ORLANDO, Fla. (April 8, 2026) — WUCF will host a free community screening and conversation this Earth Month, bringing the ideas behind Henry David Thoreau into a Central Florida setting.
On Thursday, April 16, from 10–11:30 a.m. at Mead Botanical Garden, WUCF invites the community to experience the film in a place that reflects its themes — through a screening of selected clips followed by a live discussion.
The event is part of a broader, grant-supported initiative that enables WUCF to extend the impact of the documentary beyond broadcast. WUCF received funding through a national grant from WETA, with support from multiple foundations, to bring the film into the community and develop related educational resources.
“This support allows us to take a national program and make it meaningful at the local level,” said Jennifer Cook, executive director of WUCF. “It’s about creating opportunities for our community to engage with these ideas in ways that feel relevant to their own lives and surroundings.”
Part of Mead Garden’s Life Explorers Speaker Series, the April 16 event will feature selected clips from the new PBS documentary Henry David Thoreau, followed by a live panel discussion connecting the writer’s reflections on nature and intentional living to Central Florida’s wetlands, springs and native habitats.
Local voices will guide the conversation, including WUCF Community Education Manager Chris Doucette; Sarafaith Pekor, founder of Seeds of Inclusion; and Dr. Brooke Rudow, assistant professor of philosophy and humanities at the University of Central Florida. Together, they will connect Henry David Thoreau’s experiences at Walden Pond and in the Maine woods to Central Florida, inviting attendees to engage with the natural world through noticing, wondering and reflecting.
“This is where the ideas start to land differently,” Doucette said. “When you’re sitting in a place like Mead Garden, you’re not just hearing about Thoreau. You’re in the kind of environment he was asking people to pay attention to. Once you start noticing more, it’s hard to stop.”
The event builds on WUCF’s recent broadcast of Henry David Thoreau, a three-part documentary executive produced by Ken Burns and Don Henley. Directed by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers, the film explores the life of the 19th-century writer, naturalist and social thinker, with a focus on his humanity, environmentalism and living deliberately. It features narration by George Clooney and Jeff Goldblum.
The documentary aired on WUCF March 30 and 31 and is available for streaming through the PBS App and on PBS.org.
As part of this effort, WUCF has developed resources for children and caregivers that bring these ideas into everyday life. The materials are designed for families to use together, encouraging noticing, wondering and reflecting in familiar environments — helping extend the experience beyond the event.
These resources introduce families to Thoreau's belief in living deliberately and include a field guide, hands-on activities and a journal. They will be distributed nationwide and are available at wucf.org/Thoreau.
The April 16 event also marks the start of WUCF’s Earth Month engagement, inviting audiences to connect more intentionally with the natural world and their local communities.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration details are available at http://wucf.org/Thoreau or directly at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986328752770?aff=oddtdtcreator
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About WUCF: WUCF serves as the region’s trusted source for educational programming, arts, culture and local storytelling. As Central Florida’s only PBS affiliate and home for jazz, WUCF offers free, accessible content that enriches lives, fosters curiosity and strengthens the community. Guided by the mission “We Change Lives,” WUCF is committed to connecting, inspiring and empowering audiences across all platforms. To explore WUCF’s impact and programming, visit www.wucf.org.
Major funding for HENRY DAVID THOREAU was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members: The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment and Mark A. Tracy. Major funding was also provided by Jeff Skoll, the Mansueto Foundation, Tyson Foods, Inc., and The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Additional funding was provided by the Tyson Family Foundation Inc, The Neil and Anna Rasmussen Foundation, Roxanne Quimby Foundation Inc, Jim and Mona Mylen through The HeartSpace Fund, and Elizabeth Kenny.
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Christine Dellert Mullon
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