YELC is an immersive summer program for incoming 6th and 7th-grade students (currently 5th and 6th graders) which focuses on water quality and management, energy and transportation, land use and natural habitats, consumption and waste management, air quality, and climate change. The program is open to students in the Sacramento region who are already interested in the environment and are eager to expand their knowledge through fun, hands-on learning!
It might be hard to believe, but this program is FREE for campers! Thanks to our generous sponsors and our many partners, we can provide this program at no cost to participants. Our partners supporting this program include the City of Rancho Cordova, Regional San, SMUD, County of Sacramento, Paratransit Inc., Westervelt Ecological Services, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, CBEC Engineering, Soil Born Farms, Stillwater Sciences, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Republic Services, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, MAAS Energy Works, Van Warmerdam Dairy, Nicolaus Dairy, Sac Tree Foundation…just to name a few! We couldn’t put this camp on without the very many willing partners who make this camp truly a unique opportunity.
Campers will attend a one-week camp session Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-5:30 pm. Each day, we’ll take field trips to local sites for hands-on and guided experiences related to the topics listed above. Campers will sample and collect data, as well as gain experience using some of the tools and materials that scientists and engineers use in their work. Each day, the campers will engage with professional scientists, engineers, and others working in environmental protection activities. They’ll also do some hands-on activities at the Splash Center.
The learning and engagement don’t stop after the one-week camp session ends! Campers will have the opportunity to sign up for at least two volunteer events with local organizations aligned with YELC’s mission. These volunteer events include things like creek/river cleanups, neighborhood cleanups, and tree planting events! Each YELC camper will present their experience to fellow campers in November 2023.
We hope to help these students become aware of the myriad of job opportunities in conservation, resource management, and environmental science. And, in typical Splash fashion, we’ll make it extremely engaging and fun for the students! Last year’s YELC campers were asked if they would want to return to camp again next year? And an overwhelming 98.8% said YES, they wanted to sign up again! (Sadly, they won’t be able to return because it’s the same camp and the purpose is to reach as many youth as we possibly can with this amazing experience.) We hope you will sign up quickly, so that we can inform the selected students in a timely fashion. Don’t forget – we only have space for 60 campers this summer!
Below are the dates for each 2023 YELC Session:
● June 5th – 9th
● June 12th – 16th
● June 19th – 23rd
● June 26th – 30th
To learn more and apply, starting on March 15th, for the Youth Environmental Leadership Camp, click on the button!
Learn More & Apply