The American Conservation Film Festival was created by a group of volunteers who shared both a devotion to film arts and a commitment to conservation. They also shared the belief that attitudes about the environment are shaped by our experiences in it and that people and their cultures are an essential part of Earth’s biosphere.

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The venture started and has remained in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, the location of two partners who have provided the venues for ACFF films since the Festival’s founding in 2003:  the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center and Shepherd University. From the outset, ACFF struck a chord with local filmgoers and tourists from the Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland regions. ACFF has expanded its audience by keeping ticket prices low and presenting many of its films free of charge.

MARCH 6–9, 2025

FRANK ARTS CENTER | SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY  SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV

2025 American Conservation Film Festival

Join us for four unforgettable days featuring 28 inspiring films that share stories of hope, resilience, and the individuals making a difference for our planet.

• Experience these stories as they were meant to be seen—on the big screen (with open captioning) surrounded by a community of passionate and curious individuals.
• Engage with filmmakers and hear from special guest speakers, gaining behind-the-scenes insights and expertise.
• All conveniently located at the Frank Arts Center on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV with FREE and easy parking.

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The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees by Beth Norcross & Leah Rampy

$22.95

There is great wisdom to learn from trees, and when we connect intimately with them, we can deepen our spiritual lives and grow in the understanding that all beings are part of the fabric of the holy.

There's something about a majestic redwood, the sweet pink blossoms of a cherry tree in spring, or even a scrawny little pine that moves us in ways we don't fully comprehend. Trees have much to offer as soul friends, and their millennia of growth and loss provide deep wisdom, if we know how to pay attention. The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees encourages us to revel in the beauty and wonder of trees as they increase our capacity to bear witness to loss and grief. Integrating science and spirituality, coauthors Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy explore the knowledge held within the living world of trees and planted within each of us.

Drawing on extensive experience in both forest ecology and spirituality, Norcross and Rampy invite us into a deep mutual relationship with trees, whose wisdom provides comfort, resilience, guidance, and hope during these challenging times. Living amid the uncertainty of climate chaos and biodiversity loss, we experience loneliness, anxiety, grief, and fear. Such times call us to a fuller spiritual presence, richer connections to the world around us, and a deeper knowing that all are held within a sacred web of life.

Pulling from the Center for Spirituality in Nature organization's coursework, Norcross and Rampy offer us guidance and practices based on their experiences leading walks, retreats, and pilgrimages for over two decades. Having witnessed the profound healing and restorative power of trees, they offer us the wisdom of trees as wordless ministers to weary souls. When we learn the ecology of the forest and how to be present in nature, our eyes are opened to the awe and wonder of our world, deepening our sense of sacred oneness.

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