WSFF builds stewardship through year-round programming and community events in partnership with schools and local agencies. During Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Nevada City and Grass Valley come alive as the heart of the environmental film and art world, screening over 100 films and workshops.

SYRCL, in collaboration with the Nevada County Arts Council, invites artists each year to submit work for inclusion in the Wild & Scenic festival’s signature joint Art exhibition. Nevada County is home to a vibrant and robust artistic community that understands the power of art to communicate, educate, and uplift others. This exhibition is a celebration of that community, offering artists passionate about the environment a meaningful platform to share their work and their message.

Our school programs are designed to spark intellectual curiosity, empower, and engage local students, using film and art as entry points into deeper conversations about our shared responsibility to the planet. Through carefully shaped learning experiences, young people explore creativity in all its forms, using critical thinking skills and discovering their own voice as storytellers and advocates. Our WSFF Education Director, curates age-appropriate film programming and a standard-based curriculum across four grade bands (TK-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th) and provides educators with ready-to-use materials for the classroom. Arts programming is woven throughout the flagship festival, giving students and youth the opportunity to engage with professional filmmakers and artists and see firsthand how creative expression can strengthen their community. Each year, the festival screens 30+ films to schools, presents programming for over 3,500 students and teachers, and leads youth workshops and excursions suitable for the whole family.