Ohio is leveraging IMAX technology to present a powerful narrative about its environmental revival. The documentary, titled Ohio: Wild at Heart, explores the state's acclaimed park system, spotlighting significant wildlife conservation efforts and the rejuvenating influence of engaging with the outdoors. Over the course of more than a year, a $2.5 million endeavor, financed through information and education funding, produced the film, which has garnered enthusiastic attention from audiences at science museums statewide. Plans are underway to integrate the documentary into educational settings beginning next year.
Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, refers to the film as "a love letter to the mission of protecting our natural resources and expanding opportunities to explore."
Ohio State football legend Archie Griffin provides narration, guiding viewers through expansive vistas that range from the lighthouse-adorned shores of Lake Erie in the northern region to the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Hocking Hills in the southern hills.
This portrayal of environmental resurgence is particularly poignant when considering the state's history. The infamous 1969 fire on Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, which helped ignite the modern environmental movement and led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, stands in stark contrast to more recent progress. For example, on the river’s 44th anniversary, fish populations were once again deemed safe for consumption.
The film also highlights additional environmental milestones. These include the successful relocation of rare trumpeter swans to Ohio marshes by a former Blackhawk helicopter pilot and the reinstatement of the bald eagle population through dedicated wildlife biology efforts. Ohio's Governor, Mike DeWine, alongside his wife Fran, is featured showcasing family-oriented nature trails, enhanced by pages from children’s storybooks labeled as "storybook trails."
A further emphasis of the documentary is on the mental health benefits derived from nature. One naturalist interviewed remarks, "People feel like you have to go far away to experience nature." Another volunteer adds, "We restore nature, nature restores us." Participants in various recreational activities—from hiking and kayaking to birdwatching, ice fishing, and dog sledding—share that these pursuits have helped them improve physical wellness, address feelings of isolation, and rebuild their self-confidence.
Videojournalist Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos contributed to this report.