September 12, 2026
The Wild Center Unveils Patrick Sapling, New York State’s First Permanent Thomas Dambo Troll
New site-specific sculpture by internationally acclaimed recycle artist now open in the Adirondacks
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – After a summer that brought tens of thousands of visitors to The Wild Center from across the country to meet the giant trolls of TROLLS: Save the Humans, a brand-new, site-specific troll is making The Wild Center its forever home—the first permanent Thomas Dambo sculpture in New York State.
Created by internationally acclaimed Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo, Patrick Sapling is a permanent addition to The Wild Center’s 115-acre campus and the Adirondack landscape. The sculpture depicts a troll kneeling among Adirondack boulders, eyes closed, lifting a living sugar maple tree toward the sun—a gesture of offering, planting, and hope.
Built by Dambo and his team with the help of community volunteers, Patrick Sapling was created primarily from reclaimed and recycled materials, including salvaged lumber, sawmill offcuts, locally sourced branches, and donated hardwood, thanks to Haselton Lumber, Jefford's Steel, Kentile Excavating, Martin's Lumber, Votra’s Sawmill, North Country School, and Specialty Wood Products.
“Millions of people around the world plan trips around finding these trolls. Now, when they look at the map of New York, it will point them to the Adirondacks. We could not be prouder that New York’s first permanent Dambo troll will live here—in a place that has been protecting wild forests for more than a century,” said Nick Gunn, Director of Marketing and Visitor Experience at The Wild Center.
The Story Behind the Name
Patrick Sapling is named in tribute to Patrick Dougherty, the American sculptor who has spent more than three decades creating monumental works from living tree saplings. Last fall, Dambo met Dougherty in North Carolina the day before visiting The Wild Center, home to one of Dougherty’s only remaining permanent installations, Hopscotch. The encounter inspired the name and story behind Patrick Sapling.
The sculpture is Dambo’s answer to that meeting: a troll kneeling among the rocks of the Adirondacks, holding a young tree toward the light it will grow toward. Patrick Sapling represents the relationship between generations—the care needed to nurture something new and the responsibility to leave something meaningful behind.
“Patrick Sapling is a sculpture about planting things—a tree, an idea, a legacy—and about the care one generation owes the next. Those are the most Adirondack values we know, and the fact that his name honors an artist whose work already lives on our campus makes this feel like a story that was always meant to come home,” said Gunn.
Dambo also wrote an original poem for Patrick Sapling, which visitors can read at the sculpture site.
A Landmark for New York State
Patrick Sapling is the 191st giant troll sculpture created by Thomas Dambo — and his first permanent troll in New York State. Dambo has created giant trolls across five continents, each mapped on his global Troll Map, which draws an estimated 4.5 million troll-seeking visitors annually. His installations have transformed parks, forests, and cultural sites into international destinations, with coverage from the BBC, National Geographic, and NPR. Permanent Dambo trolls already stand in states from Maine to California — but never, until now, in New York.
Patrick Sapling builds on the success of TROLLS: Save the Humans, the blockbuster exhibition on view at The Wild Center through October 31, 2026, which has helped drive the highest attendance in the museum’s 20-year history. While the traveling exhibition will continue its journey, Patrick Sapling will remain in the Adirondacks—a lasting invitation to slow down, look up, and consider what it means to plant something for the future.
This is made possible in part through the Mid Atlantic Folk and Traditional Arts - Community Projects program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support for Patrick Sapling is provided by Cape Air and the Greenspan Foundation.
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September 8, 2026
Two Million Wild Center Visitors & Counting
The Wild Center hits a major milestone in its 20th year
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center has welcomed its two-millionth visitor, marking a major milestone 20 years after the natural history museum and science center first opened its doors in Tupper Lake.
Fourteen-year-old Emily Dubail of Woodbury, Connecticut, became The Wild Center’s two-millionth visitor on September 7. Emily arrived with her sister, mom and a family friend. The group made the four-hour drive to the Adirondacks to experience TROLLS: Save the Humans and visit The Wild Center for the first time.
