ABOUT THE EVENT: Brand new series! Introducing... Arts in the MetroParks featuring the Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Arts in the MetroParks is an art series competition with 2018's theme focused on the newly declared “Great Miami Riverway.” Artists and nature lovers from all over the Butler County community will have the chance to experience creative visions of the Great Miami River at the new River Center (120 South Carmody Blvd, Middletown, OH 45044) through various art mediums. Light refreshments will be available each night of the series with short environmental conservation films from the Wild & Scenic Film Festival delighting guests during the open houses.

NIGHT 3 FEATURE FILMS:

Coral Reef Rescue - An upbeat look at a downbeat topic, coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine species and protect the coastlines of more than 100 countries and provide 500 million people with jobs. They are also taking a huge hit from climate change, ocean acidification, and other pressures. The Mote Tropical Research Lab and the Coral Restoration Foundation’s ground breaking work with accelerating coral growth in the lab, creating nurseries in the ocean, and replanting back to the reefs is nothing less than fantastic. Their efforts creates hope for the future of sustainable coral reefs around the globe.

My Irnik - 2018 Kids Jury, Best Film; A young father teaches his son about the value of shared adventures, exploration and his ancestral Inuit heritage.

The Invisible Mammal: The Bat Rescuer - This is a story about the struggle that bats face to survive, specifically in North America, where white nose syndrome is causing sharp decline in populations of certain bat species. The Invisible Mammal also explores issues like climate change and habitat destruction, and the role that humans must take to save bats from extinction. In this first installment of The Invisible Mammal series, we meet The Bat Rescuer. Corky Quirk is the founder of NorCal Bats, an organization that provides care for injured bats and educational programs for libraries, schools, nature programs, fairs and other events throughout the region. Corky has been working intensely with native California bats since 2005 and has educated thousands of people. She works with injured and orphaned bats, returning them to the wild and keeps a captive colony of non-releasable bats for use in education.

Climbing Kilimanjaro: A 12 Year Old's Passion Project - Lilliana Libecki set a goal to reach all seven continents by 12 years old. With hard work, focus on school, and commitment, it was within reach. She heads to Africa to climb Kilimanjaro and finally complete this goal by reaching her seventh continent. She had no idea that this would lead her to focus on helping the planet and people, changing her life forever. “We need to be the change we want to see…In a world where we can be and do anything, be kind and do good.” -Lilliana Libecki

*Films begin at 6:00 p.m. For more information call (513) 867-5835.