Charter School of Wilmington Wins 2024 Delaware Envirothon Championship

Charter School of Wilmington Team A won the school’s 22nd straight Delaware Envirothon championship today at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center in Milford. Left to right are team members Siddhi Dinavahi, Arya Gupta, Eesha Sagiraju, Dharshini Senthilnathan, Amber Wong and Elaine Zuo (Alt.) /DNREC photo.

 

Charter’s Team A Claims School’s 22nd Straight Victory in Statewide Environmental Competition

Charter School of Wilmington Team A is the winner of the 2024 Delaware Envirothon competition held today at Abbotts Mill Nature Center in Milford, the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts announced today. The latest state Envirothon championship marks Charter School of Wilmington’s school’s 22nd win in the event’s 28-year history, highlighted by an unbroken winning streak in the Envirothon competition since 2002. Odessa High School FFA came in second place and Wilmington Charter School Team B placed third in the Envirothon competition.

Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the annual environmental education competition is open to high school students statewide.

The 16 competing Envirothon teams representing nine high schools and one 4-H club statewide – Calvary Christian Academy, Charter School of Wilmington, Middletown High School FFA, Newark Charter High School, Odessa High School FFA, Polytech High School, Smyrna High School FFA, Sussex Central High School, Sussex Tech High School FFA and Peach Blossom 4-H Club – worked hard all school year to prepare for the 2024 event held at Abbotts Mill Nature Center in Milford.

Each team answered questions, reviewed specimens, and took measurements in topics dealing with aquatic ecology, soils/land use, wildlife, forestry and the current environmental issue of “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.” Teams also had to give a seven to 10-minute oral presentation of a scenario based on the current issue.

After more than three hours of testing, Charter School of Wilmington Team A was crowned the 2024 state champion. The first-place team will represent Delaware at the 2024 National Conservation Foundation (NCF) International Envirothon to be held at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, from July 28 to Aug. 3.

Each member of the winning team earned a $500 scholarship from the Delaware Envirothon and other prizes. The winning team will also receive an award plaque for their school. The second through seventh place teams received more than $1,300 in special team awards and cash prizes.

Prizes in the form of gift cards and ribbons were awarded to the top seven teams. The official results are as follows:

  • First place – The Charter School of Wilmington Team A: Siddhi Dinavahi, Arya Gupta, Eesha Sagiraju, Dharshini Senthilnathan, Amber Wong and Elaine Zuo (Alt.)
  • Second place – Odessa High School FFA: Makennah Bell, Luke Brown, Camrynn Chambers, Emma Sweetman and Jackson Wills
  • Third place – Saathvi Arunkumar, Rujula Borkar, Finnigan Carroll, Subiksha Srinivasan Vidya, Dhriti Tattari and Jane Oommen (Alt.)
  • Fourth place – Peach Blossom 4-H Club: Ava Gallo, Aidan Garey, Mason Hay, Kaylyn Jones, Justus Moritz, Sofia Marquez (Alt.) and Lexi Hay (Alt.)
  • Fifth place – Newark Charter High School Aquaholics: Zahra Ali, Anavi Chintam, Nina Moses, Ritisha Sarbajna and Aaliyah Sheikh
  • Sixth place – Sussex Tech High School FFA: Hayden Chisenhall, Johnna Hataway, Morgan Lowe, Brock O’Day, Trent Ruark, Jack Willin (Alt.) and Connor LeCates (Alt.)
  • Seventh place – Polytech Future Fertilizer: Christopher Clay, Aiden Clough, Abigail Masterson, Aiden Taylor and Emma Vernon

Since its inception, the Delaware Envirothon has awarded $70,000 in scholarships to 140 students. The event is hosted by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD), a voluntary, non-profit association that coordinates conservation efforts statewide to focus on natural resource issues identified by Delaware’s three local districts.

In addition to DNREC, major sponsors include the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Sussex Conservation District, the Kent Conservation District, and the New Castle Conservation District, along with many other smaller donors.

More information about the annual event can be found at delawareenvirothon.org.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn. 

