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Written on: May 21st, 2025 in Education and Outreach
By Maddie Fox, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a private nonprofit organization and one of 28 National Estuary Programs in the nation. Its creation was the culmination of 20 years of public participation and investigation into the declining water quality of the Inland Bays and the remedies for their restoration. The Center strives to preserve, protect, and restore Delaware’s Inland Bays and the surrounding watershed through science-based research, restoration, education, public policy, and advocacy.
The James Farm Ecological Preserve was donated to Sussex County in 1992. The late Mary Lighthipe donated the 150-acre property in memory of her late son, Harold. Lighthipe donated the land under the condition that the property be used for education and recreation purposes. The Center took over management of the Preserve in 1998. The Preserve is free and open to the public every day from dawn to dusk.
Located in Ocean View, the James Farm Ecological Preserve is an important resource for the Center and the community. As the Preserve’s popularity increased and its programs expanded, the need to plan for increased visitation while protecting its ecosystems became evident. The Center embarked on the development of a holistic plan that would address the needs of Preserve users and collectively envision its future. The Master Plan addresses enhancements to better serve residents and visitors of Delaware while protecting the Preserve’s ecosystems and enhancing education and outreach opportunities.
Environmental Education
The education department at the Center is committed to offering educational opportunities to people of all ages to engage with and learn about the Inland Bays in meaningful ways that improve their lives and the health of the environment. The Center’s education programs can be divided into a few main categories.
Youth Education
The Center is turning the beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests, and meadows of the Inland Bays watershed into interactive outdoor classrooms for young learners. The Student Estuary Exploration (SEE) Program consists of interactive, nature-based learning opportunities aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for preschool through high school. The goal is to increase environmental literacy, an individual’s understanding, skills, and motivation to make responsible decisions that consider their relationships to natural systems, communities, and future generations” (Oregon State University).
This spring, the Center will welcome over 500 students from several local schools and youth groups, including Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences, Rehoboth Elementary School, Next Step Learning Center, and Stephen Decatur Middle School. During field trips, students will explore the Preserve and examine different habitats, test the water quality of the Indian River Bay, learn about the ecology and importance of dunes, handle living creatures like fish and horseshoe crabs, and so much more.
Homeschool Series
This spring, the Center launched a new component of our education program, the Inland Bays Homeschool series! This new educational offering was created specifically for homeschool families and provides a dynamic learning experience designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of the outdoors. During the inaugural spring session, the “Power of Plants”, students learned about different parts of a plant, how plants grow, and plant identification techniques, and wrapped the season up by learning about the importance of native plants. Students put these skills into action and helped plant native flower seeds at the Preserve. In a few months, those flowers should be in bloom. More information about the Center’s homeschool series, including details on upcoming sessions, can be found here.
Public Education
There’s something for everyone at the Center’s public education programs! These opportunities rotate seasonally and include programs better suited for adult learners and those specifically designed for families with children. From learning about ospreys, the importance of marshes, beachcombing, or joining us for a Kids’ Day, these programs allow everyone to learn while exploring the Preserve and connecting with nature. Check out our events calendar for upcoming programs! Registration is encouraged.
Written on: May 21st, 2025 in Education and Outreach
By Olivia Allread, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program We know. This one sounds a little crazy. And by no means are we saying to throw on some boots and go out into the waist-deep mud to get yourself an afternoon snack. But, to add to all the other ways wetlands are wonderous, we wanted […]
Written on: May 21st, 2025 in Natural Resources
By Alison Stouffer, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program It’s been a few months since our last cross country road trip. With winter in the rear-view mirror, I am excited to come out of hibernation and explore the wetlands of the Southeast United States! Need a refresher on where we have been thus far? Be […]
Written on: March 19th, 2025 in Education and Outreach
By Olivia Allread, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program Nature has been engrained into storytelling basically since the beginning of time. In most cultures throughout history, the natural world has been featured in stories and books in many ways – a place of mystery, a pathway of self-discovery, foundations of peace and rest, even a […]
Written on: March 19th, 2025 in Wetland Research, Wetland Restoration
By Kenny Smith, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment In 2024 the Delaware Coastal Program and the Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program worked together to update the Delaware Marsh Migration Model originally created in 2017. New and updated layers were added, as well as some refinement of scoring to better understand where our tidal wetlands may […]
Written on: March 19th, 2025 in Education and Outreach, Natural Resources
By Laura Scharle, Delmarva Trails and Waterways and Scharle Outdoor Recreation Picture this. It’s spring and the weather forecast for the weekend is looking like it’s going to be beautiful. You and your family are deciding how to spend your time outside enjoying the sunshine and mild temperatures. A bike ride, a trip to the […]
Written on: December 11th, 2024 in Education and Outreach, Natural Resources
By Jana Savini, Coastal Collaboration Coordinator, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and RASCL Coordinator The Delaware Resilient and Sustainable Communities League (RASCL) is a collaborative network of state agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions that are dedicated to enhancing the resilience and sustainability of Delaware communities. By addressing climate challenges and capacity limitations, RASCL brings partners […]
Written on: December 10th, 2024 in Education and Outreach, Wetland Animals
By Olivia Allread, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program Though pretending to be a National Geographic photographer is on our resumes, working in wetlands really does provide an exclusive opportunity to get up-close and personal with wildlife. Weather, soil, water, humans – many factors influence the presence of fauna in all wetland types. Each type […]
Written on: December 10th, 2024 in Natural Resources
By Alison Stouffer, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program The seasons are changing and while I wish we could stay in the warmth of the Southwest a little longer, our road trip will be taking us up north to the Midwest United States. For those of you joining us for the first time, we are […]
Written on: September 16th, 2024 in Natural Resources
By Alison Stouffer, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program Welcome back to the second installment of the WMAP cross country road trip! To our returning adventurers, we are so glad you have decided to join us on the next leg of the trip. For those of you joining us for the first time, we are […]
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