Wild & Scenic in Schools

Inspiring Youth Engagement & Activism

We shape learning experiences meant to spark intellectual and cultural connectivity while promoting the overarching value of the arts to society. Youth and teens explore the nature of creativity in all its forms through encounters designed to hone critical thinking skills while shaping their understanding of the world.

Sharing the Festival with Schools

Wild & Scenic Film Festival’s school programs present film programming for over 4,000 students from our local community and neighboring counties. SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival Education Team curates age-appropriate, engaging and inspiring content for K-2, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th and 9th-12th grade film screenings. Essentially, each student audience gets their very own film festival!

In years past, students have had the opportunity to see their films on the big screen- K-8th graders at the Del Oro Theatre and High Schoolers at Nevada Union High School’s Don Baggett Theater. An important part of our school programs, the Wild & Scenic education team creates film-specific, standards-based curriculum for participating educators from local elementary, middle, and high schools for further classroom enrichment. Our Wild & Scenic education team offers a wide array of low-cost programs for audiences throughout our community.

During the Flagship Festival

Every year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival team partners with schools to present film programming for the local community and neighboring counties. Wild & Scenic creates four carefully selected, age-appropriate film programs are offered, accompanied by film-specific, standards-based lessons for school enrichment. During the festival week, K-12 graders participate in the Wild & Scenic School Program at the Del Oro and Don Baggett Theaters.

On Tour

Not local to Nevada County? Our School Programs are based on Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Standards making them ready for wherever your organization is nationally.  A popular way to spread your organizations mission to schools is to partner with us as an On Tour host with local school to add our school program to your event for students of all ages to enjoy.

Current Wild and Scenic On Tour Hosts interested in bringing our programming and your organizations name into schools have come to the right place! If you already have reach in local schools, please contact us at ontour@wildandscenicfilmfestival.org for booking, or start here and follow along with this HOW TO for approaching schools.

WSFF offers four assembly style school program options ranging from K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 all with coinciding curriculum. You can also reach out and ask us about our NEW individual straight to your classroom school program available through our online platform.


Interested in bringing the 2024 WSFF School Programs to your students?

Choose the program option below that works best for your school, and then contact Monique!

Option 1: Theater Screening

Bring your students to the Del Oro (K-8th) or Don Baggett Theater (9-12th) to screen the films!

Program Dates: 2/10/25 to 2/17/25

Del Oro Theater – K-8th Grade Program

  • 2025 Dates TBD

Don Baggett Theater: 9th-12th Grade Program

  • 2025 Dates TBD

Program Details: 

  • K-2 Program: 45 min.
  • 3-5 Program: 60 min.
  • 6-8 Program: 60 min.
  • 9-12 Program: 75 min.
  • Includes a companion curriculum & additional activities

Cost:  

  • $4/participant

Register Today! Email Monique Streit at monique@yubariver.org to sign up your school.

Register Today!

Option 2: School Assembly

Have a SYRCL staff member MC the program at your school!

Program Dates: 2025 Dates TBD

Program Details:

  • Select either K-2, 3-5, 6-8, or 9-12 program
  • Assemblies run 1 hour
  • Includes a companion curriculum & additional activities

Site Requirements:

  • A large enough space for an assembly
  • Necessary equipment (screen, projector, sound capabilities
  • At least 50 students in attendance

Cost:

  • $4/student

Register Today! Email Monique Streit at monique@yubariver.org to sign up your school. Register Today

Thank you to Nevada Union High School and Sierra Theaters for their generous partnership.


2024 School Film Programs by Age Group

TK-2 School Program

Films: Brave Girl, Kind of Fishy, Your Are Not Small, JoJo- A Toad Musical, Biopixels, The Tundra, Mel Fell

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview

3-5 School Program

Films: Flowing- My Dream of More Freedom, Bridging Fragments, Soundscape, Healing Hilsyaqais, Danny Macaskill: Do a Wheelie, The Invention of Less, JoJo- A Toad Musical

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview

6-8 Grade School Program

Films: Mount St. Helens: A Fire Within, 4DWN, PLACE- People, Lamprey, And Cultural Ecology, Mussel Grubbing: A Citizen Science Treasure Hunt, Finding the Line

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview

9-12 Grade School Program

Films: Paddle Tribal Waters, The Quest to Save Parasites, African Voices for Africa’s Forests- Gender, Indigenous Rights, and Restoration, Spear, Spatula, Submarine: Floridians Fight to Take Back Their Waters, Nanoscapes, Driving Sweep

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview

2023 School Film Programs by Age Group

K-2 School Program

Theme: Working Together

Films: Tails on Ice, Cool for You, Plastic Pandemic, Bad Bugs, Imara, Kayak

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview

3-5 School Program

Theme: Adapting to Overcome

Films: I am Salmon, Packing a Wave, High Road, Yellowstone 88 – Song of Fire, YOLO Bypass Wildlife Area, The Rock Pool Waltz

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview

6-8 Grade School Program

Theme: Resilient Communities

Films: Reclaim Your Water, Eco-Hack!, Big Basin Speaks, Giant Sequoias – Yosemite, Wood Hood

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview

9-12 Grade School Program

Theme: Resiliency and Change

Films: Riparia, Returning England’s Forgotten Frog, From My Window, High Plains Wild, Black Like Plastic

Film Descriptions

Curriculum Overview