What a powerful start to the Youth Environmental Leadership Camp (YELC) season!
At Splash, environmental education should be immersive, eye-opening, and, above all, fun. And this summer’s YELC campers are proving just how transformational hands-on learning can be.
From creek walks to climate talks, our rising 6th—and 7th-grade students spend their days learning about and living with nature.
Our camp runs for 4 weeks, M-F from 8:30 am-5:30 pm and is completely free (thanks to our funders) for campers. We take field trips daily to the locations every week. Each day of the camp is action-packed, and we repeat the camp each week with 15 new campers. The information below is just a list of some of the locations we visited. The camp wouldn’t work if we didn’t have the 18 business partners who gave their time to help us make this camp so amazing! THANK YOU!
Week One launched with a splash, literally. On Day 3, campers explored the journey of salmon at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, got hands-on with water quality testing in local creeks, and learned about habitat restoration and conservation tools with our friends at Soil Born Farms and cbec eco-engineering. It was a day full of science, discovery, and muddy shoes (the best kind!).
The adventure continued on Day 4, where campers delved into the world of wastewater and green jobs at the Sacramento Area Sewer District at the Echo Water Treatment Facility, composted and gardened at the Historic Nicolaus Dairy, and concluded the day with a tour of the Elder Creek Transfer Station, learning how everyday waste can be transformed into energy.
Week Two was just as incredible. On Friday, our campers visited the Cosumnes River Preserve to explore a restored habitat hosted by Westervelt Ecological Services and the Sacramento Valley Conservancy. They wrapped the week with a Planning Commission simulation, stepping into the shoes of local leaders debating real-world environmental scenarios.
And we can’t forget Day 2, when students explored renewable energy at the historic Folsom Powerhouse and then experimented with solar bugs, wind turbines, and good old-fashioned s’mores cooked entirely by the sun!
From field trips to hands-on STEM builds, YELC is more than just a camp. It serves as a training ground for our future environmental stewards. Campers build confidence, form new friendships, and see the world and their place in it through a brand-new lens.
“I didn’t know learning could be this fun!” one camper beamed after a full day of fieldwork.
We’re grateful to all our partners who made these experiences possible and our community of supporters who ensure this no-cost program remains accessible to youth across Sacramento.
Because of you, these students are empowered to lead, dream big, and protect the environment they now see as their own.