2013 highlights
Seaford Elementary Schoolyard Habitats
Year of Coverdale Farm Preserve
As a result of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) and Chesapeake Bay Trust grant (Capacity Building
Initiative) and collaboration and partnership with National Wildlife
Federation, Seaford School District & Sussex Conservation
District, four rain gardens were installed at Seaford elementary
schools (one in each elementary school) to be used as
Schoolyard Habitats. These rain gardens provided an outdoor
teaching space for over 400 students a year, provided
habitat for wildlife, beautifies the schoolyard, captured runoff,
prevented erosion, and improved local water quality. In addition,
the NOAA B Wet grant also included programming for all 2nd & 7th
graders in the district.
2013 was dedicated as the “Year of Coverdale Farm Preserve”
to highlight the farm education programming, Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) and 352 acres of nature preserve
at the site. During the year, visitors and program participants
experienced farm to table programs using our kitchen,
explored the natural areas during birding programs, and visited
our barnyard animals. Site enhancements included installing a
deer exclusion fence, planting 150 native trees (with the help
of over 50 community volunteers), and expanding our livestock
program, with the addition of a new dairy cow and male calves.
The Coverdale Farm Preserve CSA provided 22 weeks of fresh,
organically grown produce to 200 families in our region.
Delaware Nature Society awarded
highly competitive grant for
statewide watershed programs
DuPont Environmental Education Center
program inspires Wilmington teen to
pursue advanced education in science
The 3M/AEARO Technologies grant funded comparative
watershed programs statewide with Red Clay District travelling to
DEEC and Ashland Nature Center; Capital District programming
at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center and Milford Park; Milford District
programming at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center and Blair’s Pond/
Mispillion tributary. In addition to the generous funding provided
for the program, 3M/AEARO employees served as mentors to
the seventh graders during their field work.
Syesha Walley first experienced DuPont Environmental
Education Center as a teen participant in our immersive
week-long Delaware Futures program funded through the
DuPont Clear into the Future conservation program. This unique
program provides Wilmington teens access to our hands-on
citizen science program exploring the marsh ecosystem at
DuPont Environmental Education Center. Syesha started the
program with apprehension about nature (and in particular,
spiders), but left with a new appreciation for wildlife, conservation,
and marsh animals. This interest led her to receive a scholarship
and become the first paid summer education intern, generously
funded by a private fund at Delaware Community Foundation,
established by the late Gov. Russell W. Peterson, and his wife
June. Syesha served as a DuPont Environmental Education
Center intern for two consecutive summers. This experience
has fostered a deeper appreciation for the environment and the
natural world. Today, Syesha is pursuing an education degree so
she can teach science to children.
Sea-Level Rise Awareness Week
Along with 14 of our conservation partners, Delaware celebrated it’s
first Sea-Level Rise (SLR) Awareness Week September 14th-22nd.
Established through a legislative resolution, SLR week reached
over 300 people through seminars, volunteer tree plantings,
and educational events. We also released a 13 minute video titled
“Rising Tides” that detailed how Delaware will be impacted by SLR
and what local governments are doing now to prepare. Governor
Markell kicked off the week with Executive Order 41 which requires
all state agencies to consider SLR predictions in all future planning.
Hawk Watch continues to break records
Abbott’s Mill Nature Center expands
program offerings for the community
The 7th annual Ashland Hawk Watch, which runs September –
November, counted a record breaking 20,910 raptors and attracted
1,540 visitors. This daily hawk migration watch station is a partnership
between Delaware Nature Society, Delmarva Ornithological Society,
and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
In 2013, Abbot’s Mill Nature Center had 14,467 participants in
our programs, of which, 8,821 were students. This is a dramatic
increase over 2012. Our team at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center
is committed to connecting more students, school groups and
adults with meaningful education opportunities at the site.
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