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Wake Up to Nature

Wake Up to Nature 2026

On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Environmental Volunteers (EV) hosted our annual “Wake Up to Nature” fundraiser at the Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto. The 185 attendees that joined us made the event our biggest and most successful one yet!

The morning was filled with inspiration, community, and hope for the next generation of environmental stewards. We brought the sounds of the Baylands into the room with our bird call activity, listened to an inspiring presentation by climate storyteller Suzie Hicks, and enjoyed live music from our saxophonist as we mingled with old and new EVs alike. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the guests who shared the day with us and to our sponsors who made the event possible!

Check out photos of the event kindly captured for us by Jim Colton from ProBonoPhoto.org, with additional photos captured by the EV team.

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Thanks to the generosity of EV’s supporters, the event not only met but exceeded its fundraising goals! We are grateful to Ralph Eschenbach and Carol Provan, whose $75,000 matching pledge helped drive this success. This brings us within reach of the goal to raise $1 Million by April 30, 2026 for the Million Reasons Campaign. If you missed the event, you can still make a difference! Consider making a donation to help us make sure every child has access to wonder, learning, and the outdoors.

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Event Speakers

Lincoln Bleveans is a transformational global executive making climate innovation real. Currently serving as Stanford University’s senior sustainability executive, he leads the University’s mission-essential operations and world-leading applied innovation in climate action, sustainability, adaptation, resilience, and climate justice; vertically integrated power, water, and waste utilities; and civil infrastructure. He is a global communicator, board member and advisor to start-ups in North America, Europe, and India and hosts a podcast called “Climate+ | Purpose & Prosperity in an Unprecedented World.”
Suzie Hicks is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and television host. They specialize in climate and environmental communication for kids of all ages. Their work emphasizes the power of children’s media and learning communities — connecting youth advocates and educator allies. Learn more about Suzie’s work here.
Anu Ramamurty is the Executive Director of Environmental Volunteers and climate change campaigner. Over the past 15 years, Anu has built and led global communication campaigns for businesses, governments and NGOs around pressing social and environmental issues. She has worked to give voice to frontline communities affected by climate change and was one of an army of climate advocates who played a role in achieving the Paris Climate Agreement. A firm believer that kids are powerful agents of change, in 2019, Anu founded Kat Kid Adventure, an eco-educational awareness brand on a mission to raise a generation of eco-heroes.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

Environmental Volunteers (the EV) is an environmental education non-profit founded in 1972.

Our mission: We engage volunteers to inspire a love of and responsibility for the environment through hands-on science education.

We train volunteers to deliver hands-on science and nature learning through our classroom programs, summer camps, community events, college led Sprout Up programs hosted in nine universities, and at our EcoCenter in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. It is our vision to give everyone an opportunity to give back to nature and the next generation.