DNREC Award winners were recognized during Governor’s Day at the Fair by both Governor John Carney and Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and by DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. Left to right: Lt. Gov. Hall-Long, Young Environmentalists Chris Runde and Spencer Tuxward, Gov. John Carney, Youth Fishing Tournament New Castle County winner Michael Hopkins, statewide and Sussex County winner Brody Spencer, Vedic Mukherjee (accepting his sister Iveena’s Young Environmentalist award), DNREC Secretary Garvin, and Kent County fishing tournament winner Bristol Brown. /DNREC photo

Three Delaware students from schools across the state were recognized with Young Environmentalists of the Year Awards. A program of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the awards were presented today by Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin to the students, ages 10 to 17, in front of a crowd of fairgoers at the Delaware State Fair. The leaders also presented trophies to the top anglers of the 2023 Youth Fishing Tournament.

“Every year, I look forward to meeting our Young Environmentalist award honorees. These amazing young people are truly today’s environmental leaders, showing the way to a better future for Delaware and for our planet. This year, we are recognizing students who are leading efforts in protecting marine habitat, recycling, and reducing plastics use,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In addition, the top three young anglers from our annual Youth Fishing Tournament have discovered the joy of catching a fish – and experienced the meaningful conservation act of releasing their catch.”

The three 2023 Young Environmentalists of the Year recognized today are:

• Elementary School:
  Spencer Tuxward, age 10, of Wyoming, 4th grade, W. Reily Brown Elementary School, Dover
  As an active member of his school’s Eco-Team, Spencer is a role model for his fellow students, and is involved in recycling, feeding birds, growing vegetables in the school garden and promoting good stewardship of the school and grounds. Described as a “self-made environmentalist,” he also creates video presentations that reflect his love of nature. Spencer is especially interested in marine life, volunteering to rescue sea turtles and making and sharing videos about his work.
• Special Recognition:
  Chris Runde, age 17, of Milton,12th grade, Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes
  On his own initiative, to help his community learn more about recycling, Chris looked into options for recycling cell phones and other rechargeable devices with lithium-ion batteries. He found Redwood Materials, a company that produces anode and cathode components from recycled batteries, and they sent Chris the materials to host a recycling initiative he launched on April 22, Earth Day 2023. In one day, he collected more than 300 pounds of old batteries and rechargeable devices and plans to do more community collections.
• High School:
  Iveena Mukherjee, age 16, of Wilmington, 12th grade, Charter School of Wilmington
  Going into her senior year, Iveena is known for her “unwavering dedication to environmental conservation, advocacy and activism,” and has been recognized nationally and internationally, including honorable mention for the President’s Environmental Youth Award and a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Volunteer Award. Described as “a leading voice in youth activism,” the young scientist is actively seeking solutions to mitigate climate impacts, such as exploring the potential of biochar and epoxy resin to reduce plastic use, as well as leading a team that earned funding to continue a project studying RECON, a sustainable building material for carbon sequestration. Iveena has also been an integral part in her school’s Science Olympiad team, as well as creating five workshops for Delaware’s annual Youth Environmental Summit (YES!).

Now in its 30th year, DNREC’s Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards program recognizes Delaware students whose actions have helped protect, restore or enhance our natural resources by initiating an innovative project, practicing environmental stewardship, increasing public awareness or demonstrating environmental ethics. More information about the program can be found at de.gov/youngenvironmentalists.

The 2023 Youth Fishing Tournament winners who were presented their trophies today are:

• Statewide and Sussex County winner Brody Spencer, age 11, of Dagsboro, took top honors by catching 8.52 pounds of fish in Ingrams Pond.
• Kent County winner Bristol Brown, age 10, of Lewes, came in second place statewide, catching 6.87 pounds of fish at Akridge Scout Reservation Pond, including the largest fish of the tournament, a 5.6-pound largemouth bass.
• New Castle County winner Michael Hopkins, age 8, of New Castle, took third place statewide, catching 3.47 pounds of fish at Lums Pond.

Established by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and sponsored by the Delaware Natural Resources Police, the tournament introduces youth to the sport of fishing and teaches the catch-and-release approach to conservation. The 37th annual Youth Fishing Tournament was held June 3 at three locations, one in each county: Ingrams Pond in Sussex County, Akridge Scout Reservation in Kent County, and Lums Pond in New Castle County, with complete results here: Delaware Natural Resources Police Announce Winners of Youth Fishing Tournament.

More information about the annual tournament is available at de.gov/yft.

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, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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Caroline Nacchia was was honored in 2019

Nominate a Student Making a Difference for the Environment Today

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is looking for Delaware students who are working to make a difference for the environment, and encouraging teachers, classmates, club or group leaders, family members and others to nominate these students for the 2020 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards. Nominations must be based on actions or projects which have taken place between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

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: demonstrating environmental stewardship, initiating an innovative project, increasing public awareness or demonstrating environmental ethics.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, July 10, 2020. A winner will be chosen from each of the following categories: elementary (grades 1-4), middle school (grades 5-8), and high school (grades 9-12). 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 27th year for DNREC’s Young Environmentalist awards program. Past honorees have included students who planned community cleanups and tree plantings, founded or led school environmental clubs or projects and volunteered at parks and nature centers, as well as beekeepers, nature photographers, recycling advocates and young lobbyists.

In past years, winners have been honored in a special ceremony on Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair, which is tentatively planned for Thursday, July 30 this year. All plans are subject to change based on health and safety considerations and any changes will be announced.

Nominations may be submitted online at https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/young-environmentalists/, or emailed to joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

For more information, including nomination forms, please visit https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/young-environmentalists/, or call DNREC Public Affairs at 302-739-9902.

