By Amanda Williams & Shae Bowman
Are you looking for an exciting way to celebrate Earth Day 2022?! Look no further than Cordova, Alaska, where the Copper River Watershed Project, in partnership with the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, the Net Loft, and Cordova Gear will host environmentally-focused events for Earth Day weekend.
CRWP will kick off the fun on Friday, April 22, with an exclusive line-up of Wild and Scenic documentary films. Then on Saturday, April 23, join the Net Loft and Cordova Gear for watercolor workshops and a screening of “Trailbound Alaska” with Max Romey, watercolor artist and adventure filmmaker.
The Copper River watershed is one of the last remaining intact watersheds in the world. In the Copper River watershed, we all rely on clean and free-flowing water, and yet even this basic need can be taken for granted. According to the U.S. EPA, close to half the nation’s rivers and streams are “impaired,” harming fish and wildlife and everyone who relies on clean water when they turn on the tap. Today, our commitment to keeping clean waters connected throughout the Copper River watershed is more important than ever.
So come and celebrate wild spaces with us to help us raise funds to ensure healthy water, healthy salmon economies, and our cherished way of life so that it continues to provide for future generations.
“Your help matters! Purchase a ticket, renew your membership, and grab a beverage and dessert by donation and celebrate with us,” said Lisa Docken, Executive Director with the CRWP. As an additional bonus, the first $2,000 raised for the CRWP fundraiser will be matched by a generous CRWP donor. Renew your membership to double your impact!
The CRWP staff hand-selected eigth films out of the Wild and Scenic film library that reflect a plethora of topics: marine debris impact on Alaskan coastline shores of Alaska, wolverine research and conservation, fly fishing in the Pacific Northwest, invasive “murder hornets,” protecting Bristol Bay, saving Yellowstone grizzlies, classic Grand Canyon dory building and one to bring some levity to the room. These films are created with passion to evoke awareness and inspire, highlighting things that we may not think about every day. At the end of watching this line-up, it begs the question: what can I do to help?
In its 20th year, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival has something to celebrate.
“SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival inspires environmental activism and a love for nature–through film. Wild & Scenic shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet … a film festival for activists, by activists,” read an excerpt from the Wild and Scenic Film Festival website.
Join us at the Cordova Center for local fare, fun, films, adult beverages and conversations with our guest filmmaker, Max Romey, who created a documentary we are showcasing in the Film Festival: “If You Give a Beach a Bottle.”
On Saturday, April 23, continue with the Earth Day fun and participate in the watercolor workshops with Max Romey. The “Mountain Top to Table Top” workshop will explore techniques to bring your watercolors to life at home and the “Cordova Sketch” workshop will get you outside and in-the-field to help you see your world through watercolors! Following the watercolor workshops on Saturday, Max Romey will showcase his film “Trailbound Alaska” and talk more about his watercolor and film-making career.
If you can’t attend in person, watch our LIVE stream of the Friday April 22, Wild and Scenic event!
For more information, a schedule of events, make a donation and to purchase your tickets, go to copperriver.org/news-events/upcoming-events/wild-scenic-film-fest.
Amanda Williams is Aquatic Resource Management Assistant for Copper River Watershed Project and Shae Bowman is the CRWP Operations Manager. Williams is also a freelance reporter for The Cordova Times.
