Couple Learned in Nampa, and Returned to Nampa

Erin Conlee

Located less than 30 minutes from Boise, Nampa serves as the home of Northwest Nazarene University. It not only offers the buzz of campus life, but a slower-paced lifestyle that appeals to growing families.

Dr. Erin Conlee and her husband, Caleb, both attended NNU, and after living in San Diego and Rochester, Minnesota, they decided to return to live in Nampa. They share why they thought their college town would also be the perfect place to spend their post-grad years, too.

So, what brought you back to live in Nampa?
My husband and I realized, even while I was in medical school, that we eventually wanted to come back to the Treasure Valley. It was our dream to come back. We enjoyed our time in Nampa and our connections, and felt that Boise needed someone to offer pediatric rehab.

Probably two of the biggest reasons we wanted to come back to this area were friends and family. I have family here – my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousin – who are also connected to NNU and stayed here because of that.

The other big draw for us was the outdoors. Nampa has a great four-season climate. We can do the things we enjoy, like being in the mountains or fishing and kayaking on the water, and we wanted to raise our family the same way. The Treasure Valley just felt like home.

Was it easy to reconnect with your college friends?
We fell in with the old college crowd in the best way, and we also made new friends when we started going to church. We had friends that taught at Nampa Christian Schools, and we wanted our boys to be in that kind of environment, so that is where they attend school. We found that we would know someone who knew someone else we knew and made connections that way.

What do you love about living in Nampa?
From a living standpoint, Nampa is a mix of old and new, so there are well-established neighborhoods, restaurants and grocery stores throughout, whereas in places like Meridian or Boise, the population growth has exploded … and it doesn’t feel as established. When you’re in college, your life is kind of on campus, but we appreciate what Nampa has now that we’re looking for the livability of a community. Everything you need is within a 20-minute drive.

Describe your ideal Saturday in Nampa.
We love to be outdoors, whether that’s visiting a neighborhood park or pool or getting out on the river. If the kids have sports going on, we’re out at the soccer field. Though in the school year, we enjoy a lazy, quiet morning and maybe get local doughnuts. Later, we’ll watch the sunset over the mountains.