The Splash Education Center at Mather Field

The Splash Education Center at Mather Field

The Splash Education Center is a private facility that houses Sacramento Splash and the Sacramento Valley Conservancy. The building is centrally located at Mather Field, facilitating exploration of more than 1,000 acres of high-quality vernal pool grasslands that surround it.

The Center hosts class trips for schools that participate in the Splash Elementary Program. It also serves as a meeting facility for organizations working on issues related to science education, natural resource conservation, watershed management, and connecting youth to the outdoors. Members of the Splash Club also gather at the Center to advance their scientific investigations and explore the animal and plant inhabitants of Mather Field.

The facility is open to the public several times each year for public events including Splash’s Nature in the Neighborhood programs and the Vernal Pool Flower Walks led by volunteers from the California Native Plant Society.

History of the Splash Education Center

The Splash Education Center is one of many buildings at Mather Field that once served the Air Force and its military community. Over the years, it has housed a convenience store, the Mather Credit Union, and more recently, the sales office of the Independence at Mather developer that converted the military’s family housing units into new homes. The building is currently owned by Sacramento County and leased for use by the Splash program.

History of Mather Field

Vernal pools were once common in the grasslands around Sacramento, especially in the vicinity of Mather Field. The vast majority of pools have since disappeared under the plow or in the wake of expanding urban development. Experts estimate that we now see fewer than 10 percent of the vernal pools that existed in California in John Sutter’s time.

Directions to the Splash Education Center

4426 Excelsior Road
Mather, CA 95655

Phone: (916) 364-2437
Fax: (916) 364-1367

Please be advised: Splash does not maintain regular business hours.  If you'd like to visit, please join us for an upcoming event .

Click here for driving directions.
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Sacramento Splash - Helping children understand and value their natural world picture
Meet Rosie Robles, Splash Club Volunteer

Rosie volunteers to help coordinate and recruit for Splash Club meetings. She spreads the word about upcoming Splash Club meetings to her friends, co-workers, and people at her church. This may not seem like much, but telling your friends about Splash is one of the most important things you can do to help.

Find out why Rosie volunteers for Splash.