North Country Model U.N. convenes 460 students

CHAMPLAIN | North Country Model United Nations (NCMUN) brought over 460 students together from 16 school districts in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties for two days of discussion and compromise in search of debate resolution. Hosted at Northeastern Clinton Central School (NCCS) for 48 years, students hone abilities in public speaking, arguing their positions drawn from topic knowledge and respect for others. Skill and success in caucusing, debate and finding solutions are keys to success as nations arrange priorities, form blocs and face unforeseen crises throughout proceedings. CONFERENCE PLANNING Co-Secretary Generals Eden Turner and Scott Wrye, both seniors at NCCS, said they started planning this year's conference in late September. "The directors write study guides and assign delegates their countries," Turner said of work put in beforehand. Both she and Wrye attended Harvard Model U.N. at the end of January this year, their fifth and third trips, respectively. They said most of the NCMUN planning was in place by then, even figuring out where to put desks for some 460 students. There are lots of logistics to work out, they said. "We are the logistics team," Wrye said. Beyond debate assignments, topic research, study guides, secretariat selection and meeting spaces, NCMUN student leaders coordinate online access, communications, concessions and delegate services: 460 is a lot of students to add to a school with about 640 kids. Chazy Central Rural School provided Model U.N. leaders for the Political Committee with Wynter Jarus, director, and Calleigh Clark and Dawson Hebert chairing the group. The 48th Session was dedicated to Chazy classmate, a Model U.N. leader, Kennedy Columbus, who tragically lost her life in a storm last June. A full page tribute to Kennedy in the Delegate Handbook summed thoughts from her peers: "Kennedy's tenacious spirit continues to live on throughout the communities she served and is present at our conference today," the students said in their dedication. .................................................. 'I LOVE DEBATE' In her fifth year with Model U.N., Turner said understanding the debate process has allowed her to overcome stage fright, gain poise and develop important skills in discussion and compromise. "I love debate. I've developed a lot as a person through Model U.N. and am more outgoing," she said, looking forward to university studies in Economics and Government with a goal of attending law school Wrye will attend Clarkson University next year to study Aerospace Engineering with a goal to attain his PhD. "I never would have found that focus without Model U.N.," he said. "Model U.N. is my thing." Wrye helped devise crisis additions to committee meetings. "The Security Council is discussing AI and Warfare," he said. "They have faced four or five crises, one where a Chinese spy is found and imprisoned in Germany. "Adding crisis scenarios is a way to spice up and engage debate," Wrye said. "It provides a new challenge for delegates from different nations to interpret." Committees met in rooms around the school, and students engaged in real-world discussion while sometimes facing other-worldly challenges. .............................................. NCMUN WORKS TOWARD RESOLUTION INTERSTELLAR WARFARE Saranac Central School Model U.N. Advisor and teacher Zach LaForest said their club brought 15 students to NCMUN. Several kids were part of Legal Committee debate on use of Interstellar Space. "This is an opportunity for them to interact and collaborate with other students from around the region in a non-competitive way," LaForest said. Noah Riley, a Saranac freshman, said the debate was going all right, explaining how the committee split into two blocs. "The main difference is political: the United States and North Korea can't work together. There is also a major divide between Jordan and Algeria and between the U.S. and Iran. At this point, both blocs are working on two resolutions instead of just one." Students mixed up discussion on a brief break. Sam Ferguson, from Plattsburgh High School; Tenley Peryer and Madelyn Fredette from NCCS; and Claire Dupuis from Saranac Central shared some of what they are learning. "I'm learning that there is a very fine line between having fun and getting things done," Dupuis, a sophomore, said. "As a delegate, I like to argue a good point, aside from tomfoolery. We should be committed to solving these issues," she posited. For Dupuis, NCMUN sharpens an important skill set. "Because of where we are in world events, it's important to stay educated and contribute to our community." Saranac's Model U.N. is a club activity, LaForest said. They held 10 meetings in preparation for the conference and attended Model U.N. activities at Plattsburgh State. "It's quite the meeting of the minds," he said, as the students discussed potential alliances for any war in space. Delegates in the Guardians of the Galaxy bloc posited that it might be better if the Earth united in case of alien attack. ................................ THE PIRATE COUNCIL Stepping back about 400 years, the Special History Topic Committee took on the Pirates of Nassau, involving legendary characters such as Edward Teach, Mary Reed and Josiah Burgess. Students in the committee donned pirate gear and garb to stay in character. In a news article on Day 1, Ada Burgess, a Plattsburgh High School writing for the French news organization Le Monde, described how Pirate Council members reframed their differences to face a common threat from Britain. "Tension is heavy across the Caribbean," Burgess wrote. "The Spanish have not been fired on yet -- yet. There is talk of unity between the Council and the Spanish Fleet, but that is all it may be, knowing the typical nature of the pirates. ... "And if these pirates do end up harming Spain, will they stop there? Other countries may become fearful to send their ships around the Bahamas, harming their exploration and trade." ..................................... POLITICAL COMMITTEE DELEGATES Discussion of terrorism and revolution drew remarkable debate in the Political Committee. Pete Castine, Model U.N. advisor at Boquet Valley Central, said they brought 30 students to the conference this year. Steve Cross, Model U.N. advisor from Chazy Central, said they also brought 30 kids, including newcomer Carter Rentas, a seventh-grade student and experienced secretariat Wynter Jarus, a senior who has attended Harvard Model U.N. five times. "They are amazing students," Cross said. "Model U.N. has made me much better at public speaking and international relations," Jarus said. "It has opened doors to friendships along the way, and strengthened how I communicate with others." For Rentas, who wrote a resolution paper for committee this year, public speaking is part of the learning curve. "Collaborating is important," he said. "You have to change your resolutions to fit in other people's ideas." Students in the Political Committee ended up with three blocs, including a revolutionary contingent, defending the right for people to oppose tyranny. "We're trying to get one resolution," Rentas said. "We have to pass at least one resolution," Jarus said of a committee encompassing 95 students. The six committee sessions ended with final votes before Closing Ceremonies and presentation of delegate honors. REAL WORLD TOPICS The NCCS event is coordinated almost entirely by students with support from NCCS Social Studies and Theatre teacher Jason Borrie and area school advisors. Asked about learning goals in Model U.N., he said the conference embodies many of the best qualities educators seek to foster in young people. "We provide a simulated forum where students from multiple school districts can engage in mind-stimulating debate on relevant, real-world topics. Their aim of consensus-building through collaborative efforts helps shape a skillset that will not only serve the individual well, but also their respective communities. "Educational goals and benchmark achievements sought by New York State's Portrait of a Graduate are found within the broad scope of Model United Nations, that is, those essential skills and dispositions that all students should develop to be successful in college, careers, and civic life." ......................................... TOPICS OF DISCUSSION Topics for 2026 at the 48th annual North Country Model U.N. conference commanded invention, study and poise as young ambassadors debated their way through heady ideas related to Distribution of Interstellar Land and Space in Legal Committee; Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Political Committee; Environmental Impacts of Artificial Intelligence in the U.N. Environmental Programme; Combating Racism and Xenophobia in the Human Rights Council; Mitigating Impacts of Autonomous AI in Warfare and Cybersecurity in the Security Council; with a Historical Committee debate on the Pirate Council of Nassau. NCMUN Committee topics are available to read online: https://sites.google.com/nccscougar.org/northcountrymun/committees The Press Corps is comprised of 15 student delegates representing news agencies from around the world. The corps published two editions of the NCMUN Times each day. Their work is online: https://sites.google.com/nccscougar.org/northcountrymun/ncmun-times

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North Country Model U.N. convenes 460 students

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