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My Sister's Keeper Collective™ Presents
The InauguralWelcome to the Herd™
Celebrating World Elephant Day 2026
Welcome to the Herd™ is My Sister's Keeper Collective's inaugural flagship conservation event and the beginning of an annual World Elephant Day tradition dedicated to conservation, education, community, and meaningful action. As a Friend of World Elephant Day 2026 and an official World Elephant Day 2026 Community Partner, we invite you to explore this year's global "Be More Like Elephants" campaign, learn from featured conservation speaker Sevanna Stewart of The Preserve, and discover how meaningful connection inspires lasting conservation action.
Because conservation begins with connection.
Registration is free. Seating is limited. Advance RSVP is required.
Official Recognition
My Sister's Keeper Collective is proud to be recognized as a Friend of World Elephant Day 2026 and an Official World Elephant Day 2026 Community Partner.
We are honored to host an official World Elephant Day 2026 community event in support of the global campaign to raise awareness and inspire action for elephant conservation.
Official Recognition
worldelephantday.org/friends-of-world-elephant-day/Official Event Flyer
Registration is free. Advance RSVP is required.
Location shared after RSVP confirmation.
About World Elephant Day
What Is World Elephant Day?
World Elephant Day is celebrated every August 12 to raise worldwide awareness and inspire action for African and Asian elephants. It was founded in 2012 by Canadian conservationist and filmmaker Patricia Sims to unite conservation organizations, educators, wildlife professionals, and supporters from around the world in protecting elephants and their habitats.
The 2026 global campaign theme is "Be More Like Elephants." Elephants demonstrate empathy, family, cooperation, wisdom, resilience, stewardship, and connection — inspiring people to build healthier communities and care for our shared planet.
Watch the Official World Elephant Day Campaign
Watch on YouTubeThe Inspiration
Why Elephants?
Elephants inspire everything we do.
They lead through wisdom rather than dominance.
They protect the vulnerable.
They remember.
They grieve.
They celebrate.
They nurture future generations.
They thrive through collective care.
These values — belonging, stewardship, leadership, compassion, memory, resilience, and community — are at the heart of everything My Sister's Keeper Collective builds.
We invite you to continue exploring elephant conservation and educational resources through My Sister's Keeper Collective throughout the year.
The Evening
What You'll Experience
Lessons from Elephant Matriarchs
Explore how elephant societies are led by their most experienced and wise — and what that model of leadership can teach us about guiding our own communities with compassion and clarity.
Healthy Herds & Belonging
Discover what healthy communities can learn from elephant herds about care, loyalty, and collective strength — and how those same principles can transform the way we show up for one another.
Conservation & Collective Care
Learn about the challenges facing elephants today, the organizations working to protect them, and how each of us — through awareness, action, and generosity — can make a meaningful difference.
Reflection & Meaningful Conversation
Participate in thoughtful discussion and community connection in a welcoming, supportive space designed to help you leave feeling inspired, seen, and more deeply connected.
Featured Conservation Speaker
Featured Conservation Speaker
Sevanna Stewart
Director of Conservation and Community Relations
The Preserve
We are honored to welcome Sevanna Stewart, Director of Conservation and Community Relations at The Preserve, as the featured conservation speaker for Welcome to the Herd™ | Celebrating World Elephant Day 2026.
Through her work with Asian elephants, conservation education, community outreach, and immersive wildlife experiences, Sevanna helps create meaningful connections between people and animals while inspiring lifelong conservation action.
Please enjoy her complete official biography below.
Official Biography
Sevanna Stewart is the Director of Conservation and Community Relations at The Preserve, where she has worked for more than seven years developing conservation education programs, immersive guest experiences, and community outreach initiatives. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas A&M University, with a focus on her passion for using education to inspire conservation action.
Throughout her time at The Preserve, Sevanna has worked closely with Asian elephants, helping develop educational programming and interactive experiences that foster meaningful connections between guests and these remarkable animals. She believes that up close and personal experiences with animals have the power to inspire lifelong conservation passions.
