The Splash program began in February 1999 to fulfill two needs. One was the need of a consortium of water agencies to build awareness of Sacramento’s water resources and the public’s role in their protection. The other was the desire of Eva Butler, a local biologist, to encourage science education by introducing children to vernal pools and streams. Splash emerged from their common belief that nature inspires learning, and informed kids can help protect water and habitat.
In 1997, Eva began volunteering at Crocker Riverside Elementary to share the magic of vernal pools with her friend’s class of fifth graders. With funding from the consortium, a small team of local scientists and educators assembled to create two curricula to meet the complementary objectives of science education and water resource protection.
While the Splash classroom programs offer thousands of students a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience nature in our urban environment, we believe that kids deserve multiple opportunities to discover, explore, and connect to the living world around them.
Our series of public programs give children and their parents opportunities to explore the wildlands at Mather Field with local scientists who love sharing what they know about life in the great outdoors. These experiences at Splash can open eyes, warm hearts, and expand minds to possibilities for future pursuits.
For more details about the development of Sacramento Splash and its programs, please visit milestones in Splash history.
Carol is a botanist, which means she studies plants. Carol says, “Nature is a place to have fun and learn new things at the same time. Just pick a little spot and watch it for a while. Soon you will discover hundreds of little things going on in just that one little spot. Multiply that by thousands and thousands of little spots, and wow!”