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Delaware Forest Service Partners with Delaware Libraries to Promote Smokey Bear Reading Challenge

DOVER, Del. (January 3, 2024) – From January 1 through November 28, 2024, the United States Forest Service and state library systems across the country are celebrating Smokey’s 80th birthday by participating in the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge. The challenge is geared towards children ages 4 through 10, but all ages are welcome to join. The Smokey Bear Reading Challenge aims to engage youth in reading about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers while they explore their local environment. The challenge is designed to complement the 2024 National Summer Library Reading Program theme of “Adventure Begins at Your Library!” which will run from June through August.

“Delaware Libraries are excited to partner with the Delaware Forest Service and Smokey Bear to bring adventure and nature education to Delaware library users in 2024. Smokey Bear’s Reading Challenge means that Delaware’s children of all ages can learn about wildfire prevention, connect with nature, and have adventures at their library!” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian.

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is partnering with all 33 Delaware libraries to encourage children to take up the challenge. Each library will receive a package of forestry-themed books to add to their lending library, Smokey Bear signage, and prizes for those completing the challenge, to better help children and families connect with this iconic forest legend.

The Delaware Forest Service is coordinating a statewide Smokey Bear Library Tour in 2024 to promote the Reading Challenge and deliver programming on wildfire prevention and nature education to Delaware communities. During the tour, Smokey will be visiting local Delaware libraries. Ashley Melvin, the lead trainer/educator for the Delaware Forest Service, will provide educational opportunities for children using their traveling nature center. In addition, Smokey Bear will appear at community events throughout 2024, including the Delaware State Fair and holiday parades.

“We encourage families to spend time outdoors, and Delaware’s State Forests present ample opportunities to make meaningful connections with nature. Wherever your adventure takes you, Smokey’s timeless message reminds us that we all share the responsibility of keeping Delaware’s outdoor spaces safe from wildfire. Wildfire prevention and nature education are local initiatives, and a partnership with Delaware Libraries will continue to benefit Delawareans long after the Reading Challenge ends,” remarked Delaware State Forester Kyle Hoyd.

With the help of the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge, participants will have the opportunity to learn about topics, including:

  • Smokey Bear history
  • Campfire safety
  • Nature exploration
  • Careers in forestry and natural resources
  • Wildfire science

“Smokey Bear is a national icon, and the Delaware Forest Service is excited to help communities celebrate his 80th birthday. The timing is perfect as a statewide initiative exists to connect Delawareans to nature to increase environmental literacy,” said Ashley Melvin, DFS Trainer/Educator. “A big component of becoming environmentally literate is adopting environmentally responsible behaviors. Since 1944, Smokey Bear’s campaign has actively engaged the public to help prevent wildfires. I anticipate 2024 to be a very busy year for Smokey Bear!”

Families interested in participating in the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge should visit their Delaware public library or sign-up online delawarelibraries.org/beanstack. Visit Delawarelibraries.org/list-of-libraries for a Delaware Libraries locations & hours. Visit the Delaware Forest Service’s Facebook page periodically for highlights and tips for earning badges. For information on requesting a Smokey Bear appearance, contact Ashley Melvin at ashley.melvin@delaware.gov. To learn more about the Communities in Nature Initiative, visit daeeonline.org.

Delaware Association for Environmental Education Seeks Presentations and Award Nominations

DOVER, Del. (December 13, 2023) – The Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE) is holding its 15th Annual Conference with a focus on “Nature Access for All!” on February 24, 2024, at Fred Fifer III Middle School in Camden. The keynote speaker will be Dr. McKay Jenkins, noted author and University of Delaware professor.

Todd Klawinski, DAEE Chairman of the Board, states, “DAEE’s mission is to promote environmental education and meaningful outdoor experiences to create positive community impacts that lead to the conservation and sustainability of Delaware’s natural resources. The Annual Conference, now in its 15th year, highlights the innovative work of Delaware’s diverse Network of statewide partners committed to collaboratively increasing environmental literacy for ALL Delawareans. Our conference brings together classroom teachers, environmental educators, resource professionals, and community partners for a day of networking and unique learning experiences aimed at increasing equitable access to the knowledge, skills, and dispositions critical for communities to be well-prepared to address current and future environmental challenges.”

