Effie Yeaw Nature Center

What is the Big Day of Giving?

Each year, the Big Day of Giving is held on the first Thursday of May and the Sacramento region comes together to support organizations that make our community stronger. The Big Day of Giving is a 24-hour, community-wide fundraising movement, organized by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. We’re thrilled to once again be a part of this fun and impactful event, and we hope we can count on your help! 

How to Get Involved!

Schedule a Reminder to Give

Mark your calendars or use the following link to schedule an email or text reminder for May 2nd, the Big Day of Giving: 

Make a Donation

Anytime between April 18th and May 2nd, you can return to this page and give any amount that is meaningful to you. Your safe and secure donation will go toward our Big Day of Giving total. A nominal administration fee of 5% will be deducted or you can choose to cover that cost as part of your donation.

You may also always give by beck if you prefer, just write "Big Day of Giving" on the memo line and you can drop them off in person or mail them to us at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael, CA 95608!

Follow our Social Media

The Big Day of Giving is a digital giving day meaning that to get the most success we need our social media posts to be spread around! By sharing, liking and commenting on our Big Day of Giving social media pots - you help our posts garner more views and increase the amounts of gifts we receive in total - all at no cost to you!

Who are we?

Nestled in a beautiful oak woodland along the American River, the Effie Yeaw Nature Center delivers award-winning natural science programs to thousands of school children and families each year with qualified naturalists and trained docents. Its location within one of California's largest metropolitan areas makes it highly accessible to urban school children and a special natural resource for family recreation and environmental study. Last year, nearly 16,500 students and more than 100,000 visitors participated in the Nature Center's education programs, explored the visitor center, got up close with our resident animals, and/or enjoyed the serene natural beauty of the 100-acre nature preserve.

The Nature Center is operated by the American River Natural History Association (ARNHA), a non-profit organization whose purpose is to encourage excellence in environmental science and cultural education within Sacramento County, particularly the American River Parkway. Founded in 1981, ARNHA assumed financial and operational responsibility for the Nature Center in July 2010, in response to significant budget cuts by the County of Sacramento.

The Nature Center is named after Effie Yeaw, a teacher, conservationist and environmental educator who worked with citizen groups to raise interest in preserving the lands along the lower American River in the 1950's and 60's. She also trained tour guides and helped develop the concept of the American River Parkway. In 1960, the County Parks Department received bond money to purchase land along the American River in the area now known as Ancil Hoffman Park. That was the beginning of many purchases to establish the Parkway, including the Effie Yeaw Nature Area. In 1974, a citizen's advisory committee studied the feasibility of an interpretive center in Ancil Hoffman County Park. Many of the committee's members were introduced to the natural resources of the Parkway by Effie Yeaw herself. Construction of the Nature Center was completed in June 1976 and was dedicated in memory of the teacher whose devotion to nature and children still guide Nature Center activities today. Though Effie Yeaw died in 1970, her legacy lives on in the American River Parkway she helped to establish and in the Nature Center whose guiding philosophy is Effie's genuine love for nature and children.