The Wild Center welcomed its one-millionth visitor in July 2017, less than 11 years after opening in 2006. The second million came faster: the Center welcomed its two-millionth visitor just over nine years after reaching the first million, during its busiest season on record.
That growth reflects The Wild Center’s continued evolution and its commitment to creating new visitor experiences. The Center has continually looked for ways to give people more reasons to visit, return and see the Adirondacks in a different way.
Most recently, TROLLS: Save the Humans, an exhibition of six giant sculptures by Danish environmental artist Thomas Dambo, has added a new dimension to the campus as part of The Wild Center’s 20th-anniversary season. The exhibition has drawn visitors from near and far and introduced many people to The Wild Center for the first time.
“It is an impressive number, and we are proud to have touched so many people, but what is most touching is seeing families running around campus, connecting with each other and nature,” said Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of The Wild Center. “That is what this milestone really represents. Behind two million visitors are millions of individual experiences—families exploring together, children discovering something for the first time, people learning about the Adirondacks and visitors simply enjoying time together.”
Since opening in 2006, The Wild Center has welcomed visitors from across the country and around the world, while also serving as a resource for Adirondack residents and regional communities. Its growth reflects both the increasing interest in the Adirondacks and the Center’s role as a place where people can experience the region through science, art, education and outdoor exploration.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has walked through our doors over the past 20 years,” Ratcliffe said. “While this is an opportunity to celebrate our institution's growth, it’s also an opportunity to look ahead at what’s to come for the next two million.”
For more information about The Wild Center, visit wildcenter.org.
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August 31, 2026
The Wild Center Becomes First Cultural Institution Worldwide to Commit to Decarbonization with the Global Network for Zero
Adirondack environmental leader establishes verified emissions baseline, marking a significant step in its ongoing sustainability journey
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center announced a significant climate milestone: it has become the first cultural institution in the world — and the first organization in New York — to formally commit to achieving net zero and eliminating its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions with the Global Network for Zero (GNFZ), an independent net zero certification body.
Located in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Park, The Wild Center has spent decades advancing sustainability, climate education, conservation, and community engagement. As the inaugural step in this global commitment, the organization has earned its GNFZ Emissions Assessment certificate, establishing a verified greenhouse gas emissions baseline across its operational activities and creating a data-driven foundation for the work ahead on the path toward GNFZ Net Zero Operations: Emissions certification.
“The Wild Center has always believed that environmental responsibility starts with looking closely at our own practices and continuing to find ways to improve,” said Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of The Wild Center. “We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we also know there is much more work to do. Completing the GNFZ Emissions Assessment gives us a clearer picture of where we are today and a stronger foundation for determining where we need to go next. We hope that by being transparent about that journey, we can learn alongside and encourage other cultural institutions that are working to align their operations with their environmental missions.”
The GNFZ Emissions Assessment provides a comprehensive inventory of The Wild Center’s carbon footprint. With this verified baseline in place, the organization is now developing a comprehensive Net Zero Plan to identify targeted emissions-reduction strategies, improve operational efficiency, and establish clear milestones toward verified net zero performance.
The work builds on The Wild Center’s longstanding efforts to address climate change through its operations, exhibits, education programs, and community partnerships. As cultural institutions increasingly seek to align their operations with their environmental missions, The Wild Center’s experience demonstrates how organizations can begin turning climate commitments into measurable action.
“Cultural institutions embarking on Global Network for Zero certification provide a critical pathway to build community, enhance public education, strengthen infrastructure and resilience, and reinforce staff as well as board engagement,” said Joyce Lee, President of IndigoJLD Green + Health and Advisor to Global Network for Zero. “Leading this convening has been most rewarding as global institutions can participate in a streamlined methodology.”
“Net zero is not simply an operational goal for cultural organizations — it is an extension of their public mission,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of Global Network for Zero. “By completing this rigorous emissions assessment, The Wild Center is demonstrating that global leadership begins with measurement and accountability. They have established a model for cultural and educational institutions pursuing net zero operations worldwide, and we are honored to support them on this journey.”