The conference is an opportunity for formal and non-formal educators to join community leaders and advocates to help Delaware’s diverse communities increase environmental literacy. The event features networking, professional learning, hands-on experiences, and community education for both adults and youth. It also highlights environmental education opportunities, initiatives, resources, best practices, and local issues to help foster impactful environmental stewardship.

Call for Presentations
DAEE invites professionals, thought leaders and experts in education or environmental issues to submit presentation proposals on innovative topics, best practices, and emerging trends. Successful presenters will be able to showcase their expertise and contribute to the knowledge exchange at this year’s workshop.

Delaware Forest Service’s Trainer-Educator Ashley Melvin, who is also the DAEE Conference planning committee chair, remarked, “The Delaware Forest Service has been a strong partner with the DAEE for 15 years because we recognize the impact that DAEE has on environmental education through highlighting the success stories of educators throughout Delaware. It is always exciting to see how conference participants implement what they learn in their programs.”

Proposals should include a brief abstract, speaker bio, and contact information, and should address one of the following conference subjects:

  1. Connecting People with Nature
    2. Engaging Professionals in Environmental Education
    3. Cultivating Environmental Leaders
    4. Innovative and Inclusive environmental education

Interested speakers can submit proposals by December 29 at: https://bit.ly/daee2024

“Awards of Excellence” Nominations
DAEE is proud to announce the opening of nominations for its 2023 “Awards for Excellence,” which aim to recognize outstanding achievements, innovation, and leadership in environmental education in Delaware. This recognition was established in 2017 by the Delaware Communities in Nature in partnership with DAEE. The selection committee is encouraging individuals and organizations to nominate themselves for worthwhile activities and projects for the calendar year 2023.

Award Categories

• Exemplary Partnership: This award is presented to a group working in Delaware that demonstrates an outstanding partnership in the environmental field that serves as a model and inspiration to others.

  • Meaningful Impact: This award recognizes accomplishments toward facilitating positive community impacts on conservation, sustainability, and/or career advancement in the environmental field in Delaware.
  • Healthy Innovation: This award recognizes new approaches to connecting children, individuals, and/or families with the outdoors and healthy lifestyles in Delaware.
  • Outstanding Field Educator: This award is presented to an individual and/or organization working in Delaware who demonstrates outstanding local, regional, and/or global environmental education efforts.

Award Nomination Process
Nominations must be submitted online by January 5 at https://bit.ly/daee2023awards

Applicants need to provide up to three photographs of the project, work, or of the nominee relating to the work for which they are nominated. Additional materials can be submitted to DAEEonline@gmail.com with the words DAEE Award in the subject line. Please note all submitted materials, nomination text/details, photographs and supporting documents may be shared at the annual DAEE conference, on the DAEE website, virtual conferencing platforms, and on social media platforms hosted by DAEE and CIN. By submitting the form and emailing supporting documents, you agree that DAEE can use these materials in the manner listed above for this year and in the future.

Nominations/Submissions will be reviewed by a committee of DAEE’s Board of Directors. The committee will review applications and select award winners for each category. Nominees may be considered for multiple categories, including categories they may have not been nominated for; however, they will only be eligible to receive one award. Winners will be notified by email and recognized at the Annual Conference. Individual award winners will receive one free ticket to the annual conference. Organization or group winners will receive two free tickets.

For any questions and more information, please visit daeeonline.org, or contact Ashley Melvin at 302-698-4551 or Ashley.Melvin@delaware.gov.

Forest Service Observes “Outdoor Classroom Day”

DOVER, Del. (May 21, 2021) — The Delaware Forest Service joined the Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE) to observe “World Outdoor Classroom Day” by planting trees this week at Heritage Elementary in Red Clay School District and Allen Frear Elementary in Caesar Rodney School District. An outdoor learning place is “any place where meaningful experiences can be had in and with nature and the environment,” according to DAEE.  “Outdoor learning places are especially beneficial to young students to develop the deep life-long appreciation for the natural world, our dependence on it, and its fragility. Outdoor learning places are often at schools but they can be at parks, churches, or even created in a backyard.”

