Environmental Stewardship
Field investigations help participants connect everyday choices with water quality, habitat health, and care for the American River watershed.
Project Impact and Innovation
Slough Time!
Turning the watershed into a place for discovery, confidence, and care
Project Summary
Slough Time! is a watershed and nature-based field-trip program offered through Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District. The program connects Afghan refugee girls with the American River, neighborhood sloughs, and outdoor recreation through a sequence of guided learning experiences across the Sacramento region.
Services
Aura's work centers an accessible discovery process that helps participants understand watershed health, recognize the relationship between personal actions and healthy habitats, and grow confident in their ability to care for the natural world.
Funding AgencyCalifornia State Parks, Outdoor Equity Grants Program
LocationAmerican River watershed and greater Sacramento, CA
Project Period2026 - ongoing
Project Focus AreasEquity-Centered Design
Outdoor Confidence
Swimming, water safety, kayaking, nature observation, and snow play create supported pathways into outdoor recreation.
Culturally Responsive Access
The program is designed specifically for Afghan refugee girls and includes family experiences, transportation, equipment, food, and clothing support.
Field experiences
The learning sequence spans eight sites from Sacramento neighborhood sloughs to the Sierra Nevada.
Participant ages
The program serves Afghan refugee girls in a focused middle-grade age range.
Swimming classes
A five-day swimming series builds water confidence before later river recreation.
Family experiences
The welcome session, kayaking day, and snow trip invite family participation.
Slough Time!
A culturally responsive watershed and outdoor learning program for Afghan refugee girls ages 10-14 in Sacramento.
- Funding Agency
- Project Lead
- Project Partners
- Location
- American River watershed and greater Sacramento, CA
- Project Period
- 2026 - ongoing
- Project Focus Areas
- Services
Project Summary
Building confidence and belonging along the American River
Slough Time! is a watershed and nature-based field-trip program offered through Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District. The program connects Afghan refugee girls with the American River, neighborhood sloughs, and outdoor recreation through a sequence of guided learning experiences across the Sacramento region.
Participants explore the river confluence, watershed systems, local habitats, naturalist skills, sense of place, water safety, and environmental stewardship. Swimming instruction, kayaking, and snow play extend the learning into practical outdoor skills and shared family experiences.
A dedicated leader guide, Nature Discovery Journals, student handouts, weekly challenges, observation activities, art projects, storytelling prompts, and field investigations support learning during and between site visits.
Scope of Work and Service
Culturally responsive outreach, curriculum, and field implementation
Aura's work centers an accessible discovery process that helps participants understand watershed health, recognize the relationship between personal actions and healthy habitats, and grow confident in their ability to care for the natural world.
The program structure pairs community coordination with age-appropriate environmental education, hands-on field activities, family participation, transportation support, and practical preparation for safe outdoor recreation.
- Community-centered program and field-trip design
- Culturally responsive outreach and family engagement
- Watershed, naturalist, and environmental stewardship curriculum
- Leader guides, student handouts, and Nature Discovery Journal activities
- Site coordination, participant support, and program implementation
Project Impact and Innovation
Turning the watershed into a place for discovery, confidence, and care
Environmental Stewardship
Field investigations help participants connect everyday choices with water quality, habitat health, and care for the American River watershed.
Outdoor Confidence
Swimming, water safety, kayaking, nature observation, and snow play create supported pathways into outdoor recreation.
Culturally Responsive Access
The program is designed specifically for Afghan refugee girls and includes family experiences, transportation, equipment, food, and clothing support.
Field experiences
The learning sequence spans eight sites from Sacramento neighborhood sloughs to the Sierra Nevada.
Participant ages
The program serves Afghan refugee girls in a focused middle-grade age range.
Swimming classes
A five-day swimming series builds water confidence before later river recreation.
Family experiences
The welcome session, kayaking day, and snow trip invite family participation.