While significant work remains to reach net zero, establishing a verified emissions baseline marks an important step for The Wild Center in understanding its environmental impact, identifying opportunities for improvement, and continuing to evolve its operations in support of its mission.
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August 20, 2026
The Wild Center Welcomes World-Renowned Recycle Artist Thomas Dambo for a Special Evening of Storytelling
An Evening with Thomas Dambo on September 10, 2026 in Tupper Lake
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – On Thursday, September 10, The Wild Center invites guests to spend an evening with internationally acclaimed Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo for storytelling and conversation. The event will take place at the Tupper Lake Bandshell in Flanders Park at 6:00 p.m., with a book signing to follow.
The visit comes as The Wild Center celebrates the success of TROLLS: Save the Humans, the internationally touring exhibition that has welcomed record attendance to the museum throughout the summer. The exhibition features six of Dambo's larger-than-life troll sculptures hidden throughout The Wild Center's campus, each encouraging visitors to reconnect with nature while considering how their everyday choices affect the planet.
"Thomas's work reminds us that imagination can change the way we see both nature and the materials we often overlook," said Nick Gunn, Director of Marketing & Visitor Experience at The Wild Center. "His trolls invite people outdoors, spark curiosity, and encourage all of us to become better stewards of the places we love. We're thrilled to welcome Thomas to the Adirondacks to share the stories behind his incredible work."
Often described as the world's leading recycle artist, Dambo has created nearly 200 monumental troll sculptures across the globe, from dense forests and coastal landscapes to deserts and urban parks. Each sculpture is built primarily from reclaimed wood and recycled materials, bringing new life to what others have thrown away.
During the evening, Dambo will share the journey that transformed a passion for building with discarded materials into a global movement for creativity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. He'll offer a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process and the adventures of building trolls around the world, with a message that's simple but powerful: waste no more.
Gates open at Flanders Park at 5:00 p.m., with the program beginning at 6:00 p.m. Dambo will be available for a book signing following the talk, and the program will conclude at 8:00 p.m. Books can be purchased in advance at The Wild Supply Co. at The Wild Center, online at shop.wildcenter.org, or at the event.
Tickets are limited and cost $25 for reserved seating in a section near the stage, with chairs provided, or $15 for lawn access. Lawn access ticket holders are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket for seating. Children ages four and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online at wildcenter.org/events/dambotalk.
For more information about The Wild Center and upcoming events, visit wildcenter.org.
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June 25, 2026
When Waters Rise: Adirondack Flooding Risk, Response, and Resilience Conference at The Wild Center
When Waters Rise brings together scientists, artists, and community leaders on August 6, 2026
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center, in collaboration with regional partners from across the Adirondacks, will host When Waters Rise: Adirondack Flooding Risk, Response, and Resilience on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm. The conference will bring together scientists, artists, emergency responders, community leaders, educators, and residents to examine flooding in the Adirondacks and identify pathways toward greater resilience.
Water is central to life in the Adirondacks, shaping its ecosystems, communities, and identity. Yet increasingly intense storms and changing weather patterns are bringing new challenges to the region. Through presentations, discussion, and shared experiences, participants will explore the causes and impacts of flooding, hear stories of recovery and adaptation, and consider how communities can work together to prepare for future high-water events.
The event is designed for a broad audience, including local residents, conservation professionals, educators, emergency managers, outdoor recreationists, researchers, and students. Registration is open at wildcenter.org/flooding. Day-of registration will be available beginning at 8 am, space permitting. Tickets are $40 for Wild Center members and $45 for non-members. Seating is limited. Advance registration is strongly encouraged.
Through science, art, and local perspectives, the conference will explore how Adirondack communities are responding and adapting to flood-related challenges through panel discussions and breakout sessions. Attendees will be able to continue the conversation with optional afternoon field trips to regional sites. Whether you work in science, government, emergency management, or simply care about your community, this event will connect you with the knowledge, tools, and people shaping the future of flood resilience in the Adirondacks.
