June 21 deadline for nominations fast approaching

DOVER – Do you know a Delaware student who is striving to make a difference for the environment? The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is encouraging teachers, classmates, parents, club or group leaders, and others to nominate these students for the 2019 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards. Nominations for the 26th annual awards must be based on actions or projects which have taken place between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, June 21, 2019. A winner will be chosen from each of the following categories:

• Elementary (grades 1-4)
• Middle School (grades 5-8)
• High School (grades 9-12)

The Young Environmentalist program honors Delaware students who have helped protect, restore or enhance Delaware’s natural resources through one or more of the following actions:

• Demonstrating Environmental Stewardship
• Initiating an Innovative Project
• Increasing Public Awareness
• Demonstrating Environmental Ethics

Winners will be honored in a special ceremony on Governor’s Day at the 2019 Delaware State Fair Thursday, July 25. Each category winner will receive a certificate, gift card and prize pack in recognition of his or her contribution to the community.

Nominations may be submitted online on the DNREC website, or by U.S. mail to Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by email to joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

For more information, including nomination forms, please visit https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/young-environmentalists, or contact Joanna Wilson at 302-739-9902.

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

Vol. 49, No. 149

DOVER – Do you know a Delaware student who is working to make a difference for the environment? The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is encouraging teachers, classmates, parents, club or group leaders, and others to nominate these students for the 2018 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards. Nominations must be based on actions or projects which have taken place between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, June 22, 2018. A winner will be chosen from each of the following categories:

The Young Environmentalist program honors Delaware students whose actions have helped protect, restore or enhance of Delaware’s natural resources through one or more of the following means:

• Demonstrating Environmental Stewardship
• Initiating an Innovative Project
• Increasing Public Awareness
• Demonstrating Environmental Ethics

Winners will be honored in a special ceremony on Governor’s Day at the 2018 Delaware State Fair Thursday, July 26. Each category winner will receive a certificate, gift card and prize pack in recognition of his or her contribution to the community.

This is the 25th year for the Young Environmentalist awards program, which was established by colleagues and friends in honor of Dr. Edwin H. “Toby” Clark II, who served as Secretary of DNREC from 1989 until 1993.

Nominations may be submitted by U.S. mail to Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by email to joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

For more information, including nomination forms, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/Pages/YoungEnv.aspx, or contact Joanna Wilson at 302-739-9902 or email joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

Vol. 48, No. 71

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

Step right up and into DNREC’s newly-climate-controlled fair building for exhibits and environmental displays galore!

HARRINGTON  – With the 2017 Delaware State Fair throwing open the gates today for its fun-filled 10-day run (Thursday, July 20 thru Saturday, July 29), DNREC is again right in the middle of the annual extravaganza – with an array of environmental displays in a newly-climate-controlled State Fair building, and game prizes to be won by kids of all ages for showing their knowledge about the state’s natural resources and environment.

Under the banner with this year’s theme, “DNREC – Your ECOnnection,” DNREC’s displays link visitors to environmentally-friendly programs and ideas. Fairgoers will find information and activities from DNREC’s divisions and programs. Featured this year: DNREC’s refurbished Energy House and a new interactive watershed display demonstrating how water flows and wetlands hold water, plus a 3-D map of stormwater runoff flowing from a suburban yard to Delaware’s wetlands, rivers, streams, bay and the ocean. State Fair visitors young and older also are invited to play DNREC’s scavenger hunt game for discovering eco-friendly facts about Delaware that can be found within the DNREC building, and to pick from a wide range of prizes after their successful “hunt.”

Meanwhile, the DNREC On Stage theater offers a preview of programs from parks, nature centers and other facilities statewide owned and operated by the Department’s Divisions of Fish & Wildlife, Parks & Recreation and Watershed Stewardship. Stop by daily to learn more about what we have to offer – and discover unique new places you and your family can visit!

ECOnnect with DNREC!
At the Fair, adults and kids of all ages can learn more about the science behind the work DNREC does in protecting the environment and Delaware’s natural resources. DNREC’s building includes displays, hands-on activities and educational games. At DNREC on Stage, in the building’s air-conditioned theater, they will also see live animal shows and presentations ranging from maritime history to geology to Delaware’s unique plants and animals. DNREC’s building is located on the fair grounds’ East Rider Road – admission is free and the building is open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily during the fair. For more information, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov.

