Sacramento Splash’s Splash in the Class (SITC) program has become a critical component of environmental education for students in the Sacramento region. It immerses young learners in hands-on lessons about water quality, pollution prevention, and the ecosystems in local streams. With over 80,000 students reached since its inception, SITC has fostered a generation of environmentally conscious youth who actively protect their natural surroundings.
David Rosen, the program director, explains SITC’s foundational mission: “Our presentations focus on stream life, stormwater quality, and pollution prevention for grades 3-6. It’s a fun way to teach students how to protect the water and habitats where they live.” Through interactive lessons, children learn the importance of maintaining clean water and gain simple, actionable steps to prevent pollution from urban runoff.
“When stormwater flows over hard surfaces, it picks up pollutants like motor oil, soap, and trash. That runoff eventually flows into our rivers, lakes, and oceans,” Rosen adds, illustrating how SITC educates students to become part of the solution.
Origins and Alignment with Splash’s Mission
The origins of SITC are deeply rooted in public service. The program began with the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (DOU) and the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership (SSQP) in response to state stormwater permit requirements that included an educational component. The DOU developed SITC to teach students in grades 3-6 about stormwater pollution, empowering them to take action in reducing urban runoff.
“Over 15 years ago, the DOU contracted with Sacramento Splash to make the presentation more engaging and to expand its reach across Sacramento County,” Rosen shares. This partnership allowed Splash to take the helm, enhancing the educational experience and aligning it with Splash’s mission to “help children understand and value our natural world.” In addition, in 2017, Splash extended the program into El Dorado County and has since contracted with the City of Elk Grove, delivering around 225 presentations yearly to over 6,500 students.
“Through the SITC presentations, students learn new ways to prevent pollution and understand that they can play an active role in protecting the cool plants and animals they learned about in the presentation,” says Rosen. This connection between knowledge and action is at the heart of Splash’s vision: “A generation of children who value the natural world and take an active role in its protection.“
An Interactive Approach that Resonates
The interactive nature of SITC sets it apart. “We start by teaching students about stream life, focusing on the amazing adaptations of stream creatures, and everything is tied together by showing how interconnected these species are in a complex food web,” Rosen explains. This approach educates and emotionally connects students to the ecosystem, encouraging them to protect the environments they’ve come to appreciate.
One standout feature of the program is a hands-on pollution activity that illustrates how pollutants like motor oil and soap affect local water quality. Students place pollutant labels on a cartoon neighborhood and then visually witness how these pollutants accumulate in a model water jug representing a stream. This demonstration has a powerful impact on students, reinforcing the tangible effects of pollution.
Challenges and Future Growth
Despite SITC’s success, Rosen acknowledges the program’s funding and capacity challenges. “We’re grateful for the demand, but unfortunately, we can’t accommodate all the requests we get each year,” he admits. SITC currently operates under contracts with the City of Sacramento, El Dorado County, and Elk Grove, but limited resources mean many schools end up on waiting lists.
Rosen hopes that continued community support can help bridge this gap. Donations made through Sacramento Splash’s website or during events like the Big Day of Giving contribute directly to expanding the reach of SITC, allowing more students to benefit from the program.
Looking forward, Rosen is excited about evolving the program further. “We always strive to make our programming the best it can be. Since so few children have opportunities to explore nature these days, we’d love to develop more classroom presentations to bring nature to kids who otherwise wouldn’t experience it,” he says. By blending scientific learning with emotional connection, SITC continues to inspire future environmental advocates.
Call to Action: How Readers Can Help Spread the Word
Readers can play a significant role in helping SITC reach more schools and communities. If you know a teacher, tell them about Splash and our programs. Even though SITC is currently operating at capacity for many schools, there’s always a chance a new class can be squeezed into the schedule. At the very least, teachers can get on the waiting list for early scheduling next school year! Your support in spreading the word will help extend SITC’s reach and ensure that more students can benefit from this transformative experience.
Through SITC, Sacramento Splash aims to equip students with the knowledge and motivation to protect the environment—starting with their backyards and communities. With the community’s help, SITC will continue to educate and empower young minds to take action for the natural world.