Napa River Ecology Center at the American Canyon Wetlands

by Craig Smith

Educate Youth • Protect Environment • Connect Community

How much impact can a small group of volunteers have in their community? To answer that, look no further than American Canyon. The American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organized in 2015, now reaches 4,000 youth and families a year with watershed, conservation and environmental programs. And that’s just the beginning. When their shovel-ready Napa River Ecology Center breaks ground later this year, the nonprofit will be able to connect with all of Napa County, as well as surrounding Bay Area communities.

Janelle Sellick is the Executive Director of the Foundation, and was board president when the group first started. She and her husband Mike moved to American Canyon in 2003, thinking of it as a temporary move until they continued on to Colorado. But by the time the wetlands trail opened in 2005, they knew Am Can was the perfect place to live and raise their (now) four children. As a mom, Janelle looked for enrichment opportunities for her kids. When she talked to teachers, they emphasized the importance of hands-on learning. With the San Pablo Bay and Napa River as American Canyon’s backyard, she and others could see the possibilities. The small group rolled up its’ sleeves and went to work.

The Foundations’ education and community programming is extensive. One example is Watershed Explorers, which serves over 300 fourth graders each year. The program begins with a day of in-class presentation and nature journaling, followed by a Day Two visit to the wetlands, rotating through interactive stations led by partners such as the Napa County Resource Conservation District, Napa Open Space and the Suscol Intertribal Council. Topics include plankton, The First People, macroinvertebrates, wastewater and wildlife conservation. Day Three includes an engaging session with the Foundation’s Outdoor Connection Mobile Classroom where students use a hands-on water table to learn about watershed dynamics, examine samples under microscopes and record their findings in their journals. It isn’t ’t all “work” though – in Wetlands Academy, a program that serves over 380 seventh graders, students looked for crabs and skipped rocks at Glass Beach. Joy Hilton and Andrea Long, the two Foundation Program Directors, laughed as they discussed the unique curriculums for both students and adults. “We like to think of it as ‘sneaky learning,’” said Andrea.

What do the students think? Here’s feedback from one fourth grader who participated: “Who knew that a bunch of ten-year-olds could make such a difference?”

A new Watershed Trainee program introduced second and third graders to nature walks and scavenger hunts. In 2023, the Foundation introduced the Outdoor Connection, a mobile classroom that delivered hands on science programs to eight schools as part of the Napa Valley Unified School District’s summer program.

The Teen WILD program had 24 students in 2024, who helped design their programing, which included trail clean-ups and community led hikes. Teen WILD leader Chair Miles, spoke of the program during American Canyon’s An Evening at the Ruins. “Connecting with our environment is vital to connecting to ourselves, to making change and to building a strong community.”

Feeling left out, adults? There are numerous community hikes throughout the year and quarterly Wetlands Coffee Mornings to connect community, nature, and of course, caffeine. Or try the Wine and Wild program, a quarterly wildlife education series which has included meet-and-greets with owls, raptors, opossums, and more – all while you enjoy an optional glass of wine. Sneaky learning, anyone?

So… you might think that this would be enough for a small team of five staff and two interns to pull off, but the Napa River Ecology Center, less than an easy one-mile walk from the wetlands, is going to take this to a whole new level. The three-acre site includes a 5,000 square-foot existing building that is being repurposed to provide river conservation efforts, environmental education and public access. There will be separate space for wildlife viewing, making art, and eventually a kayak launch (through the City’s Wetlands Restoration Plan). Some people will just want to walk around or maybe picnic on-site. It doesn’t matter. All are welcome. This is a $9 million dollar project that will pay untold dividends in benefits to thousands of people each year. Groundbreaking on the Ecology Center is expected later this year.

If you’ve never visited the Wetlands, located at 2 Eucalyptus Drive in American Canyon, do so. Over five miles of well-maintained walking trails offer great Bay views, bird watching, or just an easy walk or bicycle. An outdoor workout equipment center – an early fundraising project of the Foundation – is adjacent to the parking lot. If you want to find out more about the Napa River Ecology Center, visit their website (napaecocenter.org). Donations are always welcome.