DNREC on Stage Schedule

Thursday, July 20

• Noon – 3 p.m. Build Your Own Horseshoe Crab! Kids of all ages are invited to color and create their own model of a horseshoe crab, and learn more about these unique aquatic creatures. (From the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve)

Friday, July 21

• Noon – 3 p.m. Wildlife in the Parks … and in your Backyard! Learn about the animals that call Lums Pond home – and the critters in your own backyard. Plus, meet some park residents, including a turtle and toad. (From Lums Pond State Park)

Saturday, July 22

• Noon – 3 p.m. Herbivore, Omnivore, Carnivore! Mammal teeth tell the story of what their owners eat, as illustrated by skulls such as black bear, beaver, deer, and others, along with animal pelts to touch. (From White Clay Creek State Park)
• 3 – 6 p.m. Live Music with Switchback! Stay awhile and enjoy upbeat rock and pop from the 70s to now with this three-piece local band!

Sunday, July 23

• Noon – 3 p.m. Bringing the Zoo to You! Meet a few of the residents of Delaware’s very own zoo and learn about where and how they live. (From the Brandywine Zoo)

Monday, July 24 – Senior Day

• Noon – 3 p.m. Beach Comes to the Fair! Live horseshoe crabs and other beach creatures travel inland to DNREC’s fair building to meet visitors. (From Cape Henlopen State Park)
• 3 – 6 p.m. Who’s in the Bay Today? Learn about some aquatic species that live in the Delaware Bay and meet some up close! (From the DuPont Nature Center)

Tuesday, July 25 – Kids Day

• Noon – 3 p.m. Reptiles and Amphibians of Delaware! Meet the often-unnoticed creatures that crawl, hop, swim and slither in our wetlands, woods and waterways. (From Killens Pond State Park)
• Noon – 3 p.m. Experience Colonial Games and Toys! Costumed interpreters invite visitors to play games and check out toys from Colonial times, on the DNREC building’s porch. (From First State Heritage Park)
• 3 – 6 p.m. Shipwrecks & Surfman Selfies! Celebrate Delaware Seashore State Park’s 50th anniversary with displays telling the park’s unique story and maritime history activities.

Wednesday, July 26 – Armed Forces Day/Military Appreciation Day

• Noon – 3 p.m. Creating Power through Natural Resources! See how water creates power by watching a steam engine in action, then create your own pinwheel to harness wind and make energy (From Auburn Heights Preserve)
• 3 – 6 p.m. Travel Back to the Civil War Days! Interpreters in period costume invite children to play games and try on period costumes, then march in children’s infantry drills. (From Fort Delaware State Park)

Thursday, July 27 – Governors Day/Senior Day

• 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join DNREC’s Volunteer Olympics! Get a taste of some of the volunteer opportunities DNREC offers by competing in fast and fun games including beach grass planting and horseshoe crab counting … with prizes.
• 1 – 2 p.m. DNREC Awards at Mann Tharp Pavilion! DNREC’s Young Environmentalists, Youth Fishing Tournament winners, Wetland Warriors, Volunteers of the Year, Hunting and Fishing Photo Contest winners and Rain Barrel Art Contest winners will be recognized. Also, get a close-up look at one of DNREC’s environmental Emergency Response Team vehicles.
• 1:40 p.m. Bayshore Forever! Catch the premiere of this new video tour of Delaware’s beautiful Bayshore region.
• 3 – 6 p.m. Horseshoe Crabs and Skins, Scat and Tracks! Two fascinating programs about Delaware’s resident living fossil – the horseshoe crab – and a close-up look at identifying animals by their tracks, scat and skins. (From the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve)

Friday, July 28

• Noon – 3 p.m. Beauty and the Beaks! Learn about how different kinds of Delaware birds use their specialized beaks and feathers – and try being a bird. (From Alapocas Run State Park/Wilmington State Parks)
• 3 – 6 p.m. Primitive Skills: Making Slate Cutting Tools! Learn how our ancient ancestors created cutting tools from slate and try making your own slate tools with help from a park naturalist. (Killens Pond State Park)
• 4:30 – 9 p.m. How Does Your Deer Measure Up? Learn how Boone & Crockett’s white-tailed deer scoring system works, see some examples of mounted record-holders and get your own evaluated. (On the DNREC Bldg. porch)

Vol. 47, No. 163

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, 302-739-9902 or Joanna.Wilson@delaware.gov

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Educational attractions at the DNREC Building and a full schedule of activities, presentations and games.

HARRINGTON – With the 2016 Delaware State Fair throwing open the gates tomorrow for its fun-filled run (Thursday, July 21 thru Saturday, July 30), DNREC is again right in the middle of the annual extravaganza – with more environmental displays than ever at the Fair, more Delaware State Parks presentations in celebrating Parks’ 65^th anniversary, and game prizes to be won by kids of all ages from testing their knowledge about the state’s natural resources from taking in all those displays and presentations. All in the DNREC Education Building, on East Rider Rd., near the Center Ice Rink on the fairgrounds.

