Sandpoint Student Adventure Club Hosts Film Festival Fundraiser for Idaho Conservation Trip to Dominican Republic
Sandpoint Students Raise Funds for Seventh Year of Marine Conservation Travel
SANDPOINT, Idaho — The Sandpoint Area Students Outdoor Adventure Club is bringing ocean conservation to the big screen, hosting a screening of the Trees & Seas Film Festival at the Heartwood Center in Sandpoint to raise funds for an upcoming marine restoration trip to the Dominican Republic.
The event, held at 615 Oak St. in Sandpoint, opened its doors at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, with the screening beginning at 7 p.m. Admission was set at a suggested donation of $20, with all proceeds supporting the student group’s travel costs and conservation work abroad.
The Trees & Seas Film Festival features conservation-themed films from around the world, with a particular focus on ocean ecosystems. The festival’s lineup highlights how coastal communities are working to restore coral reefs and mangrove forests, while also examining the environmental pressures brought on by tourism and human activity in fragile marine environments.
Beyond the film screening, attendees were invited to participate in a silent auction and raffle, providing additional fundraising opportunities for the club’s students. Community members interested in supporting the group’s mission were encouraged to take part in both activities, helping cover the travel and project expenses that come with international conservation work.
Seventh Year of Student Conservation Trips Reflects Community Commitment
The 2026 trip to the Dominican Republic will mark the seventh consecutive year that local Sandpoint students have traveled for hands-on conservation work. Previous trips have taken students to the Dominican Republic as well as Belize, where participants have engaged in marine restoration projects alongside coastal communities working to protect and rebuild their natural environments.
The program reflects a broader tradition in North Idaho of encouraging young people to take an active role in understanding and preserving natural ecosystems — values that align closely with the community’s deep connection to the outdoors, from Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirk Mountains to rivers and forests throughout Bonner County.
Bringing internationally curated conservation films to a local venue like the Heartwood Center gives Sandpoint-area residents a window into global environmental challenges, while directly supporting the next generation of students who are gaining firsthand experience in the field. For families and community members who value outdoor education and responsible stewardship of natural resources, events like this offer a meaningful way to invest locally in student travel and experiential learning.
Those interested in outdoor and conservation programming in the Sandpoint area may also want to note an upcoming Women in the Woods Field Day scheduled for May 8 in Sandpoint, offering another opportunity for community members to engage with North Idaho’s outdoor heritage.
The club’s fundraising model — combining a public film event with a silent auction and raffle — is designed to broaden community participation beyond a single ticket sale. Similar community-supported fundraising approaches have been used by organizations across North Idaho, including the NIC Foundation’s Really BIG Raffle, which has an early bird deadline of April 30.
What Comes Next
The Sandpoint Area Students Outdoor Adventure Club’s 2026 conservation trip to the Dominican Republic is expected to take place later this year, continuing the program’s seven-year track record of student involvement in marine restoration projects. Community members seeking additional information about the club can visit its Facebook page. More details on the Trees & Seas Film Festival, including its broader programming and mission, are available at treesandseasfilmfestival.com. Residents who were unable to attend Friday’s event but wish to support the students’ conservation efforts are encouraged to reach out through the club’s social media channels for future fundraising opportunities.