On August 16, 2024, the Southern Nevada Conservancy, in conjunction with the California Trail Interpretive Center, will be hosting their Second Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour Event at the Elko High School Performance Arts Center in Elko, NV.
The audience will enjoy an hour of appetizers and mingling with local nonprofit tables where they can also peruse the table of raffle prizes before the films begin. The film selection includes a wide range of short films focused around history, Public Lands, wildlife, and the environment.
Three decades ago, a group of forward-thinking community members created Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association in hopes of helping locals and tourists alike connect with Red Rock Canyon. Now, 30 years, five sites, a few name changes, and millions of visitors later, Southern Nevada Conservancy continues to provide expert, cost-effective visitor services at some of Nevada’s most popular public lands sites.
Southern Nevada Conservancy creates opportunities for people to discover, understand, and enjoy public lands.
With 2.3 million residents in Clark County and growing, people are discovering and enjoying local public lands at rates previously unheard of for this area. Such visitation puts a strain on the natural and cultural resources these areas are set aside to protect, as well as the federal agencies tasked with managing them. The work that the Southern Nevada Conservancy does eases that strain by introducing visitors and students to the history and science behind these places while inspiring them to be good stewards of their public lands.
At the California Trail Center in Elko, Nevada, visitors can experience multimedia exhibits, life size dioramas, original art, and video productions. They can hike the trails, attend interpretive programs, and speak with knowledgeable staff. The Interpretive Center hopes that, upon completion of an individual’s visit, they have gained an understanding of one of the most formative events in American history, westward expansion, and how these emigrants contributed to the development of America, the American character, and American identity. The Center hopes that this will foster a sense of stewardship toward preserving historic and cultural resources for the inspiration of future generations.
The Conservancy works as a cooperating association partner to federal land management agencies, providing services and programs that enhance the visitor experience at some of Nevada’s most popular public lands. These are activities that people expect to find when visiting natural and cultural destinations but the managing agencies often do not provide directly.
Their Interpretive Programs team puts the natural and cultural world into context with thoughtful and imaginative activities designed to build curiosity, understanding, and fun. What better place to foster interest in STEM careers than in the great outdoors? What better time to encourage good stewardship of public lands than right now!
Many visitors want to take home a piece of their public lands experience. SNC’s Retail Operations team keeps visitors connected to those memories with hand-picked souvenirs, books, and gear, much of it produced locally. And if you just want an awesome t-shirt or water bottle to use while you’re hitting the trail, we have you covered.
The Southern Nevada Conservancy also fills niche roles land management agencies have a need for such as amenity fee collection at Red Rock Canyon NCA or litter volunteer management at Mt. Charleston. Through Special Projects such as designing maps and interpretive trail kiosks, their activities enhance the educational value of the places they serve and the experience of the people that visit.
HOW THE WILD AND SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL HELPS Paul Gregory, Operations Manager for the California Trail Interpretive Center, says, “Southern NV Conservancy works as a cooperating association partner to federal land management agencies, providing services and programs that enhance the visitor experience at some of Nevada’s most popular public lands, including the California Trail Center. Our interpretive programs put the natural and cultural world into context with thoughtful and imaginative activities designed to build curiosity, understanding, and fun. WSFF helps us reach and educate the public outside of our locations and increase awareness of what it means to protect both our Public Lands and the environment as a whole.”
When asked what his favorite thing about putting on a Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour Event is, Paul says, “Elko is a small town and I enjoy putting on events that boost voices and topics that aren’t typically heard in a rural area like this.”
