There’s nothing like seeing the impact of our programs firsthand. We welcomed back 39 of our 60 Youth Environmental Leadership Campers in-person or virtually on Saturday, November 15th. They came back to share their memories and favorite moments from the camp, along with how many hours they volunteered and which organization they volunteered for. They also shared with us how they fundraised and where they donated their funds.
We had 4 sessions so that campers were comfortable presenting in front of friends and family, and it didn’t feel too scary. They all did such a fantastic job presenting to a large group, and through their jitters, they learned another new skill from our program. They knew what leadership actually is, because they were the ones who completed the entire program from start to finish! They got to hear some inspiring words about keeping our commitments and challenging ourselves to do scary things from CEO Mackenzie Wieser to kick off the day, followed by all the incredible stats from the Program Manager, Becky Milstrey.
By the Numbers:
- 40 YELC’ers submitted a presentation and/or reported their volunteering and fundraising (a 67% follow-through rate, making us very happy)
- $3,959 was raised and donated to 17 different like-minded organizations (NOT SPLASH).
- These amazingly creative campers used 20 different fundraising methods.
- Campers and camp candidates volunteered in the community for over 212 hours – plus the time their parents and siblings contributed!
- 61 Trees were planted.
- Over 50 bags of trash were collected, including all kinds of items from cigarette butts to a refrigerator.
- Many campers completed hours with invasive plant removal and planting natives.
- More than 55 lbs of acorns were harvested to be replanted and used in educational programs and community tree plantings.
- Campers also engaged in advocacy, butterfly counting, outreach and education, and the creation of bird box liners, among other innovative activities.
YELC is a summer camp program that runs for 4 weeks in June. It’s a FREE camp for campers to attend for one week, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., here at the Splash Science Center in Mather. The program is focused on building the next generation of Environmental Leaders who understand the complexities of climate change and its many facets, while also exposing them to a wide range of science careers through field trips to different infrastructure sites and environmentally-oriented organizations throughout the week. This program wouldn’t be possible without our business partners and sponsors, including: the City of Rancho Cordova Community Enhancement Fund, Sacramento Area Sewer District, SMUD, the City of Elk Grove, and more!