Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour at NACCR2026

NACCR2026 will host the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour!

On Tour enters its 21st season of bringing the inspiration of Wild & Scenic films to communities all over the US. With 125+ Wild & Scenic events a year, their programming now reaches over 40,000 people annually via partnering with land trusts, waterkeepers, schools, and other NGOs. The NACCR Film Festival committee reviewed dozens of films and have compiled a curated list of top films that feature amazing conservation and restoration efforts primarily across North America.

The film festival will take place on Tuesday, July 14th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. In the Baird Center North Ballroom. Admission to the film festival is included in your conference registration. Snacks and beverages will be available for attendees.

Following the film screening join us for a trivia game for a chance to win prizes!

The schedule for the night will consist of the following films:

Friends of the Frogpool Lane

7 minutes

Follow a group of vigilante crossing guards as they help frogs and salamanders navigate a busy road through a rainy Spring night, so these driven amphibians can arrive safely to the unique wetland that is critical for their life cycle.

The Fire Poppy

11 minutes

Fire is a natural and necessary part of our ecosystem, though it’s often feared as a threat to our landscapes and communities. “The Fire Poppy” profiles female firefighter Sasha Berleman and her enduring relationship with fire. The short film delves into her evolving perspective, from seeing fire as a threat to developing a deep interest in it, and eventually recognizing fire as a valuable tool to heal and protect.

Kelp in the Northwest

20 minutes

Kelp forests are essential to a healthy ocean, serving as habitat, storm break, carbon sink, and food source all in one. However, like so many other essential habitats, many—but not all—of these wild kelp populations have collapsed in recent years. This film highlights the work of the people and organizations across Oregon and Washington working to study, preserve, and enhance the populations that remain, for the benefit of both life on land and in the oceans.

A Home in the Grass

6 minutes

Since 1970, North America has lost 3 billion birds. As grassland bird populations continue to decline, one conservationist’s act of devotion represents hope in a world where natural habitats are disappearing every day.

Roots

12 minutes

In the Dominican Republic, baseball isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life. But as the game thrives, development threatens the country’s mangroves, which play a vital role in the ecosystem. Meet Ismael Diaz-Tolentino, who leads the “Play for the Mangroves” initiative, merging conservation with the nation’s love for baseball to inspire environmental stewardship and restore balance to the natural world.

Lights Out

14 minutes

Each year, one billion birds perish crashing into North American buildings. In Chicago, the towering skyline intersects a major migration route. The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors work before sunrise to rescue injured birds. These dedicated volunteers save stunned survivors. Rehabilitated birds continue their amazing seasonal migrations while those lost to window strikes help scientists conserve future generations of migrating birds.

Between Moon Tides

25 Minutes

In a ribbon of saltmarsh in coastal New England, an intergenerational group of citizen scientists is trying to save the Saltmarsh Sparrow from extinction, one nest at a time.

Nature for All

10 minutes

An extraordinary forest in New Jersey offers sanctuary to a historically hidden community and a secretive endangered plant – but only through the combined work of indigenous leaders and land preservationists.