DNREC’s Funhouse of Science, located in the building’s main room, features a dozen displays from DNREC’s divisions and programs offering information and activities on everything from increasingly popular “living shorelines” to improving Delaware’s air quality to making recycling a lifestyle choice. New this year: DNREC’s refurbished Energy House, plus displays on living shorelines, Delaware’s tax ditches and climate change. State Fair visitors young and older also are invited to play DNREC’s scavenger hunt game for “hunting down” facts about Delaware natural resources and environmental knowledge that can be found within the DNREC building, and to pick from a wide array of prizes when they succeed in completing the hunt.

Outside the building, don’t miss T-Rex, the Division of Energy & Climate’s mobile solar power station – you can even plug in your phone for a quick charge … with clean energy from the sun! Back inside the building, DNREC’s On Stage theater offers a preview of programs from parks, nature centers and other facilities statewide owned and operated by the Department’s Divisions of Fish & Wildlife, Parks & Recreation and Watershed Stewardship. Stop by daily to learn more about Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and what we have to offer – and discover unique new places you and your family can visit!

DNREC’s Fun House of Science

Adults and kids of all ages are invited to visit DNREC’s Fun House of Science at the Delaware State Fair July 21-30 where they can discover the science behind the work DNREC does to protect the environment and Delaware’s natural resources. DNREC’s building includes displays, hands-on activities and educational games with prizes, as well as live animal shows and presentations about subjects from maritime history to geology to Delaware’s unique plants and animals in its air-conditioned theater, DNREC On Stage. Tropo, the Division of Air Quality’s big blue mascot, also will be making a special appearance. The Fun House of Science, located in DNREC’s Education Building on East Rider Road on the Fairgrounds, is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., every day during the fair. For more information, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov or call 302-739-9902.

DNREC On-Stage Schedule

• Thursday, July 21
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: See Live Horseshoe Crabs! Learn fascinating facts about this unique and ancient Bayshore species from DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center staff – and see them up close.
• Friday, July 22
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Create Power … with Water and Wind! Watch a steam engine and water wheel in action, and then create your own pinwheel to harness wind and make energy from our natural resources. (From Delaware State Parks’ Auburn Heights Preserve)
  • 3 – 6 p.m.: Explore the Cape’s Coastal Habitats! Follow clues to investigate habitats on Cape Henlopen – maritime forest, sand dunes and salt marsh – and learn about the animal and plant species that call the Cape home. (From Cape Henlopen State Park)
• Saturday, July 23
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Discover Geology of White Clay Creek! Touch rocks and minerals that created White Clay Creek’s watershed and learn how geologists can read Earth’s history in these pieces of our planet.

• Sunday, July 24

  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Bringing the Zoo to You! Meet a few of the unique residents of Delaware’s own Brandywine Zoo and learn about where and how they live.
• Monday, July 25 – Senior Day
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Go Down in the Paw-Paw Patch! Learn about North America’s largest yet little-known native fruit tree, the pawpaw, and its role in the life of the zebra swallowtail butterfly. (From Alapocas Run/Wilmington State Parks)
  • 3 – 6 p.m.: Wiggly Worms at Work! See red wiggler worms at work in a compost bin and discover how these dirt-dwellers help us by creating soil. (From Bellevue State Park)
• Tuesday, July 26 – Kids Day
  • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Meet Tropo! DNREC’s Division of Air Quality’s big blue mascot will entertain visitors while promoting the importance of clean air in Delaware. Shows on the half hour.
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Build Your Own Horseshoe Crab! Kids of all ages are invited to color and create their own model horseshoe crab, and learn more about this unique aquatic species. (From the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve)
  • 3 – 6 p.m.: Make Slate Cutting Tools! Learn how primitive cultures created slate cutting tools and practice your own primitive skills with a park naturalist. (From Killens Pond State Park)
• Wednesday, July 27 – Armed Forces Day/Military Appreciation Day
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Maritime History and Beach Creatures! Learn about Delaware’s seafaring past and try tying sailor’s knots … then get to know beach-dwelling terrapins and osprey. (From the Indian River Life-Saving Station)
  • 3 – 6 p.m.: Play Colonial Games! Costumed interpreters on the DNREC building porch invite visitors to play games and check out toys from Colonial times. (From the First State Heritage Park)
  • 3 – 6 p.m.: Travel Back to the Civil War Days! Interpreters in period costume invite children to play games and try on period costumes, then march in children’s infantry drills. (From Fort Delaware State Park)
• Thursday, July 28 – Governors Day/Senior Day
  • 11 a.m. – Noon: Join DNREC’s Volunteer Olympics! Get a taste of some of the volunteer opportunities DNREC offers by competing in fast and fun games including beach grass planting and horseshoe crab counting … with prizes.
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Play Operation Think Tank! Answer quiz questions about water, its uses and sources and what we can do to protect this vital resource. (From Brandywine Creek State Park)
  • 1 – 2 p.m.: DNREC Awards at Mann Tharp Pavilion! DNREC’s Young Environmentalists, Youth Fishing Tournament winners, Wetland Warriors, Volunteers of the Year, Hunting and Fishing Photo Contest winners and Rain Barrel Art Contest winners will be recognized. Also, get a close-up look at DNREC’s largest environmental Emergency Response Team vehicle, known as “The Beast.”
  • 2 p.m.: Rain Barrel Know-How! Learn how to assemble your own rain barrel and start storing water for many uses in your own yard. (From DNREC’s Watershed Assessment and Management Section)

