TUPPER LAKE — The Wild Center has been awarded a 2026 Conservation and Community Interpretive Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership to produce a new version of its original “The Wild Adirondacks,” a major update to the museum’s signature film.

Premiering May 1 in the William H. Flammer Panorama Theater, the project marks the Wild Center’s 20th anniversary by reuniting the original 2006 creative team to deliver a cinematic experience with four times the visual resolution of the original production.

The 17-minute film features all-new imagery from renowned photographer Carl Heilman II, spanning over two decades of work. Using a combination of breathtaking time-lapses and still photography, the film takes viewers from the rugged Adirondack High Peaks to the serene rivers and streams that define the region. Original composer Lance Day has returned to remaster the original score for the updated experience.

“The original film has amazed so many visitors since opening in 2006,” said Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of The Wild Center. “Reuniting with Carl Heilman and Lance Day for this new version allows us to bring fresh, breathtaking imagery to the screen and celebrate the Adirondacks in a new way. It’s the perfect way to begin celebrating twenty years of The Wild Center.”

“The Wild Adirondacks” update is a cornerstone of The Wild Center’s anniversary celebration. While the film debuts in May, the public is invited to a special 20th Anniversary Celebration on July 11. More information on that is available at tinyurl.com/4szcx26u. This event will be free and open to the public, featuring a highlight of the new film and a celebration of the museum’s two decades in Tupper Lake.

Funding for this project came from a 2026 Conservation and Community Interpretive Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States National Park Service under assistance agreement in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

For more information on the film and the upcoming 20th anniversary events, visit wildcenter.org/20th-anniversary.