At Sacramento Splash, summer means something special: the return of the Youth Environmental Leadership Camp (YELC). This no-cost, week-long adventure for rising 6th and 7th graders isn’t just a camp—it’s a life-shaping week that we hope will inspire each camper’s journey into environmental careers or stewardship.
Ask anyone on the Splash team what makes YELC different, and they’ll point you to Becky Milstrey, Director of Operations. Becky has helped direct and manage the camp since its inception, and she lights up when talking about its impact on young minds.
“It’s a place where kids have fun learning, become more aware of the world around them, and start to see themselves as environmental leaders,” Becky explains. “They learn about how humans impact nature and discover simple, meaningful ways they can help in their communities.“
Each day has field trips, environmental exploration, and real-world learning opportunities. But YELC is more than just a science program. It’s a place where confidence grows, friendships blossom, and young leaders emerge.
“We’ve had students who started the week too shy to speak, and by Friday, they were chatting with our CEO, sharing their favorite music,” Becky recalls. “One year, kids were so bonded they fell asleep on each other’s shoulders on the ride home, and cried when they had to leave on Friday!“
Inclusivity is central to YELC’s success. Whether accommodating neurodiverse students, supporting youth exploring their identities, or simply creating a space where everyone feels seen and valued, Becky and the Splash team focus on meeting each student exactly where they are.
“Our campers feel safe to be themselves. That’s where growth happens.“
Thanks to strong community partnerships from field trip hosts, where children are exposed to real-life scientists in their chosen field. YELC provides more than just experiences. It models real collaboration and introduces campers to career pathways in environmental science they may never have considered.
“We’re planting seeds,” Becky says. “And we’re watching those seeds grow into students who care deeply about their world and want to give back.“
With camp starting this June, the team is excited to welcome a new group of young environmental leaders and grateful to the parents who’ve already shown strong engagement.
“We love seeing how much families value what YELC offers. It helps us create something compelling together.“
This program is a 4-week camp with each week hosting 15 new campers, so the entire program hosts 60 kids. We released applications for the camp in February and campers had 2 months to complete one of their 2 volunteering commitments in order to receive preference into the program. In late April campers were informed if they were selected into the camp, and we have 60 excited campers ready to go for June 2025.
We cannot wait to meet the campers and witness the friendships forming and the lessons learned, YELC continues to prove that when young people connect with nature, they don’t just grow. They thrive. If you didn’t get selected to attend this year’s YELC you should apply again next year if your child is going to be in 7th grade. If you didn’t know about YELC you should calendar a note to check in with us in February 2026 for our application opening for next summer.
We cannot wait to share our 2025 YELC experiences with you all in June!
Click here to learn more about YELC and how to support future sessions.