By Jordan Howes, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy

Mark your calendars for an evening that celebrates one of West Virginia’s most significant conservation victories and the woman who helped make it possible. The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy (WVHC), in partnership with Friends of the 500th, will host three special film screenings on Saturday, March 21 and Saturday, March 28, at 6 p.m. at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Davis, and on Wednesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. at the Media Innovation Center at West Virginia University’s Evansdale Crossing.

The featured short documentary, Dolly Sods and the Legacy of Helen McGinnis, directed by West Virginia filmmaker Clara Haizlett, tells the story of Helen McGinnis and her determined efforts to secure federal wilderness designation for Dolly Sods Wilderness. At the time, the U.S. Forest Service’s “purity doctrine” argued that land damaged by logging, fire and wartime use was ineligible for protection. Through meticulous documentation and steadfast advocacy alongside fellow conservation leaders, McGinnis helped overturn that long-standing policy.

The breakthrough came in 1975 with passage of the Eastern Wilderness Act, which designated Dolly Sods as one of West Virginia’s first federally protected wilderness areas. The victory reshaped wilderness policy nationwide, proving that scarred landscapes could be restored and permanently protected for future generations. Today, more than 40,000 visitors each year experience Dolly Sods’ sweeping vistas and quiet backcountry, and WVHC continues that legacy of stewardship through partnerships such as its work with the Monongahela National Forest to support the Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards program.

The upcoming showings not only reflect that history but also highlight the deeply personal connections that fuel conservation work. In addition to the featured documentary, attendees will see Mother Daughter Earth, an award-winning film by Julia Huffman. The film explores Huffman’s relationship with her mother, Beth Little — a former WVHC board member — weaving together themes of memory, legacy, and the powerful influence of Appalachia on their lives.

Following the screening on March 21, Helen McGinnis will participate in a panel discussion and audience Q&A, offering guests the opportunity to hear firsthand about the campaign that helped secure lasting protections for Dolly Sods. As the community reflects on more than five decades since the wilderness designation, the evening serves as both a celebration of progress and a renewed commitment to ensuring West Virginia’s natural heritage remains wild and resilient for the next fifty years and beyond.