TOWNSEND, Del. (September 7, 2022) – Volunteers are needed to plant 2,000 hardwood seedlings along the Cypress Branch at Blackbird State Forest on Saturday, September 17 to provide scenic beauty, enhance wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, and improve water quality in the critical Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

State Forester Michael Valenti said, “Planting trees is a great way to improve the environment and enhance air quality. Planting 2,000 hardwood seedlings near the Cypress Branch gives an added bonus of water quality protection and seed production that benefits local wildlife including wild turkeys. We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals and families to help us honor the bicentennial of Harriet Tubman’s birth by planting tree seedlings in an area that is part of the Underground Railroad Historic Byway in Delaware.”

Pre-registration is required for the tree planting being held on Saturday, September 17, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Blackbird State Forest’s Naudain Tract, 2076 Harvey Straughn Road, Townsend, Delaware 19734. This tree planting is a “rain or shine” event. Equipment, including shovels, will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather – wear boots or other work shoes, heavy-duty gloves and hats and bring insect repellent and sunscreen if needed.

“We know based on historic documentation that Harriet Tubman passed through the Blackbird area. This is why Blackbird has been considered an evocative landscape along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Having a tree planting at Blackbird State Forest reminds us of the historic contribution that Harriet and others made to help freedom seekers through the Blackbird area,” said Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forester Kesha Braunskill. “Planting trees also is significant in building our tree canopy. Additionally, we want to remind Delaware residents that the Urban and Community Forestry Program is a resource in towns, neighborhoods, and communities with technical and financial tree projects.”

Blackbird State Forest covers nearly 6,000 acres in southern New Castle County and is a stop on the historic Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. The tree planting is part of events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s birth in 1822. The project is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and its Chesapeake Bay Program and the Delaware Forest Service and its Urban and Community Program.

Directions to the Blackbird Forest Tree Planting Site

From the NORTH:

• Route 1 (TOLL): Take Rt. 1 South to Exit 136 toward Odessa (Rt. 299) and make a left at the light. At Rt. 299 (Main Street) in Odessa, turn right onto U.S. 13 South.
• U.S. 13: Take U.S 13 South until you reach Rt. 299 (Main Street) in Odessa. Proceed through the light (continue on U.S. 13 South).
• From Route 299 & U.S. 13: Continue on U.S. 13 south for 6.2 miles and then turn right onto Blackbird Forest Road (flashing light at the top of the hill). After 3.5 miles, turn right onto Oak Hill School Road. Continue for 2.9 miles and then turn right onto Harvey Straughn Road. Proceed for .3 miles and the destination will be on the left.

From the SOUTH:

• Route 1 (TOLL): Take Rt. 1 North to Exit 119 (N. Smyrna). Make a right onto Route 13 South. Proceed .8 miles to Duck Creek Road and make a right at the light.
• U.S. 13: Take U.S 13 North until you reach Duck Creek Road north of Smyrna (just past Visitor Center and Smokey Bear sign on the right). Turn left at light for Duck Creek Road.
• From Duck Creek Road & U.S. 13: Proceed west for .8 miles on Duck Creek Road and turn right onto Vandyke Greenspring Road. Continue on Vandyke Greenspring Road for 4.4 miles and turn left onto Harvey Straughn Road. In 2 miles, turn left to stay on Harvey Straughn Road. Proceed for .3 miles and the destination will be on the right.

For more information on the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Tree Planting and to pre-register, visit https://de.gov/treeevents.

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SMYRNA, Del. (July 21, 2021) — Delaware’s Type 2IA wildfire crew is headed to the Northern Rockies to join the national firefighting effort. The team of 20 firefighters departed Blackbird State Forest and is traveling by ground transportation to Montana for an eventual assignment in that region. This is the crew’s first assignment of 2021. Last year, Delaware sent a 20-person crew to fight blazes in Arizona and California. Delaware’s team is a mix of veterans and rookies, drawn from both public agencies and the private sector, who completed their certification by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

The National Interagency Fire Center raised its National Fire Preparedness Level to 5—its highest level—due to a large increase in wildfire activity fueled by prolonged heat and drought across the West. The Northern Rockies geographic area (which includes Idaho and Montana) is the most active region and also at PL 5. More than 4,250 personnel are currently assigned to fight fires in the Northern Rockies region. There were 102 aircraft, 88 fire crews, and 377 engines, and a total of 3,980 personnel as of 7/21.

After four days of travel, the crew will complete a planned 14-day assignment before returning to the First State.

RANGELY, Colo. (June 28, 2021) — Delaware’s Type 6 engine and its three-man crew are part of 313 personnel currently fighting the Oil Springs Fire, located 20 miles south of Rangely, Colorado. The fire was started by lightning on June 18 and has grown to 12,613 acres with only 18 percent containment. Delaware’s crew is working on one of the fire’s priority areas, Division D, which involves the continued protection of the Dragon Trail Compressor Site. The fire is spreading moderately in a mixture of  pinyon, juniper and sagebrush.

Delaware’s crew is comprised of engine boss Samual Topper of Maryland, engine boss trainee Adam Keever of Newark, and FFT2 Bradley Melson of Milford. The crew mobilized from Blackbird State Forest last week and started work on Saturday, June 26. The National Preparedness Level was increased to 4 on a 5-point scale on June 22. Currently there are 37 uncontained large fires and a total of 50 large fires have burned 667,397 acres. To date, 30,219 wildfires have burned 1,389,087 acres across the United States.

Delaware’s crew is comprised of engine boss Samual Topper of Maryland, engine boss trainee Adam Keever of Newark, and FFT2 Bradley Melson of Milford. The crew mobilized from Blackbird State Forest last week and started work on Saturday, June 26.

Fore more information, contact Kyle Hoyd, office: (302) 698-4548 or email: kyle.hoyd@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. (April 16, 2021) — Visitors to Delaware state forests can now use a mobile phone to locate trails, hunting stands, or parking areas using the Avenza Maps^® mobile app (available for iPhone or Android devices from the App Store or Google Play.) All state forest maps are free to download. The app uses the phone’s built-in GPS to locate it on the map, even when the device is out of range of a network or Internet connection. Users can select a particular map of interest, download it, and store it on their phone. A blue dot follows users wherever they go so they always know where they are on the map. Visitors can zoom in and out, navigate from place to place, mark points of interest (such as where a car is parked or where a hunting stand is located) and easily attach photos exactly where they were taken.

Phone users can use their cell phone camera to capture a unique QR code (below) and use their mobile browser to access a link to all of the Delaware Forest Service maps.

Read the Avenza Maps^® fact sheet for more information about the features of this mobile app.

State forest offices also offer printed maps at the main office. Standard PDF maps for all state forest tracts (which can be printed) are also available at de.gov/forestmaps.

DOVER, Del.  (March 15, 2021) – Delaware’s state forest campsites are now open to the public under a new online reservation system that allows for advance booking and preferred site selection. Primitive-style camping is available 365 days a year on a first-come, first-serve basis at both Blackbird State Forest, north of Smyrna, and Redden State Forest, north of Georgetown.

State forests only allow tent camping: pickup campers, travel trailers and/or self-propelled motor homes are excluded due to access and parking limitations, unless otherwise noted. Amenities include on-site parking, BBQ grills, picnic tables, fire rings, firewood (if available), and portable toilets. No showers or bath facilities provided.

The cost per night is $25 per site (plus a small administrative fee) with a three night maximum stay per reservation. Each state forest has added two new sites for a total of eight (8) at Blackbird and seven (7) at Redden. All camping requires a permit and is subject to state forest rules and regulations. Complete information, maps, camping rules, and links to make a reservation are available at de.gov/forestcamping.

“We’re really excited to be launching this next generation of primitive camping to our users so that they can have a better booking experience, with greater ease of making and cancelling reservations,” stated Kyle Hoyd, assistant forestry administrator. “This will allow people to manage their camping online and make repeat reservations by creating an online profile at the Book Your Site website.”

Users can read the Forest Camping Guide to Online Reservations  for instructions on booking a campsite.

Blackbird Camping Map

Redden Camping Map

For questions about Blackbird State Forest, email campblackbird@delaware.gov, or call 302-653-6505.

For questions about Redden State Forest, email campredden@delaware.gov, or call 302-856-2893.

Camping Facts at a Glance

• Camping is open year-round: sites are limited and permits required.
• Amenities include on-site parking, BBQ grills, picnic tables, fire rings, firewood (if available), and portable toilets.
• No showers or bath facilities provided.
• $25 per night fee for each site at Blackbird or Redden State Forest.
• Three night maximum stay per reservation.
• Blackbird has eight (8) tent sites and Redden has seven (7) sites.
• Campers must use the online reservation link or click above.
• Valid major credit card required.

Camping Regulations

• Camping is by permit only and restricted to map-designated campsites.
• Camping permits and online registration are at de.gov/forestcamping, or contact forest offices.
• Reservations are required prior to arrival date.
• Campsites are of a primitive type and used ONLY for tent camping. Pickup campers, travel trailers and/or self-propelled motor homes are excluded due to access and parking limitations, unless otherwise noted by a state forest employee.
• Campsites are limited and come equipped with tables, fire pits, and charcoal grills. Campsites are limited to a maximum number of six (6) people per site, with two (2) vehicles per site, overflow parking is provided nearby the parking areas. Camper(s) must remove their trash upon vacating their campsite and drop it off at the designated dumpster located on the camping map. Failure to adhere to these regulations will result in the camper’s removal and loss of security deposit.
• Camping is at your own risk. State Forests are a public use area and there is no after-hours, nighttime or weekend security. Law enforcement is provided by the Delaware State Police and the Department of Natural Resources Police should the need arise.
• State forests are “multiple-use facilities”, which means other activities will continue while you camp. These activities include: hunting, picnicking, hiking, nature study, horseback riding, firewood cutting (by permit only), and timber harvesting. The DFS reserves the right to limit or deny permits during times of conflicting use.
• Firewood for camp use is available for purchase onsite and no outside firewood is permitted. Please refer to the camping map for its location. If more firewood is needed, it may be gathered locally from dead and downed trees. Standing trees or shrubs shall not be cut. Using firewood located outside of the designated area of the office complex is prohibited. Campfires shall be contained within established fire rings only.
• Campsites are to be left clean and all fires are to be extinguished before departing from the area.