Image courtesy Paul Frederick Productions

A Wild Idea: The Birth of the Adirondack Park Agency | Watch & Wonder Weekly Highlight

Wednesday, August 16, 2 PM

For next week’s Watch & Wonder Highlight, we’re thrilled to feature the film A Wild Idea: The Birth of the Adirondack Park Agency. After watching, dive deeper with resources about the early origins of New York’s Adirondack Park and the creation of the Adirondack Park Agency on PBS LearningMedia.

New York’s Adirondack Park is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Great Smokies National Parks combined. It is one of the largest unbroken deciduous forests on earth. Most of the land within the park is privately owned, and 85 million people live within a day’s drive. A Wild Idea explores the founding of the Adirondack Park Agency 50 years ago.

PBS LearningMedia

A Wild Idea: The Birth of the Adirondack Park Agency collection

Grades 6-12
A Wild Idea: The Birth of the Adirondack Park Agency examines the early origins of New York’s Adirondack Park and the creation of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA). The Adirondack Park is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks combined. Using archival footage, the film examines the challenges to the creation of the APA and its role in the preservation and management of the Adirondack Park, one of the most ambitious land-use planning conservation efforts ever undertaken.

In school or at home, take advantage of the Watch & Wonder broadcast schedule. Running each weekday from 1-3 PM, Watch & Wonder is great for classroom viewing, distance instruction, and families looking to spend some extra, quality time together. Featured programs are ideal for kids in grades 6-12, encouraging creativity with the arts, kick starting innovation through STEM, and expanding their horizons with stories from across the globe!

Each week, we’ll highlight a show from our Watch & Wonder block, and share a PBS LearningMedia resource — suitable for middle and high school students. Follow along on the Watch & Wonder Schedule page, or subscribe to our newsletter!