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 DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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DOVER (March 28, 2013) – In partnership with DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship’s rain barrels program, the Delaware Forest Service is inviting residents of Delaware communities within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to “buy a rain barrel … get a free tree” through the Forest Service’s new “Trees for the Bay” program. 

For each purchase of a discounted rain barrel on Wednesday, April 17 in Kent County and Thursday, April 18 in Sussex County, Delaware residents who live in eligible zip codes will receive a voucher worth $125 toward the purchase of a qualifying tree(s) at participating nursery and garden centers. Additional rain barrel purchases to qualifying residents will be eligible for additional vouchers, while supplies last on a first-come, first-served basis.

Available through DNREC’s Nonpoint Source Program, the heavy-duty plastic rain barrels are for sale to Delaware residents at a discounted price of $59 each. Tree vouchers will be available to Chesapeake Bay Watershed residents when purchasing rain barrels at these pickup locations: 

• Kent County: Wednesday, April 17 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or until all barrels are sold, at the DNREC State Fair Building, located off Route 13 in Harrington on the north end of the Delaware State Fairgrounds just past the Centre Ice Rink.
   
• Sussex County: Thursday, April 18 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or until all barrels are sold, at the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship’s Lewes Facility, next to the Lewes boat ramp, located at 901 Pilottown Road, Lewes. 

Vouchers are available only to those who reside in the following Delaware communities, which are located within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed:

Vouchers must be redeemed by Sunday, May 5 at these participating nurseries and garden centers:

• Bess Buds, 34593 Sussex Highway, Laurel, 302-875-2507
• Jeff’s Greenhouse and Gift Shop, 7781 Main Street, Bethel, 800-276-3420
• Barton’s Landscaping/Lawn Co., 20689 Sussex Highway, Seaford, 302-629-9645

Vouchers are not redeemable for the following tree species (which are not recommended and/or considered invasive species): ash, northern red oak, Leyland-cypress, hemlock, Japanese black pine, Australian pine, American elm, Norway maple, Tree of Heaven, Paulownia, mimosa, white mulberry, Chinese elm, any white-barked birch and any species or variety of pear.

The Delaware Forest Service and DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship both recognize the important role trees play in cleaning our air and water while enhancing the quality of life for Delaware residents. Trees reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, remove excess nutrients, and filter harmful pollutants before they make their way into the tributaries, streams and rivers within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The Delaware Forest Service’s Trees for the Bay program is underwritten by federal funds designed to help communities meet the water quality goals outlined in the Chesapeake Bay’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). For more details, visit
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/wa/Pages/Chesapeake_Wip.aspx.

For more information about the Forest Service’s Trees for the Bay program, please visit http://delawaretrees.com/trees-for-the-bay, or contact Kyle Hoyd, Delaware Forest Service, at 302-698-4578 or email kyle.hoyd@delaware.gov.

 For more information about DNREC’s discounted rain barrel program, please call Sharon Webb, Division of Watershed Stewardship, Nonpoint Source Program, at 302-739-9922, or email sharon.webb@delaware.gov.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902, or John Petersen, Delaware Forest Service, 302-698-4552.

Vol. 43, No. 117

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DOVER (March 28, 2013) – The Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD) encourages you to think about your personal responsibility to be a good steward of Delaware’s natural resources during its annual Stewardship Week celebration. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has proclaimed April 28 to May 5 as Soil and Water Stewardship Week, marking the 58^th year of the national event, with 2013 theme “Where Does Your Water Shed?” 

The Delaware Association and its three districts are members of the NACD, which oversees the Stewardship Week program. Stewardship Week is one of the largest national annual programs to promote conservation. NACD represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, which were established to encourage resource conservation across the country. Delaware’s conservation districts purchase Stewardship Week materials for distribution to local schools and church organizations as funding permits. 

The “Where Does Your Water Shed” theme plays on the fact that less than 1 percent of all of the water on our planet is fresh water. The average citizen in the United States uses 70 gallons of water every day – which does not include the water it takes to manufacture the automobiles, clothing and food we depend on every day. The Delaware Districts encourage you to take time to learn about your local community water supply sources, and to volunteer for river, stream or beach clean-up days, and to realize: You can make a difference. 

During the month of April, DACD President Wendy O. Baker will lead a stewardship celebration including a proclamation from Governor Jack Markell declaring this important observance in Delaware. The celebration will also recognize the recipients of the annual Governor’s Conservation Awards at a special ceremony on Wednesday, April 17 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover. 

Age-appropriate activity books, posters, calendars, bookmarks, activity placemats and other items are available for a very small fee through NACD to promote the Stewardship Week theme. To learn more and preview the available materials, as well as download the free educators guide, you can visit http://www.nacdnet.org/stewardship/2013/index.phtml. 

For more information about Stewardship Week materials available through your local conservation district, call 302-832-3100, ext. 3 in New Castle County, 302-741-2600, ext. 3 in Kent County, or 302-856-3990 ext. 3 in Sussex County. For more information about Stewardship Week or the conservation awards, please contact Martha Pileggi, DACD administrative assistant, at 302-739-9921. For additional information about the National Association of Conservation Districts, please visit www.nacdnet.org 

“Clean water is important to everyone,” said National Association of Conservation Districts President Earl Garber. “Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state and national boundaries. Every inch of the land on planet Earth is part of a watershed. In the continental U.S., there are 2,100 watersheds. If we include Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico, the count rises to 2,267. No matter where you are right now, you are in a watershed.”

Contact: Martha Pileggi, DASD Administrative Assistant, 302-739-9921  

 Vol. 43, No. 116   

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