 

To offer a variety of perspectives, the Sustainable Living Summer Institute partners with faculty and other campus resources at Saint Mary’s. The College’s Sustainable Farm, for example, gives students access to planting and harvesting practices. By mid-summer, the Farm will be thriving with a variety of vegetables and plants, which students will work among, as part of the Institute’s curriculum. Chickens, composting, and a lesson on “food mileage”—the process that shows exactly how and how far food has to travel to get to our plates—illustrate how these impact the planet. 

 

Students will also learn about the supply chain of fashion and textiles and how social trends affect the planet. They will be taught about natural dyes and how to elongate and maintain that chain by participating in activities focusing on reuse, upcycling, and refurbishing. Participants will also explore native and invasive plants to understand their environmental impact, as well as a hands-on lesson about the importance of water testing. 

 

“We all have a reason to be connected to some aspect of sustainability, which we can care about academically and daily,” Bialko said. “This program shows students a world of possibilities when it comes to careers in sustainability.” 

 

During the week-long residential camp, students will live in the dorms, eat in the dining hall, and have plenty of opportunities to explore campus. The evenings provide activities to hang out with participants from all the pre-college programs on campus that week, including karaoke, a dance party on the island, and outdoor games. 

 

Bialko added that students attending the Sustainable Living Summer Institute will have the opportunity to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, which will help them uncover their strengths and apply them to the program, as well as potentially to a career in sustainability. Students will also receive one hour of college credit from Saint Mary's College.

 

“We are surrounded and supported by such amazing staff and faculty who help make these experiences possible,” she said. “I love teaching these students and experiencing these moments with them.” 

 

More on the Saint Mary’s College Sustainable Living Summer Institute, July 20-25, can be found here. 

 

April 22, 2025