Contact: Nicole Merrick, Park Naturalist Brandywine Creek State Park, phone: (302) 655-5740
or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Brandywine Creek State Park Announces Winter Programs

This winter the staff of Brandywine Creek State Park invites visitors to discover the beauty of its quiet winter landscape in a series of brisk hikes and walks in indoor/outdoor programs devoted to bird watching, groundhogs, coyotes, children’s activities and more.

Brandywine Creek State Park, 933 acres of trails, woods and rolling fields, is located at 41 Adams Road in Wilmington. Pre-registration is required for all programs unless otherwise noted. To register, please call 302-655-5740. Now here’s a closer look at what’s coming up:

• Bird Walk Series – 8 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 30, Jan. 27 and Feb. 24
Birders from the Delmarva Ornithological Society will lead this advanced birding trip and offer tips and advice to birdwatchers. The program is free, with light refreshments provided by the Friends of Brandywine Creek State Park.

• Owl Prowl – 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6
Following a presentation about the owls of northern Delaware, participants will head outside to search for signs of the park’s resident owls. Cost is $4 per person. No flashlights please.

• Birding Basics and Breakfast – Continental breakfast 9:30 a.m., and Birding for Beginners at 10 a.m. Saturdays, Jan. 27 and Feb. 24
Start the day with a hot cup of coffee and a cool look at some of Brandywine Creek’s beautiful birds in this family friendly birding program. First, participants will see and hear some examples and then head out with binoculars on a half-hour hike. Breakfast will be provided by the Friends of Brandywine Creek State Park. Program is free of charge, with donations accepted for the park’s bird feeder project.

The following programs will meet at the park’s Nature Center and travel to the Flint Woods Nature Preserve, a satellite area of the park with a mature stand of hardwood trees and rolling terrain. Programs at Flint Woods cost $4 per person and include transportation from the Nature Center.

• Hot Chocolate Hike – 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17
After a warm van ride to Flint Woods, the park naturalist will lead a refreshing hike through the quiet winter woods, followed by a warm cup of cocoa and snack.

• Call of the Coyote – 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14
Coyotes have been spotted in northern New Castle County. Participants will listen to its haunting call while searching for clues to this secretive wild neighbor.

• Wiped Out – 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28
The park naturalist will host a discussion of Delaware’s endangered species and share what we can do to make a difference in this hour-long program.

• Winter Birding – 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11
Look for winter birds on a brisk winter hike followed by a mid-afternoon snack around the fireplace.

The park will also host two series of children programs this winter:

• Terrific Toddlers – 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., for children ages 2-3, $5 per child
Thursday, Dec. 21 – “Which Way is Home?” explores animal homes. Bring a favorite blanket to burrow under. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 25 and 26 – “Groggy Groundhogs” answers questions like, “Why are our groundhogs sleeping through the winter?” and “What will wake them up?” Thursday and Friday, Feb. 15 and 16 – In “Button Up Your Overcoat!” children will put on warm winter clothes and run, skip and play while learning about nature’s overcoat.

• Nature Explorers – 1:30 to 2:15 p.m., for children ages 4-6, $5 per child
Thursday, Dec. 21 – “Home for the Holidays” celebrates our wild animal friends while learn about their homes, which, like ours, are places where they can be warm, safe and happy. Thursday, Jan. 25 – In “Wake Up Whistle Pig!” children will learn all about the hibernating groundhog and why we wait for a cloudy morning on Feb. 2. Thursday, Feb. 15 – “Where Are My Mittens” features a puppet show based on the folk tale “The Mitten,” following outdoor play and a lesson on how animals keep warm in the winter.

Registration is encouraged for these children’s programs at Brandywine Creek State Park, but walk-ins are welcome if space is available. To register or for more information, please call 302-655-5740.

For more information on the park, please visit www.destateparks/bcsp/bcsp.asp. 
 

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