Discover Delaware’s Coastal and Natural Resources at Coast Day Oct. 7; DNREC’s tent will feature more than 45 exhibits

Delaware’s coastal and natural resources will be featured at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s education tent at this year’s Coast Day in Lewes. The “end-of-summer” annual event will be held from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7 at the University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp campus, 700 Pilottown Road in Lewes.

More than 45 DNREC exhibits, by the Divisions of Soil and Water Conservation, Air and Waste Management, Fish and Wildlife, Water Resources, Parks and Recreation and the Office of the Secretary will showcase the agency’s diverse programs designed to conserve and protect Delaware’s environment.

“Coast Day was evolved from a good idea to a time-honored tradition,” said Secretary John A. Hughes. “With great fun, great food and great times, it has become a mainstay in environmental education.”

Exhibits will include the latest on Delaware’s coastal programs, beach nourishment and the shoreline restoration of the North Herring Point groin at Cape Henlopen State Park. The Seaside Nature Center will showcase historical coastal artifacts and natural history pieces. DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center near Slaughter Beach and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve will also be featured, along with shorebird monitoring, Delaware’s Clean Marina program, and boating safety.

Other exhibits will focus on many of the vital components of Governor Minner’s Livable Delaware initiative. Private lands habitat restoration and wetland restoration exhibits include information on grant funds and technical assistance available to landowners interested in restoring and maintaining critical habitats. Water resources exhibits will include reducing stormwater runoff, managing septic systems and wells, and protecting ground water. Several exhibits include pollution control programs and activities – recycling and waste reduction, school bus idling, debris pit remediation, hazardous site restorations, climate change, and energy answers.

DNREC’s displays and exhibits are designed to encourage public participation in the learning process through hands-on activities and education games that appeal to both adults and children.

For more information on DNREC’s programs and services, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov

Coast Day, organized by the University of Delaware’s Sea Grant College Program and the College of Marine and Earth Studies, is celebrating its 31st year and annually attracts an estimated 10,000 people from Delaware and throughout the region. DNREC has exhibited at Coast Day since its inception in 1976. For more information on DNREC’s Coast Day education tent, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov and click on “Coast Day.”
 

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