In honor of Earth Day 2020, the Amazon Aid Foundation, in partnership with Journeys In Film, is initiating a free two-week online release of its award winning documentary film "River of Gold," accompanied by its middle and high school curriculum, and educational support materials. From science and environmental studies to art and music, Amazon Aid Foundation’s Common Core certified curriculum is inspiring and wide-reaching. The two-week access concludes with a Q+A live video panel with The Godfather of Biodiversity Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, and Amazon Aid Founder Sarah duPont. 

“Teachers across the country are adjusting to distance learning,” notes AAF Founder Sarah duPont. “We want to help their efforts by providing everything we’ve developed to engage students with grade-specific creative and scientifically robust activities. Teachers can implement some or all grade-specific, common Core Coursework into their virtual classrooms at no cost. We are honored to partner with Journeys In Film to make this possible.” 

"River of Gold" documents the environmental degradation and deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest through illicit and unregulated gold mining. The goal through the film and curriculum is to provide an educational opportunity to empower and inspire positive change to save the Amazon and world’s forests. The activities and lesson plans are available to all educators, from entire school systems to parents who homeschool their children.

Here’s how to sign up and get involved:

• Sign up at amazonaid.org/screening to get access to the film.
• Access Amazon Aid Foundation’s free River of Gold middle and high school curriculum at amazonaid.org/curriculum or journeysinfilm.org/download/river-of-gold.
• Get students excited about becoming Amazon Aid Warriors.
• Engage classes in a musical experience by learning the Amazon Aid’s Anthem for the Amazon. 
• Change the world through the arts by becoming an Amazon Aid Artist for the Amazon.
• Send us any and all questions about ideas for class implementation and how to screen with Zoom or Google Classroom to info@amazonaid.org or info@journeysinfilm.org.

“The recent abrupt halt to our busy lives have affected us in many ways, leading us into unfamiliar and uncharted territory,” comments duPont. “Yet within this turmoil lies new ways of thinking that can inspire positive and better ways for living together in unity. Humans have great capacities for courage, tenacity, and innovation, especially during precarious and difficult times when new pathways must be built. As our planet becomes more compromised with climate change, perhaps this moment is a crossroads for us to begin to move toward a sustainable future.”