Sacramento Splash

🐝 It’s Wildlife Wednesday! Ever spotted those tiny, red-eyed visitors around your kitchen lately? That’s Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly! Often a nuisance, these little critters have actually shaped modern genetics and biomedical research. With a 7-10 day life cycle, they’re ideal for scientific study, helping us unlock the mysteries of DNA, heredity, cancer research, and even Alzheimer’s. Fruit flies have paved the way for groundbreaking discoveries that impact our health and future. So before you toss your pumpkin, take a moment to thank these science superheroes! 🧬 Ready to show generosity? Consider milestone ways to support Splash’s mission to inspire wonder about the natural world. Together, we can make a difference!

🌞 Last week at the Splash Center, we held a special teacher training workshop for new educators joining our Investigating Vernal Pools program this school year. 🐸🌱 For teachers new to our curriculum, this training is a must, equipping them with the best strategies to teach our 13 engaging lessons on vernal pools. The workshop helps build confidence as they prepare to introduce this unique subject to their students—many of whom have never explored vernal pool ecosystems before! We’re thrilled to welcome nine new teachers who will be guiding their students through these hands-on lessons and taking them on exciting field trips. Check out some highlights from last week’s training session! 📸 We’re so grateful for these dedicated educators and can’t wait to see the learning adventures they’ll lead!

🎃 Happy Halloween from Sacramento Splash! 🎃 Today, Nicolaus Dairy is alive with Halloween spirit as students and staff celebrate in creative costumes. Our dedicated team members have gone all out, dressing as farm animals to bring a touch of fun and learning to the day. From cows to chickens, our “barnyard staff” is making sure every student enjoys the Halloween festivities while connecting with nature and agriculture in a memorable way. Wishing everyone a safe, enjoyable Halloween! May it be filled with treats, learning, and laughter.

🎉 Welcome to Wildlife Wednesday – Halloween Edition! 🎉 This October, we’ve been showcasing critters that might make you squirm or even jump. But today, we’re spotlighting a creature that’s a little mischievous but not scary—perfect for Halloween! While we’re all scrambling for the perfect mask, this little rascal sports one year-round. Meet the Raccoon! The Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a medium-sized, gray-furred native of North and Central America. Known for its iconic black “mask,” this feature is more than adorable; it helps reduce glare and enhances night vision. Equipped with highly sensitive, hand-like paws, raccoons rely on touch to explore and find food. Ever heard the myth about raccoons “washing” their food? They’re actually “dousing” to amplify their sense of touch, especially when catching critters like crayfish. Urban raccoons, affectionately dubbed “Trash Pandas,” are especially clever, tackling obstacles like tricky trash bin lids with ease. But beware! Raccoons often create communal “latrines,” which may harbor roundworm parasites. So, practice “safe scat analysis” and steer clear of any scat encounters. And here’s a fun fact: President Calvin Coolidge had a pet raccoon, Rebecca, in the White House! Originally meant for Thanksgiving dinner, Rebecca joined an unusual pet lineup that included a bobcat and lion cubs. Enjoy the spirit of Halloween, but remember, don’t sniff or handle raccoon scat!

🌟 Honored to Receive the 2024 Outstanding Environmental Leadership and Education Award! 🌟 A heartfelt thank you to the Sacramento County Environmental Commission for recognizing Sacramento Splash with this prestigious award! This acknowledgment underscores our commitment to connecting young minds with the natural world. At Sacramento Splash, our team is deeply passionate about fostering a love for environmental science and outdoor learning. Our work goes beyond the classroom, helping students explore, understand, and value our planet’s precious ecosystems. Together, we’re inspiring a generation that respects and protects our 🌎. We’ll continue pressing forward to ensure future generations have access to meaningful, hands-on environmental education. Thank you for believing in our mission!

Mr. Lou, a passionate third-grade science teacher, loves seeing his students’ excitement when they visit Project AWE at Nicolaus Dairy. The hands-on learning experience helps his students make real-world connections to their science lessons, igniting a deeper curiosity about nature. 🌿📚 It’s teachers like Mr. Lou who make the difference in their students’ lives by fostering a love for the environment and science through outdoor education. 🌎✨

🌿 Flora Friday: Uncover the Mystery of White Hyacinth 🌿 For this week’s Flora Friday, we present the White Hyacinth (Triteleia hyacinthina), an elegant yet mysterious member of the lily family. These perennials spend years gathering energy underground before producing a tall stalk of delicate white flowers. By the time they bloom, their grass-like leaves have already dried up, leaving a leafless stem topped with a cluster of ghostly blooms. 🌸 Ecology Insight: These flowers are beetle-pollinated, and their bulbs serve as an important food source for burrowing rodents like Botta’s Pocket Gophers. Native Americans also valued these nutty-flavored bulbs for food. Explore the hidden mysteries of the White Hyacinth, and dive into the intricate connections between plants, animals, and history in the grasslands.

Thank you SMUD for being such a great partner of Splash & all you do to support our programming Mackenzie Wieser Gina Fleming Shonda Moore Eugene Lee Obadiah Bartholomy Melanie Harrison Okoro, Ph.D. Allie Dumas Khaim Morton Chloe Grinberg

🌟 We couldn’t agree more, Mackenzie! Sacramento is truly better when we come together as a community. At Sacramento Splash, we are continuously inspired by the region's incredible leaders who share the same passion for making a positive impact. 🌍 A special thanks to SMUD for hosting the Sustainable Communities Summit 2024 and for your ongoing support to Splash and many others. Your commitment to sustainability and community is remarkable! Seeing so many familiar faces in person and reconnecting with the amazing minds working to elevate Sacramento was wonderful. Let’s keep finding ways to support each other and build a brighter future for all. 💡

Jasmine first visited Splash as a 3rd grader, and now she’s back in 5th grade! During her return to Project AWE at Nicolaus Dairy, she’s excited to explore the vernal pools again and deepen her understanding of the natural world. 🐸💧 It’s inspiring to see students like Jasmine grow through our programs, strengthening their connection to nature and continuing their love for science. 🌱💙