DAEE  is a volunteer-led alliance of professionals from natural resource agencies, nonprofits, and schools who strive to create “meaningful outdoor experiences” to enhance learning across a wide range of curriculum areas. DAEE and the “Delaware Communities in Nature”(DCIN) initative developed Delaware’s “environmental literacy plan” in 2015. The document serves as a foundational blueprint to expand environmental education beyond traditional core STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) into areas such social studies, history, art, and physical education.

Delaware Forest Service education specialist Ashley Melvin is the current chair of DAEE, and the organization is urging schools and organizations throughout the First State to join its “Outdoor Learning Network,”  an initiative building an online “story map” that locates outdoor learning spaces on a map and shares them with others to build a community of learners to foster environmental education across the curriculum. Educators can then learn from others who are incorporating the outdoors into lesson plans for various subject areas.

“These outdoor learning spaces create opportunities for students to get involved and enhance their own community,” Melvin said. “It’s something meaningful that they can hopefully use on a daily basis.”

DAEE holds an annual conference every spring and fosters the Delaware “Communities in Nature” initiative. The group provides a wealth of year-round resources, professional mentoring, and enrichment opportunities for those who are looking to get started or continue their efforts in environmental education. DAEE’s board and leadership team includes representatives from the Delaware Nature Society, Delaware State Parks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, private corporations, as well as public, private, and charter schools.

Schools or educators interested in getting more information can email DAEE at daeeonline@gmail.com

At Heritage Elementary in the Red Clay School District, students from every grade level planted more than 30 trees to enhance the school’s new outdoor classroom. At Allen Frear Elementary in the Caesar Rodney School District, the high school’s National Junior Honor Society joined fourth- and fifth-grade students to plant native trees and plants in a converted drainage basin in the parking lot. The area is now a “bioswale,” an outdoor learning space near the school’s main entrance that can serve as a certified “Schoolyard Habitat.” Todd Klawinski is Caesar Rodney School District’s environmental education specialist and a board member of DAEE. The bioswale is one of many outdoor learning spaces – including one at nearby Postlethwait Middle School – that earned the district a “National Green Ribbon School Award” from the U.S. Department of Education in 2019.

According to DAEE, meaningful outdoor experiences generate benefits for students in many areas:

  • Better performance on standardized metrics in reading, writing, math, science and social studies
  • Reduced discipline and classroom management problems
  • Increased engagement and enthusiasm for learning
  • Greater pride and ownership in accomplishments
  • College and career STEM job readiness.
  • More chances to physically move and practice a healthy lifestyle
  • Better understanding of the natural resources within the state
  • A well-rounded community of people knowledgeable about environmental issues
  • Increased exposure and preparation for careers and jobs where people work outdoors

David Pragoff, School and Groups Team Leader at the Delaware Nature Society, touted the many benefits of the project at Allen Frear Elementary School:

“In addition to a space like this that has environmental benefits, we want to make sure that we are using it with the students so that they can enhance their science learning, or their language arts, or their math. Interdisciplinary learning in a space like this can be really powerful and really meaningful for kids.”

Pragoff outlined how outdoor learning spaces provide opportunities to help students meet curriculum objectives at every grade level.

“At the first-grade level, they’re focusing on organisms and what they need to survive. So looking at any individual plant or collection of plants, what are their specific needs? And how can we help them survive in a space like this? What are the insects? And what are the birds and other wildlife species that are brought into these plants because they are a food source or source for shelter? And at the second-grade level, they focus on soils and they focus on insects and life cycles. And so we’ve got lots of soil, and with luck, we’ll have lots of insects and pollinators coming through this space. Third grade does an earth science unit on rocks and minerals. We can look at the soil conditions and relate that back to where the soil is coming from and the change over time. Fourth grade is life cycles and land and water – so we’re looking at erosion and deposition, which is apparent all around us on the ground. And then fifth grade is looking at ecosystems more broadly, so the interaction between species and in a space like this. And that’s just the science curriculum. There’s poetry, spontaneous writing and storytelling, or math. How many plants can be supported in a certain area of space? And arts are endless. They could do sculptural installations, drawing and painting, or just observation skills.”

