It’s been a little over a year since Sacramento Audubon Society offered to cover the costs of Effie Yeaw Nature Center’s “Nature in Your Classroom” programs for Sacramento City Unified School District’s Title 1 elementary schools. All 41 Title 1 elementary schools within the district were contacted with our offer to sponsor either 2 in-person programs or 3 Zoom programs per school (35 students per program). 20 schools accepted, the majority choosing the in-person program. A total of 1,267 students participated in programs such as “Scales and Tales,” “Amazing Adaptations,” and “Raptors of the River.”

SAS chose Title 1 schools because they were most likely to need help with funding for extra-curricular activities. We tried to make the registration process hassle-free since teachers are usually so pressed for time. (A big “thank you” goes to Dorothy Wagner, the administrative assistant at Effie Yeaw Nature Center, who scheduled the programs.)

We’ve received many notes of appreciation from teachers. You can read the most recent, a letter from Mrs. Gee-Campbell of Tahoe Elementary. It demonstrates the impact these programs can have on students. We look forward to resuming this program in the fall and bringing more “Nature in Your Classroom” to the Title 1 schools in the region.