Celebrating 10 Years of DuPont Environmental Education Center
All photography on this page by Hank A . Davis except ariel shot
Wilmington Riverfront Vision
DuPont Environmental Education Center ( DEEC ) is a key part of the realization of the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware ’ s ( RDC ) vision of a thriving and revitalized riverfront .
Since 1996 , RDC has worked to transform the Wilmington Riverfront from an industrial wasteland along the Christina River into a thriving destination rich in history and filled with recreational , cultural , and culinary attractions .
As part of this transformation , RDC worked with Delaware Fish and Wildlife to restore the wildlife refuge named for former Governor Russell W . Peterson , environmental activist . The wildlife refuge is a 212-acre urban , freshwater tidal marsh .
At the centerpiece of the refuge is DEEC , which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019 . It was built by RDC and operates under a partnership with DelNature .
DEEC engages 40,000-50,0000 visitors annually and offers panoramic views and a ¼ mile accessible pond loop and serves as a popular trailhead of the Jack Markell ( JAM ) Trail . The JAM trail , a scenic walkable , bikeable trail connecting the Wilmington riverfront to New Castle , Delaware , allows the public greater access to outdoors and
recreation and enhances our ability to engage the local community with nature through programs like RENEW ( Reaching and Engaging Through Nature to Empower Wilmington ).
RENEW Program
RENEW works with youth to increase their connection to the outdoors and awareness of environmental health , improve understanding of careers available , and develop job and career readiness skills . Through afterschool clubs , internships and summer programs ,
RENEW introduces youth to natural spaces , environmental issues , hands-on environmental work and career skills that help participants learn the relationships between healthy water , healthy land , healthy food and healthy living . We worked with committed program partners to make RENEW a success including H . Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club , Kingswood Community Center , Wilmington Parks and Recreation , Hicks Anderson Community Center , Delaware Futures , and Neighborhood House .
DEEC ’ s activities have been enhanced by its involvement in the Alliance for Watershed Education ( AWE ) of the Delaware River . AWE shares a mission to collectively increase and enhance constituent appreciation , knowledge , ( Continued on page 10 )
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