Governor Carney and DNREC Secretary Garvin join first-time campers at Governor’s Campout

LAUREL – Among the participants were young people and their families from the MERIT (Minority Engineering Regional Incentive Training), program, and Caesar Rodney and Laurel school districts. Sussex County legislators and town officials also attended.

Parks Director Ray Bivens, Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin at Governor’s Campout.

“Our goal this weekend is to encourage young people to connect with the outdoors,” said Secretary Garvin. “These outdoor adventures will start a lifetime journey of discovery for young people and their families of all that is available inside and outside our state parks. We hope the amazing experiences they will have will stay with them and become an experience they will not forget, encouraging them to return to reconnect with nature and the outdoors.”

The goal of Delaware’s third annual Governor’s Campout was to safely introduce children and their families to camping, the outdoors and outdoor recreational opportunities, particularly families who have not spent much time in DNREC’s Delaware State Parks. The event was part of Great Outdoors Month, during which participants from across the nation camp out overnight.

The Governors Campout featured numerous activities including setting up tents and campsites, cooking demonstrations over campfires and grills, guided hikes, pontoon tours and kayak trips, and even the traditional camping treat – s’mores over a campfire.

The campout was designed to encourage participants to continue camping and making the outdoors part of their life/family traditions.

Vol. 47, No. 145

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Camping growing in popularity at DNREC’s Delaware State Parks

DOVER – Statistics show camping is gaining in popularity at DNREC’s five state park campgrounds. So far in 2017, 5,658 visitors have camped for 2,391 nights in Delaware’s five campground parks and Indian River Marina Cottages, an increase of 7 percent in camping nights over 2016. In addition, reservations in 2017 have been booked up to a year in advance.

“Camping in our state parks is an experience you won’t forget,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Campers and visitors alike can enjoy our waterpark, canoeing, ziplining, horseback riding, our beautiful trails, and so much more. Our improved campgrounds also play a large role, especially for RVers. Delaware’s state parks offer the best in camping – no wonder it is more popular than ever.”

The increase in camping reservations, especially at Lums Pond and Cape Henlopen state parks was particularly noteworthy as more than $6 million has been spent to upgrade the campgrounds to accommodate the needs of modern campers and address long standing infrastructure issues.

Campgrounds at the inland parks still have openings for camping this summer season, while at the beach parks, campgrounds are filling fast with 65 percent of the campsites already booked through Labor Day weekend –  a sign that Delaware State Parks could see a record year of campers.

At Lums Pond, where three-point hook-ups were added in 2016, camping nights were up 400 percent this spring, in comparison to the past five years of camping stays for the same period. As the only campground in New Castle County and located just off the I-95 and Route 40 corridor, Lums Pond has become a popular campground for RVers. The spacious sites feature new 50-amp electric service, water and sewer hook-ups.

After nearly eight months of construction, Cape Henlopen State Park showcased its campground improvements, including back-in, pull-through, and walk-in campsites; a new camp store; sites with 50 or 100 amp electric service and water hook-ups; a new playground; laundry area; and a paved one-way road system. Killens Pond and Trap Pond state parks’ campgrounds also were renovated over the winter. Electric was upgraded to 50-amp service in several loops and restrooms were renovated. At Trap Pond’s campground, a multi-year re-forestation effort is underway.

Vol. 47, No. 137

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Cape Henlopen State Park campground closed to make way for improvements

LEWES – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation announced today that the popular Cape Henlopen State Park campground has closed to make way for a third and final phase of improvements. Over the past three years, campground improvements have included new bathrooms and additional cabins. When the campground re-opens in June 2017, campers will see new electric hookups, a central path for pedestrian access, new walk-in sites, improved roadways and a new camp store, projects most requested by campers in recent surveys.

The total cost for this final phase is $3.5 million, half of which is covered by a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The remainder comes from 2017 state bond bill funds.

“With the aid of the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, the division is in the home stretch for completing significant upgrades to all of our state park campgrounds,” said Delaware State Parks Director Ray Bivens. “This concentrated, three-year effort has brought modern bathrooms, extremely popular cabins and fewer paved surfaces to the campground, making it more eco-friendly.

“When Cape Henlopen’s campground re-opens next spring, campers can enjoy numerous improvements and amenities,” Bivens said. “Wide asphalt roads currently used for RV setups will become one lane with one-way circulation, and concrete pads added for RVs. New walk-in sites will be constructed for campers, similar to those at other popular sites including Trap and Killens Pond state parks, and a limited number of newly-constructed pull-through and drive-in campsites will include electric and water hookups. And the new camp store is an amenity that campers have long requested.”

After multiple years of construction in Cape Henlopen, Lums Pond and Killens Pond state parks, Bivens said the division is prepared to meet the wide array of needs of today’s tent, cabin and RV campers. From primitive camping with no campsite amenities, to three-point hook-up service at 70 sites in Lums Pond Pond State Park, 88 campsites with full hookup service at the North Inlet of Delaware Seashore State Park, upgrades to electric with 50-amp service in two loops at Killens Pond State Park and bathhouse renovations at Trap Pond State Park, state park campgrounds have been modernized to service the camping public.

As construction continues through the fall and winter, parks officials encourage campers to enjoy the state parks system’s other 811 campsites and 32 cabins. The variety of camping experiences in state parks runs the gamut from primitive tent camping to luxury cottages. Delaware State Parks also feature more than 100 miles of trails for hiking and biking, rivers and lakes for boating, and historic and recreational programs.

