Ithaca College

On Wednesday November 9, 7pm in Textor 102 on the Ithaca College Campus, the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, in collaboration with The School of Health Science and Human Performance, and the Roy H. Park School of Communications are proud to present… an evening with Scott Briscoe, featured Outdoorsman in the film “An American Ascent”.

AN AMERICAN ASCENT documents the first African-American expedition to tackle Denali (aka Mt. McKinley, North America's highest peak), while shedding light on the complex relationship many African-Americans have with the outdoors. As the United States transitions to a “minority majority” nation, a staggering number of people of color do not identify with America's wild places. By embarking on the grueling multi-week climb of 20,237ft Denali, nine African-American climbers try to bridge this “adventure gap” - challenging outdated notions of what adventure looks like by changing the face of America's biggest and baddest mountain on the 100th anniversary of its first summit.

Mr. Briscoe will share his stories and expertise in a 45 minute talk and Q&A  with the audience in conjunction with a screening of the one-hour film.  

Some background - this semester the Ithaca Seminar program is blessed by TWO courses that address the National Parks, outdoors, and diversity issues. Collaboration between these courses has resulted in this event

“Ithaca is Gorges: An Exploration of Our Public Land” taught by Professor Christopher Kinger  focuses on the rich natural resources of the Ithaca Area. With over 150 waterfalls in the area and many gorges, Ithaca is a prime example of natural beauty for all to enjoy.  This course focuses on the value of public lands and includes an overview of the benefits of recreation, the history and philosophy of the National Park Service, a survey of our Finger Lakes State Parks, and current issues on public lands, with visits of local public lands such as Buttermilk Falls State Park.

“Park Communication: Interpreting & navigating our nation’s natural & cultural resources” taught by Professor Ari Kissiloff explores The National Park Service which encompasses over 400 units across all 50 states and several US territories. They include recreational parks, museums, historical sites, protected lands; and celebrate the cultural, historical, and natural resources and their connections to U.S. history. Common to all of these are systematic signage, maps, graphic information systems, standards of video, and other multimedia presentations, as well as systems for interpretation of the resources either in the field or in a visitor center or other structures.  This course explores the history, present and future of communication & interpretation in the parks.

“American Ascent” (a film by GEORGE POTTER & ANDY ADKINS)

Awards and Significant Screenings

Selected for private White House screening event 6/26/2105

Winner: Best Documentary, San Diego Black Film Festival

Winner: Best Director, San Diego Black Film Festival

Winner: Best Feature, Film Festival Flix Mountain & Adventure Film Festival 2015

Winner: Best Documentary Roxbury Intl. Film Fest, Boston 2015

Winner: Best Film, Cleveland Urban Film Festival, 2015

Official Selection, American Black Film Festival, NYC 2015

Official Selection, Pan-African Film Festival, Los Angeles 2015

Official Selection, Festival International du Film Panafricain, Cannes 2015

Official Selection, Langston Hughes Film Festival, Seattle 2015

Official Selection, Oakland Int. Film Festival 2015

More at http://www.anamericanascent.com