The Friends of the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) are bringing back its popular quarterly conservation themed lecture series, beginning later this month just before Christmas.

The world premiere of “The Power of One Voice: A 50 year Perspective on the Life of Rachel Carson,” will be held as the first event of the series on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The event will feature a screening of the film, followed by a question and answer period with filmmaker Mark Dixon.

Mark Dixon is also known for other conservation related films such as, the muliti award-winning “Y.E.R.T, Your Environmental Road Trip,” which was shown as part of Shepherdstown’s annual American Conservation Film Festival in 2012.

In a release on the film, NCTC wild life historian Mark Madison described the films content.

“Carson’s life, conflict, and legacy from those who her best,” he said.

According to NCTC, Carson is known as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century for “challenging unrestrained poisoning of the earth,” in a book she authored called “Silver Spring.”

According to Friends of NCTC board chair Betty Beckley, the lecture series return is a highly anticipated celebration for the friends group.

Established in 1997, Beckley said the Friends of NCTC have been unable to carry out the very popular, series for more than three years nows due to federal budget affecting NCTC’s funding.

Beckley described this as “discouraging,” for both the group and the public.

“We want people to know it’s back,” she said.

Beckley said the “friends” group mission is to support the work of NCTC, with community outreach and educational programs.

“One of the most important things we do is try to spread educational tools,” she said.

The Friends of NCTC administer a scholarship program to help national wildlife refuge volunteers/students from all over the country attend training courses at NCTC.

The lecture series is one example of the community outreach programming that the “friends group” is known for, which also includes things road clean up service projects and conservation landscaping activities.

“We would really like to encourage people to become more active in the organization,” she said.

She said the lecture series will include work and discussion from writers, historians, conversation experts and scientists who are respected in the fields.

“We hope to have nationally known speakers,” she said.

The film will be shown at NCTC’s Byrd Auditorium, 698 Conservation Way.

More information about the Friends of NCTC can be found by visiting the web site at: www.friendsofnctc.org/ or on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/friendsofnctc.

Or contact info@friendsofnctc.org. More information about the first film can be found by visiting its web site at powerofonevoicefilm.com/.

Beckley said the “friends” group has already begun making plans for the second lecture event to take place some time in March. Details have not been worked out yet, but Beckley said the subject will likely be related to the monarch butterfly.

All Friends of NCTC lecture events are free and open to the public. The first event begins at 7 p.m.