Environmental Filmmaking for Scientific Literacy: Documenting Education and Stewardship at Hillside Farms

The Lands at Hillside Farms is a historic, non-profit dairy farm located in the anthracite coal region in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The four-hundred-acre farm is home to a herd of approximately fifty dairy cattle and a variety of educational animals, including pigs, goats, sheep, and equines. Hillside Farms, unlike industrial farms, is meant to be enjoyed by the public. Visitors are welcome to walk around the barns where the educational animals are kept, or the dairy parlor where the cows are milked. With this setup, visitors can clearly connect the food they purchase in the dairy store to the production process. Hillside staff are often stopped by visitors who have questions about the livestock, the land, or food production. These interactions indicate that people are open to learning about natural processes but don't necessarily have access to the information they need. I attended summer camp on the farm from the age of five until I was old enough to become a counselor and environmental educator. When teaching lessons and answering questions on the farm, I am always trying to find the best way to communicate complex processes to those who might not have a scientific background. I believe that one of the most effective ways to educate is through film. Documentary films serve as a great starting point for casual learners because they are engaging and couple information with emotion. Environmental filmmaking integrates sustainability, education, and the arts to communicate scientific data and processes to the general public. The goal is to present complex natural phenomena to viewers in an intriguing and digestible way to raise awareness or bring about change. Such films can enhance scientific literacy, including the ability to understand data, use evidence to support arguments, and ask questions. Scientific literacy is essential to making sound social, civic, and economic decisions. As the Culmination of my Seward Scholar's minor, Environmental Filmmaking for Scientific Literacy, I have created a documentary that examines Hillside Farms' education efforts and commitment to environmental stewardship.