Although Seatuck Environmental Association’s annual Eco-Carnival at the Scully Estate has once again been canceled due to the pandemic, the Islip-based group has not stopped its efforts to educate locals about Long Island’s natural environment during Earth Month.
For the second time, Seatuck will host the virtual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on April 22, or Earth Day. The national film festival, which aims to promote environmental activism through arts and film, is curated and streamed by California-based South Yuba River Citizens League. SYRCL then partners with local nonprofits, like Seatuck, to host the festival. Seatuck’s event begins at 7 p.m.
“You’ll see 10 exclusive documentary films that celebrate conservationism, environmentalism and activism all across the world, but you’ll also hear from Seatuck staffers, and we’ll relate these films to the work that we do here,” Seatuck’s development associate, Carolyn Foster, said.
Some of the films that will be shown at this year’s festival include “Disappearing Penguins,” a documentary about scientists who visit a remote island off the Antarctic peninsula; “Here We Stand,” about the Redwood Forests and expanding conservation efforts; and “Feathers In Flight: The Bird Genoscape Project,” about protecting birds by conducting genome research on birds’ feathers.
The base cost for the roughly two-hour event is $35 per person. Additional ticket packages are available. Tickets for the film festival can be purchased online here.
As a supplement to the family-friendly Eco-Carnival, Foster said Seatuck will also host a Long Island-wide scavenger hunt and cleanup effort from April 22 to 25. Participants are encouraged to connect with nature by searching for native wildlife and plants, Foster said.
“We’ll provide instructional videos and a downloadable scavenger hunt card on our website, so no matter where you are, you can print it from home and go out into your neighborhood and participate,” Foster said.
In a safe, socially distant manner, families are also encouraged to pick up trash and clean up their community during the scavenger hunt, Foster said.
Both events are being sponsored and promoted by the Town of Islip.
“With Seatuck, there are so many different types of conservation projects, whether it’s wildlife restoration and rehabilitation or local cleanup efforts,” said Foster.
Seatuck manages the Scully Estate and South Shore Nature Center in East Islip, which is owned by the town.
In addition to Seatuck’s Eco-Carnival, the group has typically hosted its Bats & Brews Benefit each fall, which turned virtual in 2020. The fundraiser features local beers, live music, a presentation on bats, and a silent auction. In September 2020, Seatuck also hosted its Birding Challenge, which encouraged locals to search for as many birds as possible in a short period.
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