Teachers Can Now Bring Ohio’s Great Outdoors to the Classroom

Story and photos courtesy of Ohio Department of  Natural Resources

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- Ohio: Wild at Heart, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ movie and educational experience, is now available for schools to play in classrooms! This past fall, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and MacGillivray Freeman Films invited audiences to experience the film on giant screen theaters. The film will be provided for free and available online for streaming in classrooms.

“Ohio: Wild at Heart is a powerful film that showcases Ohio's diverse, natural beauty,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Fran and I are thrilled that schoolteachers will be able to show this movie in their classrooms to inspire students to explore all of the wonder and adventure Ohio has to offer." 

Educators are invited to visit ohiodnr.gov/movie and complete a brief form to receive access to the film. Once a form is submitted, a web link to view the film will be sent to the email address entered in the form. Internet access is required to view the film.

The film, narrated by Ohio native Archie Griffin, tells stories of conservation and explores Ohio’s natural playground, with the underlying message “when we take care of nature, nature takes care of us.” 

Students will be inspired to explore Ohio’s outdoors.

“Making the film available to educators and students will introduce a new audience to the great conservation work that ODNR is doing across Ohio,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire the next generation to become stewards of our great state.”

 Students will be able to hear about conservation success stories like the reintroduction of bald eagles and trumpeter swans in the Buckeye State, see behind the scenes work of ODNR naturalists and program leaders, as well as the changing of the seasons. The film showcases Ohio’s natural wonders with spectacular aerial cinematography of places like the astounding cliffs and waterfalls of Hocking Hills, to the Great Lake Erie.

Ohio: Wild at Heart debuted at museum centers across the state this past fall.

You can watch the trailer on YouTube and learn more about the movie by visiting the Ohio: Wild at Heart website. The film is also still available for viewing at museum centers across the state as well as select movie theaters. Learn more about participating museums and theaters at ohiodnr.gov.

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