The Napa Sierra Club Group recently agreed to commit $50,000 for the creation of a permanent environmental center, located in the heart of American Canyon’s wetlands. The Wetlands “Eco” center will provide a home for year-round environmental education, art and science programs for students and community members from Napa County and beyond. (Photo: Planned American Canyon Eco Center: Artist Rendering)
Jeff Morris, Sierra Club Redwood Chapter Director, and Janelle Sellick, Executive Director of the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation, made the announcement at ACCPF’s annual “Evening at the Ruins” fundraiser, September 18, in American Canyon.
Mr. Morris explained, “The Sierra Club Redwood Chapter is honored to be supporting this unique opportunity to expand regional youth environmental education opportunities for communities across the northern San Francisco Bay Area.”
Napa Sierra Club's Chris Benz added, "We at the Napa Sierra Club are so excited to be able to contribute financial support for the Eco Center. American Canyon's wetlands are an amazing habitat and resource for resiliency in the face of sea level rise. The location of the EcoCenter surrounded by wetlands couldn't be better."
“With environmental concerns at an all-time high, the Eco Center will reach an estimated 12,000+ people annually and strengthen American Canyon as a leader in environmental leadership, research, and programming,” states Sellick.
“Most importantly, it will ‘root’ families in nature and develop the next generation of environmental stewards who will help solve our most complex environmental issues,” Sellick adds.
Envisioned in a repurposed City Corp Yard space, the Eco Center will house and host year-round environmental educational programs for all Bay Area residents, not just Napa county citizens.
Using the Sierra Club’s donation as an impetus, ACCPF kicked off its “Fund-A-Need” segment of the Sept. 18th annual fundraiser, raising another $120,000, which will be ear marked to turn the existing maintenance facility into the new environmental center.
All fund-a-need donations will be honored on a permanent donor wall at the Center and receive permanent website recognition. “These donations are an investment in the future health of our environment and our community,” Sellick states. “We place great value on the support of our donors as shared beliefs in our mission.” Sellick encourages anyone interested to “join us and become a force for nature!”
Learn more about this wonderful project here (password is eco).