Fall foliage is especially spectacular in state parks. Campers and other parks visitors can hike the trails or kayak in Trap Pond State Park to capture a stunning spectrum of red and orange colors from the bald cypress, red maple, tupelo and sassafras trees that dot the shoreline and forests. At Killens and Lums Pond state parks, it’s the golden and red hues of the hickory, red maple and black gum that transform the woods into flames of color throughout the month of October. It’s also a great time of year to walk the coastal trails at Delaware Seashore and Cape Henlopen state parks. Campers can also enjoy walking the trails at nearby Burtons Island, Thompsons Island and Fresh Pond.

As DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation celebrates its 65th anniversary, and its winning the 2016 National Gold Medal award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the division has measured a 19 percent increase in overnight visits from 2014 to 2015, as camping has become more popular for vacationing.

Delaware State Parks offers a list of events as well as promotional opportunities available throughout the year with weekly and seasonal discounts for campers. To take advantage of these special offers, visit destateparks.com and look for instructions to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter and weekly promotional offers. In addition, visit the website to make a reservation or call the state park call center at 1-877-98-PARKS.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 337


DNREC-sponsored 2016 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program to be held as one-day events Sept. 24 and Oct. 8

DOVER – Registration is now open for Delaware’s 2016 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program, which will be held this year as two separate one-day events on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes and Saturday, Oct. 8 at Lums Pond State Park in Bear, instead of a full-weekend event as in past years.

 

A variety of courses are offered at BOW, with a choice of two 1.5-hour sessions or one 3.5-hour session each morning and afternoon. Volunteer instructors provide their expertise and instruction in a safe, supportive and non-competitive atmosphere. The cost of each one-day BOW program is $75, which includes meals, instruction and use of necessary equipment and supplies.

Participants have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of hands-on courses during each of the sessions. Included are target archery, crabbing, clamming, surf fishing, fire-building, beginner shotgun, bird-watching, kayaking, fly-fishing, nature photography, camping and camp cooking, geocaching, daypacking/hiking, trapping and various other outdoor activities. Not all courses are available at both locations. Specialty courses this year at BOW include Intro to Horseback Riding at Lums Pond, and Tom, Jake, Buck & Doe: A Hunter Education Intro Course, and the Cold War Bike Tour at Cape Henlopen. Intro to Natural Resources Law Enforcement with a K-9 demonstration will be offered by DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on both dates.

BOW is for you if:

  • You have never tried these activities but have hoped for an opportunity to learn.
  • You are a beginner who would like to improve your skills.
  • You have some experience but would like to try your hand at new activities.
  • You are just looking for camaraderie with like-minded individuals.

Registrations must be received by Friday, Sept. 9, with registration packets available online at de.gov/bow. Please send completed registration forms with payment to: Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife – BOW, 4876 Hay Point Landing Road, Smyrna, DE 19977. For more information, contact Lynne Pusey at 302-422-1329 or email: lynne.pusey@delaware.gov.

2016 marks the 19th year that Delaware has hosted the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, sponsored by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife. While BOW is aimed primarily at women, it offers an opportunity for anyone 18 or older to learn skills that allow them to participate in numerous outdoor activities. Since the first BOW was held in Wisconsin in 1991, this exciting international program has expanded to 46 states and seven provinces with more than 80 workshops offered each year. The main goal of the BOW program is to provide women the opportunity to learn skills that encourage and enhance participation in outdoor activities, such as hunting, shooting, fishing, boating and other activities.

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

Vol. 46, No. 305


DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation holds second annual Delaware Capital Campout at three state parks

Dramatic increase in number of participants from first event held year ago

WILMINGTON – Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary David Small and Deputy Secretary Kara Coats, and Delaware State Parks Director Ray Bivens welcomed more than 100 first-time campers to the second annual Delaware Capital Campout being held simultaneously at Bellevue State Park, Killens Pond State Park and Cape Henlopen State Park. The two-day, free-of-charge campout introduces young people and their families to the benefits and fun of being outside.

“This two-day campout offers new ways to enjoy Delaware’s great outdoors,” Gov. Markell said. “Our goal is to encourage appreciation of the environment and get families into nature. During this campout, children and their families can learn how to fish, set up a tent, and observe wildlife – just some of the benefits and fun for visitors to the state parks that are rated the best in the nation.”

Over two days, young people and their families will participate in all kinds of activities from learning how to set up a tent and build a campfire, to hiking, fishing and canoeing. Three state parks are serving as “host partners” for the event, which is sponsored by Coleman and the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware. Walmart and Chick-fil-A are contributing food to the events.

“The Capital Campout has been a huge success,” said DNREC Secretary Small. “The number of new campers has increased dramatically, from 27 participants last year to 108 this year, so we were delighted to expand the program from one park to three. This is a great way for children and families to explore outdoor recreation opportunities, to have fun and learn about nature. Enjoying our parks, trails and other amenities can help people stay active and healthy and create an appreciation for special outdoor places to help new generations be wise stewards of our natural resources.”

The Delaware Capital Campout is part of a national effort to get young people and their families, who may not usually experience the outdoors, outside and enjoying the activities parks have to offer. The campouts are part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Campout.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 230