Program Highlights:
- Keynote address — Rivers and Resilience: Our Shared Future by Tim Koch, Stream Restoration Specialist, NYSDEC / NYS Water Resources Institute
- Opening talk — Adirondack Waters with ecologist Dr. Curt Stager
- Arts panel — moderated by Merle McGee of ADKX, featuring Mohawk artist Iakonikonriiosta, Chief Curator Laura Rice, and textile artist Joy Muller-McCoola
- Community Panel — Risk, Response and Resilience, moderated by Sunita Halasz of the Adirondack Council, featuring town supervisors, county emergency services leaders, and watershed advocates
- Breakout sessions — hands-on and discussion-based learning focused on culvert design and flood resilience, community flood preparedness, shoreline health assessment, and stream restoration
Optional afternoon programming from 2 to 4 pm will provide opportunities to continue the conversation through field experiences, guided walks, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Participants can explore topics such as flood ecology, watershed health, shoreline resilience, infrastructure adaptation, and community preparedness while connecting with experts and practitioners from across the region.
"The Adirondacks are defined by water, and our communities are increasingly shaped by how that water moves," said Jen Kretser, Director of Climate Initiatives at The Wild Center. "This conference is an opportunity to learn from scientists and neighbors alike about flooding and resilience in a changing climate — and to leave with real tools for what comes next."
When Waters Rise is presented by The Wild Center in collaboration with regional partners, including Adirondack Climate Outreach and Resilience Network (ACORN), Adirondack Experience, Adirondack Council, Adirondack Watershed Institute, Ausable Freshwater Center, Brookfield Renewables, Cornell University, The Nature Conservancy, Paul Smith's College, and SUNY ESF.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Organizations interested in supporting the event should visit wildcenter.org/flooding or contact Hillarie Logan-Dechene at hlogan-dechene@wildcenter.org or Libby Clark at lclark@wildcenter.org by July 17, 2026.
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May 13, 2026
The Wild Center Celebrates 20 Years with a Summer to Remember
Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans, a reimagined signature film, a 20th Anniversary Celebration with Martin Sexton, and a full season of events make 2026 one of the biggest years yet
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center is marking a milestone 20th anniversary with one of its most celebratory seasons yet. This summer, the museum welcomes world-renowned artist Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans—an extraordinary large-scale outdoor installation— alongside the debut of a reimagined version of its signature film, The Wild Adirondacks, and a milestone 20th Anniversary Celebration on July 11. This summer honors two decades of connecting people with the natural world of the Adirondacks.
The Wild Center is open for the 2026 season with a Friday-through-Sunday schedule, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then opens daily starting on Memorial Day, May 25. There will be extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in July and August. Tickets can be purchased at wildcenter.org/tickets and include access to the award-winning Wild Walk, the immersive Forest Music experience, hiking trails, the new TROLLS exhibit and the film The Wild Adirondacks. Daily reservations are subject to sell-out, and advance tickets are encouraged.
“Twenty years ago, we opened our doors with a dream of helping people to better understand and connect with nature and the Adirondacks,” said Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of The Wild Center, who has been with the museum since 2002. “This summer we’re celebrating that dream in the biggest way we know how — with giant trolls in the forest, a breathtaking new film, the return of Martin Sexton, and a free community celebration for everyone who has been part of this journey. We can’t wait to share it all.”
The Wild Adirondacks – A New Film
Thanks to a 2026 Conservation and Community Interpretive Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, The Wild Center has produced a stunning new version of its original signature film, The Wild Adirondacks. Now playing in the William H. Flammer Panorama Theater, the 17-minute film delivers four times the visual resolution of the 2006 original, featuring new imagery from renowned Adirondack photographer Carl Heilman II spanning over two decades of work. Sweeping time-lapses and still photography carry viewers from the rugged High Peaks to the region's serene rivers and streams, accompanied by an original score remastered by composer Lance Day. The film is included with general admission.
TROLLS: Save the Humans – Opening June 1
The centerpiece of the 2026 season is TROLLS: Save the Humans, a large-scale outdoor installation by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, known globally for his giant recycled-wood troll sculptures hidden in natural landscapes around the world. Opening June 1 and running through October 31, the exhibit features six larger-than-life trolls nestled throughout The Wild Center’s 115-acre campus. Each troll has its own personality and story about protecting nature, inviting visitors of all ages to slow down, explore, and reconnect with the environment.
Members get an exclusive first look during Before They Wake: A Troll Preview Night on May 31, an evening event before the exhibit opens to the public. Members can also enjoy Troll Stroll Member Mornings — intimate early-access strolls from 8–10 a.m. on select Saturdays in July and August, complete with coffee and Washboard donuts at the Wild Walk entrance. Registration required; free for members.
On Saturday, July 4, lace up your sneakers for the Troll Trot 5K — a one-of-a-kind fun run/walk winding through The Wild Center campus and past all six trolls. Registration is available online now and opens at 8 a.m. on race day. The race starts at 9 a.m., and every registered participant will receive a commemorative medal.
Troll Tuesdays (July 7–August 25, 4–7 p.m.) celebrate the world of the trolls every week with live music, make-and-take crafts, interactive workshops, and a spotlight on one of the six troll characters. Free for members or with admission; no additional registration required beyond a general admission ticket.
20th Anniversary Celebration – July 11
On Saturday, July 11, The Wild Center throws open its doors for a free community celebration marking 20 years of curiosity, connection, and care for the natural world. The day features drop-in activities and special programs for all ages, highlights from two decades of impact, experiences across campus, and TROLLS: Save the Humans on view.
Headlining the celebration is a live outdoor concert by Martin Sexton, the soulful singer-songwriter who also performed at The Wild Center’s opening in 2006. Ticket reservations for July 11 are encouraged at wildcenter.org/tickets. More information at wildcenter.org/20th-anniversary.
Seasonal Programming & Activities
The Wild Center’s beloved year-round programming returns in full. Daily activities include animal encounters, fish-feeding demonstrations, and programs with The Wild Center’s North American River Otters. Guided Canoe Trips on the Raquette River are offered on Sundays in June and return to daily departures from July 1 through September 7 at 1 p.m. Naturalist-led exploration activities take place on Wild Walk and across campus daily.
Forest Music, the immersive woodland soundscape featuring 24 speakers along a winding trail, continues to enchant. The expanded Fen Trail — a mile-long loop with Raquette River Roll stations — returns as well. Wooden balls can be borrowed or purchased as a souvenir. Birdly, the virtual reality flying simulator, is back for another year, and rides can be purchased on arrival.
Other special programming includes National Pollinator Week (June 22–28), the Science Speaker Series, Adirondack Water Week (July 31–Aug. 9), and more. For the full events calendar, visit wildcenter.org/calendar.
Programming is supported through a Market New York grant awarded by Empire State Development and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism.
TROLLS: Save the Humans is produced by The Imagine Team.
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April 10, 2026
The Wild Center Hosts Educator Professional Development on Haudenosaunee Perseverance
in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center will host an immersive educator professional development experience, American Revolution: Haudenosaunee Perseverance, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Developed by Native Knowledge 360°—the education initiative of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian—this full-day workshop will provide educators with an in-depth look at a standards-aligned, classroom-ready resource designed for middle school students, exploring Indigenous perspectives on the American Revolution.
The program centers on a standards-aligned digital inquiry resource that examines how the Haudenosaunee Confederacy—Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations—persevered during and after the American Revolution.
The day will begin with an opening by Dave Kanietakeron Fadden (Akwesasne Mohawk), followed by a panel discussion featuring special Haudenosaunee guest speakers, including Katsi, Tekatsi:tsia’kwa Katsi Cook (St. Regis Mohawk Tribe), who will share insights into the roles of women in Haudenosaunee society, including their influence in diplomacy and decision-making. These perspectives provide critical context for understanding Haudenosaunee experiences during this pivotal period in history.
Participants will then engage directly with the digital resource, which incorporates video interviews with Haudenosaunee community members, primary and secondary sources, original maps, and images. Educators will explore how to bring this content into their classrooms, guiding students through the essential question: In what ways did the Haudenosaunee persevere through and after the American Revolution?
“Opportunities like this allow educators to expand the stories they bring into their classrooms and ensure students encounter a more complete and accurate history,” said Kerri Ziemann, Program Director at The Wild Center. “By centering Haudenosaunee voices and experiences, this program helps educators engage students in meaningful, inquiry-based learning that connects past and present.”
In addition to workshop sessions, attendees will participate in guided tours of The Wild Center’s Haudenosaunee exhibits and have opportunities to collaborate with fellow educators. Certificates of participation and CTLE credit will be available.
The cost to attend is $35 and includes a light breakfast and lunch. Scholarships are available upon request- email jkretser@wildcenter.org. Space is limited to 60 educators, and advance registration is required. Register online at www.wildcenter.org/events/haudenosaunee-perseverance.
American Revolution: Haudenosaunee Perseverance Onsite PD at The Wild Center is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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April 7, 2026
The Wild Center Hosts Public Input Event for National “Nature Record” Assessment
Community invited to help shape first comprehensive look at nature across the U.S.
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center will host a free public event on Thursday, May 7, from 4–6 PM, inviting community members to contribute to The Nature Record, a groundbreaking national initiative examining the state of nature in the United States and its impact on our daily lives.
The event is part of a nationwide effort to gather public input on The Nature Record National Assessment, the first independent, evidence-based report of its kind. The Wild Center has been selected as an official site for public comment, granting a unique opportunity for Adirondack voices to help shape this important work.
The Nature Record brings together nearly 200 leading scientists, researchers, and practitioners to better understand how nature is changing across the country—and what those changes mean for our health, economy, and communities. From the air we breathe and water we drink to climate stability and local livelihoods, nature is deeply woven into everyday life.
“Nature shapes our health, safety, and sense of belonging—but it is changing rapidly,” said Jen Kretser, Director of Climate Initiatives at The Wild Center. “This assessment is about connecting science with lived experience, and making sure people from all communities have a voice in how we comprehend and react to those changes.”
Attendees at The Wild Center event will have the chance to:
- Learn about the draft assessment and its findings
- Interact directly with authors and contributors
- Participate in Q&A sessions and collaborative roundtable discussions
- Share feedback to improve the clarity, accuracy, and usefulness of the final report
The public comment period is open now through May 31, during which anyone can review the draft assessment and share input through a series of virtual and in-person events happening across the country, including at The Wild Center on May 7. For those who cannot make it in person, feedback can be submitted online at naturerecord.org/comment.
Public input plays an important role in strengthening the assessment. Comments help identify gaps, bring in local knowledge, and ensure the findings reflect real-world experiences. All feedback will be reviewed by the author team and incorporated into revisions ahead of the final report’s release in late 2026.
This event is open to anyone interested in the future of nature—from community members, teachers and students to practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers. No technical expertise is required. This event is free, but registration is required. Register at wildcenter.org/naturerecord.
“This is a moment for people across the country to engage with science and share what they’re seeing in their own communities,” said Kretser. “The more voices involved, the stronger and more useful this assessment will be.”
To read the assessment, share your thoughts, find additional events, and join the conversation, visit: naturerecord.org.
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April 3, 2026
The Wild Center Awarded Federal Grant to Revitalize Iconic "The Wild Adirondacks" Film for 20th Anniversary
New high-definition, panoramic, cinematic journey to debut May 1; Public 20th Anniversary celebration set for July 11
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center has been awarded a 2026 Conservation and Community Interpretive Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership to produce a new version of its original “The Wild Adirondacks,” a major update to the museum's signature film. Premiering May 1, 2026, in the William H. Flammer Panorama Theater, the project marks the Center’s 20th anniversary by reuniting the original 2006 creative team to deliver a cinematic experience with four times the visual resolution of the original production.