Sevanna has also led the development of The Preserve’s Animal Expedition with other species such as giraffes, kangaroos, wallabies, tortoises and porcupines. She has expanded The Preserve’s educational outreach through school field trips and community programs in partnership with the Friends of The Preserve, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Sevanna serves on the Animal Welfare Committee for the Zoological Association of America.
She works alongside her husband, Christian, who has more than 10 years of professional elephant management and training experience. Together, they are dedicated to advancing elephant care, conservation education, and the important role they play in protecting these animals in the wild.
Our Partners
Explore Our Conservation Partners
Learn more about the organizations helping protect elephants through education, conservation, research, advocacy, and community engagement.
Featured Conservation Education Partner
The Preserve
The Preserve is dedicated to inspiring elephant conservation through education, compassionate care, and meaningful experiences that connect people with elephants and wildlife.
Conservation Education Partner
Friends of The Preserve
Friends of The Preserve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting local elephant care, conservation education, community outreach, and wildlife stewardship at The Preserve in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Global Campaign & Conservation Partner
World Elephant Day
Founded in 2012 by Patricia Sims, World Elephant Day is a global campaign celebrated every August 12 to raise awareness and inspire action for the protection of African and Asian elephants.
Global Conservation Partner
World Elephant Society
World Elephant Society is dedicated to the global protection and conservation of elephants through advocacy, education, research, and community engagement around the world.
Make a Difference
Support Elephant Conservation
Every optional donation goes directly to the organization selected by each guest.
There are no speaker fees associated with this event.
Thanks to the generosity of our educational partner, every optional donation directly supports elephant conservation.
Friends of The Preserve
Friends of The Preserve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting local elephant care, conservation education, community outreach, and wildlife stewardship at The Preserve in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Donate to Friends of The PreserveWorld Elephant Society
World Elephant Society is dedicated to the global protection and conservation of elephants through advocacy, education, research, and community engagement around the world.
Visit World Elephant SocietyThe Deeper Connection
What Elephants Teach Us About Community
Protecting elephants is not separate from building healthy communities. It is the same work — rooted in the same values.
Conservation is collective care
Elephants cannot survive without one another — and neither can we. When we protect the herd, we protect the whole ecosystem. The same is true for the communities we build.
Memory is how communities survive
Elephant matriarchs carry the memory of where water was found, which paths are safe, and what the herd has endured. Our communities survive when we honor what we have lived through and refuse to let that wisdom be forgotten.
The young learn by watching the elders
Young elephants develop resilience, empathy, and social intelligence by walking beside experienced members of the herd. Healthy communities invest in that same intergenerational transfer of wisdom.
Belonging is not a luxury
Elephants separated from the herd do not thrive. Research confirms what we already know in our bones: isolation is harmful. Community is not optional — it is essential.
Join Us
Reserve Your Spot
Registration Required
Location shared upon RSVP confirmation.
Space is limited.
Registration is free, but seating is limited.
Advance RSVP is required.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cost?
Where is the event?
Who should attend?
How can I support elephant conservation?
What should I wear?
Is parking available?
Can children attend?
Will donations be collected at the event?
About the Host
Presented by My Sister's Keeper Collective™
My Sister's Keeper Collective is a community-centered organization dedicated to helping people feel connected, supported, and empowered through gatherings, education, storytelling, and meaningful experiences.
Inspired by the wisdom of elephant matriarchs, My Sister's Keeper Collective creates gatherings, educational experiences, storytelling, and community initiatives designed to help people feel connected, supported, and empowered.
Become Part of the Herd
Because conservation begins with connection.
Thank You for Becoming Part of the Herd
Healthy herds are built through wisdom, compassion, belonging, and collective care.
Every conversation matters.
Every gathering leaves footprints.
Every person strengthens the herd.
Welcome to the Herd™.
Presented by
My Sister's Keeper Collective
Conservation Education Partner
The Preserve
Conservation Education Partner
Friends of The Preserve
Global Campaign & Conservation Partner
World Elephant Day
Global Conservation Partner
World Elephant Society
© 2026 My Sister's Keeper Collective™. All rights reserved.