The Wester family recently enjoyed a week-long trip to Santiago and Antigua, Guatemala, to visit extended family, including a new baby! During their stay, they embraced the opportunity to explore a completely new environment. Highlights of their trip included hiking up a volcano, exploring the two cities, and soaking in the tropical climate.

Eleanor Wester, who joined the Sustainable Finger Lakes team in August as the Mobile Home Outreach Coordinator, is a senior at Ithaca College majoring in Environmental Science. She plans to pursue a career in environmental policy after graduation.

The Wester family chose to offset the carbon footprint of their travels through the Finger Lakes Climate Fund. “As a family, we are very conscious of the climate crisis,” they explained.

In her role at Sustainable Finger Lakes, Eleanor interviews homeowners about their heat pump experiences and helps share the benefits these systems provide. Working directly with community members who benefit from the Fund’s support and hearing their inspiring stories has made Eleanor even more enthusiastic about offsetting future trips.