  • 3 – 6 p.m.: Meet Creatures from the Bay! Touch live horseshoe crabs and other aquatic species from the Delaware Bay in a touch tank and play games and activities with the staff of the DuPont Nature Center.

• Friday, July 29
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Skins, Scat and Tracks – and a Living Fossil! Two fascinating programs from the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve: a close-up look at identifying animals by their tracks, scat and skins, and a look at Delaware’s resident living fossil, the horseshoe crab. Presentations at noon, 1 and 2 p.m.
  • 3 – 6 p.m.: Living Life in a Swamp! Learn about the animals that live in wetland areas and meet two swamp-dwellers: a box turtle and a corn snake. (From Trap Pond State Park)
  • 4:30 – 9 p.m.: How Does Your Deer Measure Up? Learn how Boone & Crockett’s white-tailed deer scoring system works, see some examples of mounted record-holders and get your own evaluated. (On the DNREC Bldg. porch)
• Saturday, July 30
  • Noon – 3 p.m.: Living Life in a Swamp! Learn about the animals that live in wetland areas and meet two swamp-dwellers: a box turtle and a corn snake. (From Trap Pond State Park)
  • 3-6 p.m.: Reptiles and Amphibians of Delaware! Meet those often-unnoticed creatures that crawl, hop, swim and slither in our wetlands, woods and waterways. (From Killens Pond State Park)
  • 5 p.m.: Live Music with Switchback! Local band Switchback brings their upbeat mix of rock and pop to DNREC’s front porch.

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

Vol. 46, No. 262

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DOVER – Riding the wave of the popularity of the summer’s hottest craze, DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation today launched “Poké Park Adventure,” a contest for kids of all ages, in Delaware State Parks.

The “Poké Park Adventure” uses the free smartphone game (or app), “Pokémon Go,” in which players try to capture different monsters from Pokémon, a Japanese cartoon, using a combination of GPS and other technologies built into smartphones, including location tracking and cameras, encouraging players to visit – in this case, Delaware State Parks, in order to nab virtual loot and collectible characters. The point of the game is to “catch ‘em all!”

“This new contest is a great way to get kids, families, and all adventure-seeking Delawareans outside and into nature – a major goal of our Children in Nature Initiative,” said Governor Jack Markell. “I want to thank Delaware State Parks for taking advantage of the extraordinary popularity of this new technology to help encourage physical activity and showcase our amazing State Parks.”

“We are so pleased to offer this new and fun way for kids and families to get out into nature in our state parks,” said Delaware State Parks Director Ray Bivens. “The contest is being run from today through the end of July to give people a chance to visit all of the parks if they can.”

To win the “Poké Park Adventure,” players must take a screenshot of a view of their avatar in a park, and then take screenshots of each Poké Stop they visit. The screenshot must show that the player is in range of a Poké Stop. Then, players tag that park on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, using the hashtag #pokeparkde.

Whoever visits the most Poké Stops within any state parks (and park attractions) will receive a “legendary” prize pack complete with Pokémon merchandise, a 2017 Annual Park Pass, a YETI rambler bottle and other prizes.

The contest is open now through July 31 to give everyone a chance to travel across the land, searching far and wide. The winner will be announced Wednesday, Aug. 3.

To find out more about “Poké Park Adventure,” including rules, visit www.destateparks.com/pokepark

(Pokémon and Pokémon Go are trademarked by The Pokémon Company. Delaware State Parks is not affiliated with Pokémon in any way.)

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

Vol. 46, No. 261

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