Just the immersive experience of students getting their hands dirty and touching nature can be an impactful experience: “Just that first step of showing them it’s okay to get your hands in the dirt. We definitely had a couple of kids who were upset that their hands were dirty and they were talking about washing their hands and were a little reluctant at first, but as they saw other people were getting engaged, they got into it. All in all, the kids did a fantastic job.

Todd Klawinski, Environmental Education Specialist at Caesar Rodney School District, hopes to see the network of educational partnerships growing in the future. The effort is highlighted by a new web-based “story map” for Delaware’s Outdoor Learning Network with locations and features of outdoor classrooms throughout the state. In this way, educators can learn from each other about innovative ideas that can benefit and reach more students.”

“The story map we’re working on is to collect and mark out on a map where people are doing stuff like this. Whether it’s just starting something like a pollinator garden or even just planning it… that network just connects everybody,” Klawinski said.

“What DAEE is doing just moves that to the next level and identifying where all these spaces are so that people can go and see them, learn from them, and then start to expand outdoor learning spaces across the state.”

2021 Arbor Day School Poster Contest

2021 Contest Theme: “Trees are Terrific… In Many Wonderful Ways!”

DOVER — The Delaware Forest Service is seeking entries for its annual “Arbor Day School Poster Contest” – open to students in grades K to 5 from all Delaware public, private, home school, after-school, and other organized youth groups. Winning posters will be selected from each of the three counties in the following categories: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5. The twelve winners will be recognized at the annual Statewide Arbor Day Celebration and receive a tree planting ceremony at their school to celebrate Arbor Day. Deadline to register is March 15. Posters must be submitted by April 1.

The poster contest is designed to increase student knowledge about forests and forest resources. For teachers, the poster contest can be an ideal way for students to learn more about the role of trees in our communities and their direct impact on Delawareans’ health and well-being. The schoolyard is a perfect setting to incorporate the role of trees into your everyday curriculum. Trees not only provide beauty, shade, and habitat and food for wildlife, they also improve air quality, muffle noise, moderate air temperatures, filter runoff into streams and rivers, and reduce energy consumption.

Important Links

Criteria

Posters will be judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression.

Classroom Resources

Teachers can access the shared Google folder for  Teacher Resource Shared Google Drive and additional resources.

Free Seedlings

All participating classes will receive free loblolly pine seedlings delivered to their schools, just in time to celebrate Arbor Day!

Registration

Arbor Day Poster Registration Site

Questions:

Ashley Melvin, Delaware Forest Service
(302) 698-4551

ashley.melvin@delaware.gov

Dates to Remember:

  • Deadline to register and reserve free seedlings: March 15
  • Deadline to submit posters for state contest: April 1
  • Arbor Day in Delaware: April 30
  • Seedling delivery: mid-April

Delaware’s Arbor Day is Friday, April 30, 2021.

Established by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872, Arbor Day is an annual occasion to encourage everyone to plant trees and celebrate the numerous benefits that trees provide. In Delaware, the last Friday of April is traditionally observed as “Arbor Day.”

In 2019, the Delaware Forest Service hosted its annual Arbor Day Ceremony at Dover’s Schutte Park, honoring its school poster contest winners and recognizing Dover’s 30th Year as the First State’s longest-running Tree City USA. The event culminated with the planting of more than 30 large trees at six locations, including a zelkova on the historic Green on State Street. Delaware State University also held its Arbor Day event and is now celebrating its 9th consecutive year as Delaware’s only certified Tree Campus USA. Check out the 2019 Arbor Day photos on Flickr or at the Delaware Forest Service Facebook Page.

Previous Winners:

For more information, email: Ashley Melvin

Arbor Day observances are also an integral part of community recognition programs such as Tree Campus USA, Tree City USA, and Delaware’s Tree Friendly Community Award, as well as qualifying for a financial award from the Urban Grant Program.

Past Delaware Arbor Day celebrations: