About the Friends

The Friends of Northwest Park is a volunteer, non-profit corporation formed in 1981 to play a leading role in the development of a nature center at Northwest Park.  The Friends’ original mission of supporting development of the Nature Center has expanded to include support for Northwest Park as a whole.
The Friends’ fundraising efforts have received broad based community support from individuals, civic groups, foundations, businesses and corporations.  In partnership with the Town of Windsor, the Friends support Park and Nature Center programs, operations and development.  Raising over $800,000 since its incorporation, the Friends contributions include:

• Support for the Nature Center’s geothermal heating and cooling system
• Nature Center furnishings, science equipment, canoes, and a mobile planetarium
• Financial support for exhibit development and environmental items
• Financial support for environmental interns, education research and programming
• Annual financial support for the Youth Conservation Corps.
• Funding for environmental education programs through grants to schools from the Libby & Gordon Taylor Scholarship Fund, managed by the Friends.

The Friends annual community events include the Country Fair and the March Pancake Breakfast which culminates the maple sugaring season.  The Friends also host the annual Coffeehouse concert series.
The Board of Trustees meets regularly and the Friend’s general membership meet for their annual meeting in June.  Committees, all of which need volunteers, include:  Finance, membership, newsletter, program & publicity, Country Fair and Pancake Breakfast.  Volunteers for all committees and events are always welcome.

Read the By-Laws of the Friends.

Membership

Your membership in the Friends of Northwest Park is a statement of your support for Northwest Park and the Nature Center.  For those Friends who are to become active on committees, we invite participation at all levels.  Project involvement is certainly not required in your membership, but is available and encouraged.
In addition to having the satisfaction of supporting an outstanding Park and Nature Center, membership dues entitle you to the following benefits:

• A subscription to the Friends Newsletter, produced by the Friends and Park staff, including current program information, educational articles and news about the Friends, volunteers, special events and Park activities.
• Discounts on Friends sponsored events
• Invitation to complimentary “Members Only” programs and social events at Northwest Park.
• Invitation to Friends sponsored field trips.
• Friends of Northwest Park decal.
• Life membership option

Become a part of the tradition and future of the Friends of Northwest Park.  Membership dues are an important source of financial support for the work of the Friends.  The membership and fiscal year of the Friends is July 1 to June 30.  Memberships are renewed during July.