NonProfit NewsPod: Sacramento Splash Is Having a Backyard Bash

Jeff Holden: [00:00:00] Welcome to this Nonprofit Podcast NewsPod, where we amplify the voices of nonprofit leaders making a difference in their communities. I'm joined by Gina Fleming, director of development at Sacramento Splash. We're going to be sharing some news about an event that's coming up that's a bit unique, and this year, its second year, has some very special guests.

Gina, welcome. 

Gina Fleming: Thank you, Jeff. Great to be here. 

Jeff Holden: I can't wait to talk about what's happening. So Sacramento Splash is in its 27th year now, and it's really made a mark in the community in so many ways. I mean, you're actually impacting second and third, maybe even fourth generations of kids and families.

Would you give us a brief overview of what it is the organization does? 

Gina Fleming: Yeah. So we're really excited that this event is getting [00:01:00] more people out there, and basically we're delivering hands-on, science-based education programs centered around environment to elementary school kids. And we're just hoping to reach all the children.

To date, our impact report just came out, and we have connected with 240,000 kids thus far in those 27 years. So we have so many more to go, and we're so excited to keep reaching these kids. But it's such an impressive number thus far. And in our last year, the 2025-2026 school year, we reached just below 20,000 kids.

So we're very excited. The problem right now is that kids basically are on their devices all the time. So as they're on their devices, as they're on concrete, just mental health and wellness is declining a bit. And so we're trying to get them out in nature, understand what it is that nature provides for them, how they can protect it, value it.

And we have seven different programs that allow the kids to come out and do just that. Four of [00:02:00] them actually are within the school year, so two outdoor field trips, and then there's two in-class presentations as well. They go-- They learn everything based off of vernal pools, sustainable farming, trash talk, understanding recycling and how it helps the environment, and then also stormwater pollution.

So the water from the Sierras all the way down to the ocean, how they can protect that. And we're really excited to make sure they understand so they can also deliver it to the next generations below them. We also have a leadership camp. So Youth Environmental Leadership Camp happens every June. This is now we're getting a little bit into middle school, so incoming sixth and seventh graders, and they can understand what it is they can do when they grow up in this industry.

So as they move on to high school, how they can begin to study, volunteer, understand a little bit more where they can be when they wanna grow up. So it's, it's, it's a pretty impactful organization. We're excited also, public tours every spring. Everybody, parents, [00:03:00] grandparents, the kids as well, they can come out and see the two really impressive timeframes of the vernal pools, which is the wet and the flowering phase.

Such a beautiful thing. If you've-- nobody's done it yet, please come out. Tickets go on sale in February, and it's so beautiful. Um, and then we also do private tours for Girl Scouts, different organizations, companies, groups, based off of request. And our, our most-- For me, the most impressive thing is that we Last year, 52% of our classes were Title I schools, which is awesome.

We're trying to get up into the 60s, 70s, 80s percentile on that because these are just kids that get these great experiences that might not otherwise. So we're continuing to build that as we continue to sustain our funding. 

Jeff Holden: And I'm glad you mentioned vernal pools, because the first time I heard the word vernal pools was from Mackenzie when we did the episode for Sacramento Splash a little over a year and a half ago.

It was like, "Oh, that's what those are." Yep. That's why they're so significant. That's the [00:04:00] importance. And- 

Gina Fleming: And that's our, that's our 

Jeff Holden: legacy ... yeah, getting, and getting these kids out of the, the classroom to really experience things that I, again, had no idea that they didn't. They don't know that we have a river running through the center of the city or, you know, mountains with snow.

And in many cases, they could be even in high school and have never experienced anything out of that circle of geography that they live within. 

Gina Fleming: Yes, and it's so impressive to me. I don't always get out to the field trips, but I try to make my way a few times in the year, and kids don't know what a cherry tomato is.

Kids have never held a shovel to do any kind of digging or playing in the dirt. It, it's shocking. So it's so impactful for us when we see this to continue our mission and to continue to keep telling people more and more about it so we can help the youth and generations below them and as the generations come up.

So it's really important. 

Jeff Holden: Well, let's talk a little bit about that, that sustainability, because you have a fundraiser coming [00:05:00] up, and it's, it's a little bit different. It takes place literally in somebody's backyard, a big backyard On the river, surrounded by nature. And I think what's more important than that is who's gonna be attending this year.

So tell us a little bit about that. 

Gina Fleming: Yeah. I'm really excited about our guest list. I may or may not check it hourly, maybe half an hourly, just to see how things are progressing. But right now we have representatives from Supervisor Pat Hean's office, um, Supervisor Patrick Kennedy's office, Assemblyman Josh Hoover's office.

Actually, Council Member Lisa Kaplan and her family will be there. Her daughter, Viva, is going to be our student speaker, bonus. Um, so we're really excited to hear from Viva. She was at our camp, and she is in sixth grade, and so as an eighth grader now she's gonna come and give us her story, so that's always special.

And then of course our amazing [00:06:00] Project AWE sponsors, Sac Sewer and SMUD. But as we are reaching our second Backyard Bash, we're actually so fortunate, as I checked three weeks ago, our guest list, our founder, as of 1999, our founder of Sacramento Splash, Eva Butler, will be in attendance. So I'm so excited.

Jeff Holden: That is a big deal. 

Gina Fleming: Yeah. She only comes around every few years. She actually lives in Maine, so she's coming a little over 3,000 miles. And to be honest, she's coming for two reasons, which are really impactful for Splash. Our oldest employee, longest employee, she's been there for all 20, almost 27 years. Her name is Luanne, and she is retiring.

