Conservation Chair, Executive Committee Sierra Club Mid-Hudson Chapter, and environmental activist, advocate, and educator. Dr. Paynter has sought to protect our precious habitat and natural resources. In the 1990’s, she was the founding principal of a charter school dedicated to a mission of ecological sustainability, which grew and composted their food for their cafeteria, and all school supplies were earth friendly, including the banning of plastic magic markers. The curriculum focused on environmental science as well as the role of citizens in making a difference. 

Susan is the chair of the Woodstock Environmental Commission (WEC). The WEC advises the town board and the planning board on critical environmental areas. 

Most recently she was the chair of Citizens Against Terramor, a group who successfully saved a 77-acre parcel from development. Susan was the former co-chair of the Stop Zena Development Steering Committee, which in collaboration with the Woodstock Land Conservancy, are leading an effort to protect 624 acres of lowland forest, meadow, and wetlands that are the foraging area for bald eagles. 

Singer-songwriter, naturalist, event organizer/co-coordinator of Woodstock Earth Week 2026.

When the Power Authority of the State of New York attempted to put a nuclear power plant in the backyard of her childhood family homestead in Athens, NY she was inspired witnessing her mother spring into action to form a citizens’ group that eventually prevailed. She rode her horse Moonbeam all over the Embough countryside, clip clopping her way and posting for miles on back roads, cross country skiing the fallow fields of the Vosenkill and traipsing the deer paths in the woods on foot—and singing. 

Sylvia confesses a deep visceral love of the Earth and the Wall of Manitou in particular–the spirit mountains known as the Catskills. Her volunteer work has encompassed creating a summer concert series in Woodstock for Live Peace International, keeping  the tradition of hosting the Rainbow Lodge Porch Jam the last Saturday of every August at the Rainbow Lodge, planting an American Chestnut mother orchard on Chestnut Hill for the American Chestnut Society, planting a medicine garden (now in its 3rd year at the Mothership), leading 12th Night celebrations, wassailing the apple tree, and–coming up this season–volunteering in the community garden on Saturdays to assist in its revitalization. 

When she met Bill Mckibben at the maritime museum in Kingston a few years ago she learned about the new group he was forming for environmental activists over 60–in their third act. She reached out to Upstate New York Third Act and initiated a Woodstock Creatives group at Paul McMahon’s Mothership in January 2024. If you want to learn more about the group’s activities in Woodstock and Albany, they meet at the Woodstock Clubhouse on the Third Thursday of every month from 5-6:30 and welcome you to join in their grassroots efforts–bring your talent and your energy.

www.sylviabullett.com