Logo courtesy of Sacramento Regional Community Foundation

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) — The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is inviting the community to support the care and expansion of its animal ambassador program during the region-wide Big Day of Giving on May 7.

Held each spring, Big Day of Giving is a 24-hour online fundraising event that brings together nonprofits across the Sacramento region. This year, the Nature Center is focusing its campaign on improving habitats and care for the animals that play a central role in its educational programs.

The effort comes as the Nature Center marks 50 years of connecting people to nature, culture and community along the American River Parkway.

“With grant-funded facility improvements already in motion, this is a critical moment to invest in the animal ambassadors at the heart of our programs,” said Greg Dewey, board president of the American River Natural History Association, which manages the Nature Center. “These upgrades will improve habitat quality, strengthen animal care and allow us to introduce and support more ambassadors for education and outreach.”

Planned improvements include upgrading the avian habitats with new perches and more spacious, secure and enriching environments for hawks, owls and other raptors; replacing the flooring in the Animal Husbandry facility to provide a safer, more hygienic space for both animals and staff; expanding the turtle habitat with a larger, more naturalistic area to thrive; purchasing new animal carriers to safely transport wildlife ambassadors for medical care, educational programs and other essential needs; and building new enclosures for snakes with improved habitats that better mimic their natural environments and allow for enhanced care.

Donors can double their impact this year. Thanks to our generous supporters — Peggy and Bruce Kennedy, the American River Rotary Club, and Rosemary Mayfield — all gifts made on May 7 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $22,000, making an even greater impact for our animals, programs and community.

In addition to these improvements, donations will support daily, high-quality animal care —   including specialized diets, enrichment activities that encourage natural behaviors, and ongoing veterinary care to monitor and support each animal’s health.

Animal ambassadors are a key part of the Nature Center’s programming, helping children and families connect with local wildlife through close-up learning experiences. Because many of these animals cannot survive in the wild due to injury or human impact, they serve as lifelong ambassadors — helping visitors understand the role each species plays in a healthy ecosystem. These encounters often serve as a first introduction to native species and the role they play in the region’s ecosystem.

“Animal ambassadors create moments that stay with people,” said Rachael Cowan, Interim Executive Director of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. “Whether it’s seeing a hawk up close or learning about a snake for the first time, those experiences spark curiosity and build a lasting connection to nature.”

Now is the perfect time to make an impact. As the Nature Center looks ahead, support from the community will help expand animal habitats, enhance care, and introduce new ambassadors in the years to come.

“As we celebrate 50 years, this is about building on that legacy,” Cowan said. “Community support will help sustain the care these animals depend on while continuing to educate and inspire future generations.”

Community members can participate in Big Day of Giving by making a donation on May 7 at https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/organization/effieyeaw.

About the Effie Yeaw Nature Center: Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, the Effie Yeaw Nature Center is where people of all ages and backgrounds connect with nature and with each other. As a community hub for environmental education along the American River Parkway, the Center sparks curiosity, nurtures stewardship, and shares the natural history and living cultural heritage of the land.

EYNC offers a museum, animal ambassadors, and a 100-acre Nature Study Area that showcases the region’s oak woodland and riparian habitat. EYNC is operated by the American River Natural History Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education and community engagement. Learn more at www.effieyeawnature.org.