The 17-minute film features all-new imagery from renowned photographer Carl Heilman II, spanning over two decades of work. Using a combination of breathtaking time-lapses and still photography, the film takes viewers from the rugged Adirondack High Peaks to the serene rivers and streams that define the region. Original composer Lance Day has returned to remaster the original score for the updated experience.
“The original film has amazed so many visitors since opening in 2006,” said Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of The Wild Center. “Reuniting with Carl Heilman and Lance Day for this new version allows us to bring fresh, breathtaking imagery to the screen and celebrate the Adirondacks in a new way. It’s the perfect way to begin celebrating twenty years of The Wild Center.”
"The Wild Adirondacks" update is a cornerstone of The Wild Center’s anniversary celebration. While the film debuts in May, the public is invited to a special 20th Anniversary Celebration on July 11, 2026. This event will be free and open to the public, featuring a highlight of the new film and a celebration of the museum's two decades in Tupper Lake.
Funding for this project came from a 2026 Conservation and Community Interpretive Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States National Park Service (NPS) under assistance agreement (P24AC02271) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
For more information on the film and the upcoming 20th anniversary events, visit wildcenter.org/20th-anniversary.
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March 17, 2026
New York State Approves Historic K–12 Climate Education Requirement
The Wild Center Celebrates Milestone After Years of Youth and Educator Advocacy
Tupper Lake, N.Y. – The Wild Center is celebrating a major milestone for climate literacy after the New York State Board of Regents approved a new statewide requirement to integrate climate education across K–12 classrooms. Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year for grades 5–12 and expanding to grades K–4 in 2028–2029, the amendment ensures that students across New York will have the opportunity to learn about the causes, impacts, and solutions to the climate crisis as part of their education.
With the decision, New York becomes only the second state in the nation, following New Jersey, to require comprehensive climate education across all grade levels. The change follows recommendations from the Climate and Resilience Education Task Force (CREFT), a coalition of students, educators, and organizations working to expand access to climate learning throughout the state.
For The Wild Center, the announcement represents the culmination of years of collaboration. Members of the museum’s climate team have been involved with the Task Force since its early formation in 2017, when partners first gathered to explore how climate literacy could become a foundational part of New York’s education system. Since then, Wild Center staff and youth climate leaders have participated in meetings with policymakers, listening sessions with the Board of Regents, and promoted the efforts throughout the New York State Youth Climate Summit Network. Currently, The Wild Center works with 10 active youth climate summit sites across New York State where youth and teachers gather each year to learn the science, impacts and solutions for climate change.
“We are grateful to CREFT’s leadership for championing this critical policy work. Young people across New York have been asking for this kind of education for years,” said Jen Kretser, Director of Climate Initiatives at The Wild Center. “Climate change touches every part of our lives, so learning about it should extend beyond science class and across the entire curriculum. This decision recognizes that students need the knowledge, creativity, and agency to navigate a changing world and help shape solutions to prepare us for a more resilient future. The Wild Center’s Climate Program, launched in 2009, has focused on empowering young people and educators with the knowledge and tools to understand climate change and take meaningful action. Through youth climate summits, educator support, and partnerships across the region and beyond, the organization has championed an interdisciplinary approach to climate learning that connects science with civics, creativity, and community problem-solving.
The Wild Center is a resource in supporting educators as schools prepare to implement the new requirements. On March 13, The Wild Center hosted a professional development workshop for teachers across the Adirondack region and beyond in partnership with Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES, GAIA Scholastic, and regional partners. The workshop focused on classroom strategies, curriculum development, and resources relevant to North Country students, while also highlighting updates to New York State standards and the state’s NY Inspires / Portrait of a Graduate initiative.
The Wild Center plans to continue offering professional development opportunities for educators as schools prepare for the statewide rollout of climate education. Students and educators can find information and resources related to climate education and hosting youth climate summits at wildcenter.org/youthclimate.
“This is a huge win for students, educators, and communities across New York,” Kretser said. “Now the work continues to ensure this requirement is implemented thoughtfully and equitably, with the support teachers need to bring climate learning to life in every classroom.”
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