So happy-sad for us. She's been our rock ever since she's been there, and the knowledge in that woman's brain, we're gonna need to take some notes as she exits for sure. But her and Eva have been friends for a really long time, so Eva is here celebrating her [00:07:00] and is able to come to the event as well, so I'm really excited.

I've actually never met Eva, so I'm really excited to meet her. I've only talked to her on the phone. And everybody gets to chat with her. She actually is going to... I don't wanna give too much of her story. But she's gonna be a speaker at the event. So please come get a ticket and see her tell her story.

Um, but a little bit about it is she basically saw, in 19- the late '90s, basically, she saw, um, science education lacking and failing for that matter. And so she wanted to make sure her granddaughter was able to understand, value and protect, right, that natural world, and she loves the vernal pools, which is, you know, our legacy program, the Investigating Vernal Pools.

And so she wanted that to stay on the map, and so we are continuing to roll out that mission for her. 

Jeff Holden: Isn't that exciting to know that the person who had the foresight, the vision, the dream, whatever it was, to create the program is able to come see it as [00:08:00] it's grown- Almost 30 years later. And, and know that her granddaughter now, who is an adult with possibly her own children- Mm-hmm

capable of going through the program. 

Gina Fleming: Yeah, and that started with just one and then a second quickly after that. So just investigating vernal pools for so long and the Splash in the Class, our stormwater pollution in the classroom, was that was it for a long time. And then as Mackenzie came into CEO role, Project Awe came about, the camp came about, and also Trash Talk came about, which is the recycling that we partner with, uh, Republic Services.

So a lot has come since she has left the organization, and she for sure keeps a pulse, but it'll be fun for her to see. 

Jeff Holden: What can attendees expect when they arrive? 

Gina Fleming: Well, a real backyard party basically as they come in. We're gonna have... Well, we should first and foremost, [00:09:00] the most amazing emcee is gonna be there.

I hope all of your listeners know it's gonna be you. We could not be more grateful. 

Jeff Holden: I am so privileged to be able to do it too. I'm, I'm really excited about it. 

Gina Fleming: Well, everybody should know that when I got the text that you said yes, I was like almost crying. I was so excited. You're just one of nonprofit's greatest, and you're such an advocate, and we are so honored, so thank you.

Jeff Holden: Thank you. 

Gina Fleming: You are going to try to, you know, make sure everything runs smoothly, and that includes our auctioneer who is highly energetic, and I'm super excited that David Sobon from Wide Open Walls is gonna be our auctioneer. We're gonna keep him on track as well, which is gonna be great, but he's gonna help us raise a lot of money with our live auction.

Food is gonna come from Rolling Soul, an amazing barbecue food truck. Tap Truck El Dorado is going to be pouring the drinks. And then the night's actually gonna be filled with really great music from the '60s, '70s, and '80s performed by [00:10:00] Dogflower. So the lead singer of Dogflower is actually one of our own.

It's our docent from Project Awe, so we're really excited to highlight him, Scott Morgan. And then a lot of great speakers like I was telling you about, our community, and all of us trying to, you know, pull together to get this youth, get our youth outside in nature and off their devices. 

Jeff Holden: And you telling me that I'm gonna kinda keep it in control with Sobon as the auctioneer, that's almost...

It's certainly a Herculean task, but almost impossible. But I will, I will do my best. 

Gina Fleming: Yeah. You're gonna be great, and he's gonna be great. I can't wait to see him perform. It always just mind-blowing on how fast they talk. 

Jeff Holden: How about auction items? What is-- What, what are a couple maybe the highlights that will b- be available?

Gina Fleming: Yeah. Actually, speaking of David, he is donating a mural tour. So Wide Open Walls is doing an awesome tour. Just a little teaser, but it may or may not start at Mulvaney's, and it may or may not finish at Zelda's Pizza, so that afternoon is gonna be awesome. [00:11:00] For all the sports fans in the area, our local King Sac Republic and Dinger from the River Cats, um, gave a gift of his own, so cool packages there.

Uh, some golf, and then there will for sure be a private sailing lesson. And one of our donors is donating a really cool package, but I want people to have a little bit of surprise once they're there, so get tickets. 

Jeff Holden: A- among others as well, right? 

Gina Fleming: Yes, among others. 

Jeff Holden: Well, it sounds like it's going to be not only a lot of fun, but a little bit of education and certainly a lot of history with Eva showing up and celebrating it in a really wonderfully natural spot.

So what are the details, Gina? What the specifics, date, time 

Gina Fleming: Yeah. Backyard Bash for a Splash will be September 11th. That's a Friday. It'll start at 6:00 PM, end at 10:00 PM, so everybody get where you're going early because we all know Highway 50 is a [00:12:00] moment. So, and then you can also get tickets at www.sacsplash.org, and then there's a really easy pop-up right when you get on our homepage.

Click for tickets, and easily get tickets. And we also are selling groups of four and groups of six for a discount, so bring your friends. 

Jeff Holden: I will be sure to have that in the show notes as well. And Backyard Bash for Sacramento Splash. 

Gina Fleming: That's right. Tongue twister. 

Jeff Holden: We're gonna have to have a contest there that evening.

Who can say it the fastest? 

Gina Fleming: That's right. Not it. 

Jeff Holden: It won't be me, I can promise you that. 

Gina Fleming: I know. 

Jeff Holden: Gina, thank you so much for taking time out of your super, super busy day knowing that the event is just around the corner for Backyard Bash for Sacramento Splash. It's gonna be a lot of fun. I hope to see you there.

Gina Fleming: Thanks, Jeff. 

Jeff Holden: Thank you for listening. If you like our program, please [00:13:00] subscribe, give us a positive review, and share it with someone you know. This nonprofit podcast news pod is a production of Hear Me Now Studio.