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 2,500 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 tour as well, and are available to our On Tour film festival hosts as well as schools, camps and other youth programs all around the country.

Are you a Wild and Scenic On Tour Host and are you interested in bringing Wild & Scenic On Tour into schools near you? You’ve 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.


Interested in bringing the 2023 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: TBD

Del Oro Theater – K-8th Grade Program

  • 2024 Dates TBD

Don Baggett Theater: 9th-12th Grade Program

  • 2024 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:  

  • $3/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: 2024 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:

  • $3/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.


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