Peregrine falcon Wek-Wek will be among animal ambassadors at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center’s fall NatureFest. Handler is naturalist Kristen Angelini.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Birds, reptiles and marsupials will be among educators during an open day at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center on Oct. 6. Staged annually, NatureFest is the center’s largest educational event.

Visiting presenters are scheduled. Hundreds of TV and school presentations have featured rescued animals from Gabe Kerschner’s Placer County sanctuary and some of these critters will take center stage at the Carmichael event. Kerschner’s “Wild Things” cast includes an alligator, a lemur, a kangaroo and a kinkajou. Nature Fest visitors will also experience Kerschner’s more regional menagerie.

Wannabe naturalists may examine swamp critters and vegetation up-close during the NatureFest open day.

Save the Snakes, a non-profit that champions one of nature’s most misunderstood species, will offer slithering serpents for supervised handling. Volunteers from Sacramento Splash will detail microscopic species found in wetlands. Microscopes will be on hand for close examination.

Visiting “Mad Science” demonstrators will animate natural phenomenon like volcanic eruptions, cyclones and how hot air sends balloons up, up and away. They will also explain how optical illusions work; they will create chemical reactions and launch model rockets. Cotton candy is the product of one of their demonstrations.

Native to South America, a fruit-loving kinkajou will visit the NatureFest event at Effie Yeaw Center on Oct. 6.

If serious hunger results, lunch and snacks will be available from food trucks.

Resident Nature Center animals, including Einstein the tortoise and crowd-pleasing raptors, will emerge for admiration. Hosted walks through the center’s 100-acre preserve are certain to include deer, wild turkey and possibly even coyote sightings.

At the center is a hub for Native American studies. Maidu basketry and doll-making are among other NatureFest demonstrations. Hands-on activities will be offered at many exhibition booths. Event organizers welcome youth groups.

Touchable tortoise Einstein will meet visitors as one of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center ambassadors.

NatureFest runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 Lorenzo Way (Ancil Hoffman Park). Adult reservations are $10 ($12 at the door); $5 for children aged ages 4 to 11. Parking is free. Pre-sale tickets are available at www.effieyeawnature.org/events-calendar.

Sponsors include American River Natural History Association; William Walker Law Firm; SMUD; Save the American River Association; SavATree services; Randy Getz; Sacramento Audubon and California Native Plant Society.