SLAUGHTER BEACH – The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve, a DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife facility, will hold two Family Fish-n-Fun Days, as well as two other family-friendly special programs later this month in and near Slaughter Beach. The center is located at 2992 Lighthouse Road, east of Milford, DE 19963.

• Family Fish-n-Fun Days – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 23 and Saturday, Aug. 6, all ages, outdoor program, Slaughter Beach Pavilion, 359 Bay Avenue, Milford, DE 19963
  Meeting at the Slaughter Beach Pavilion located behind the Slaughter Beach fire hall, participants will learn about the saltwater ecosystem, how to identify fish, fish anatomy, ethical fishing skills, knot-tying, casting, baiting hooks and surf fishing through hands-on activities with nature center staff and volunteers. Fishing gear and other materials will be provided. Participants should pack lunch, snacks and beverages (no glass containers), sunscreen and insect repellant, and wear outdoor clothing, including beach-appropriate shoes and a hat.
• Dip Netting Adventures and Nature Walk – 1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, ages 5 and older, indoor/outdoor program, DuPont Nature Center
  Participants will explore the center’s live animals and exhibits before heading outside to learn more about the importance of the salt marsh ecosystem. Working in teams at the Cedar Creek bridge and boat ramp, participants will use a dip net and a bucket to catch and identify live aquatic species that live in the Delaware estuary. During the walk to the boat ramp, participants will use binoculars to spot and identify wildlife, as well as pick up trash along the road to help keep wildlife from being harmed by it. Sunscreen, bug spray, walking shoes and hats are suggested.
• Fishy Fashions – 1-3 p.m. Friday, July 29, all ages, indoor program, DuPont Nature Center
  Participants will view the center’s live fish and learn about the parts of a fish – scales, fins, tail, eyes, etc. – and then learn how to use Gyotaku fish printing to create a “fish print” on a bandana. Participants are also encouraged to bring a t-shirt for fish printing.

Admission to the programs is free, but space is limited, so please preregister by calling the center at 302-422-1329 or emailing lynne.pusey@delaware.gov.

A Delaware recreational fishing license is required for Fish-n-Fun participants age 16 and older; a fishing license is not required for those younger than 16 and for Delaware residents age 65 and older. Delaware fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918, or click on 2016 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk and from license agents throughout the state.

Both resident and non-resident anglers age 16 and older are required to obtain a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (F.I.N.) number. The free number is included as part of a Delaware fishing license purchase. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may visit www.delaware-fin.com or call 800-432-9228 toll-free to obtain their free F.I.N. number.

Perched on the edge of Mispillion Harbor at the intersection of the mouths of the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek, the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s DuPont Nature Center regularly offers a variety of interactive exhibits, school tours and educational programs. Spring and summer hours from May 1 through Aug. 31 are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. September hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The center will close for the season at the end of the day Friday, Sept. 30, reopening in April 2017. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information about the DuPont Nature Center and its programs, please call 302-422-1329, or visit DuPont Nature Center.

The DuPont Nature Center is a focal point of the Delaware Bayshore, and is part of DNREC’s Delaware Bayshore Initiative, a landscape approach to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat, increase volunteer participation in habitat stewardship projects, enhance low-impact outdoor recreation and ecotourism opportunities, and promote associated environmentally compatible economic development. For more information, click Delaware Bayshore.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 254

Print