CP Nature Center

The Carolyn Parr Nature Center is at the base of Westwood Hills in Napa, CA. Its purpose is the education of local community members and school children.

The Napa Valley Naturalists organization was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens with diverse but intense concerns about the environment. At the time of her death in 1980, one of those members, Carolyn Parr, left her modest estate for the purpose of establishing a nature center.

Carolyn Parr's primary personal interest was in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, and her vision had been to create something similar to Walnut Creek's Lindsay Museum, where displays, programs for children, and wildlife rescue all take place at the same location. Using her bequest, the executors of Carolyn Parr's purchased a doublewide mobile home and arranged for it to be sited on the back parking lot of Vintage High School. Unfortunately, this space and site were inadequate for the combination conceived. There were problems with lack of security and vandalism, and there was not enough space to keep the rehabbing wildlife separate from the public, which is an absolute necessity in terms of the law as well as the success of the venture.

For this reason, the Wildlife Rescue component immediately split off from the Nature Center, and was run by NVN member Connie Bogosian from her personal dwellings for the next ten years. In 1990, when Connie retired, the NVN board assisted with the establishment of a separate organization, Wildlife Rescue of Napa County, which is the current provider of these services in Napa County.

Meanwhile, arrangements were made in 1984 to move the museum to the foot of Westwood Hills Park, where it has more public exposure than at its former site. So, Carolyn Parr Nature Center currently sits on city property and is easily accessible to the public using the adjacent parking lot.

The Carolyn Parr Nature Center is an all-volunteer organization. DOCENTS staff the center on weekend afternoons and host weekday tour groups. ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEERS support general operations. They construct displays, assist with publicity and fundraising, and perform maintenance tasks. The only requirements for volunteers are interest and enthusiasm. All necessary training is easily provided.

The Carolyn Parr Nature Center and Museum is located on 3107 Browns Valley Road in Napa, CA (94558).