Experience the Outdoors at Ashland Nature Center
Ashland Nature Center is the heart of Delaware Nature Society’s mission – connecting
people to nature to create a healthy environment for all through education, conservation, and community engagement.
- Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Closed on holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas
Open daily, sunrise to sunset.
Free
- “Garden for Wildlife” Idea Garden
- Accessible Areas
- Bird Blind
- Drop-in Programs
- Hiking Trails
- Historical Features
- Pet-Friendly (leashed)
- Picnic Area
- Restrooms
- Scenic Views
Programs and Events
Events
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The Market at Coverdale
FeaturedFridays – Sundays,
April – November
Coverdale Farm Preserve -
Wake up the Farm Breakfast, Jun 13 ~ Coverdale Farm Preserve
Coverdale Farm Preserve 543 Way Rd, Greenville, DE, United StatesRise and shine—it’s farm time! Start your day with a relaxing tour around the farm, say good morning to the animals, and enjoy a light, tasty breakfast. It’s a fun […]
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Farm Stroll ~ Coverdale Farm Preserve
Coverdale Farm Preserve 543 Way Rd, Greenville, DE, United StatesThis low-impact hike offers a chance to explore the happenings on the farm, visit with the animals, and take in the natural beauty. | Free!
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Family Camp ~ Ashland Nature Center
Ashland Nature Center 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE, United StatesMake a campfire, do a craft, and compete in an outdoor obstacle course. Explore the beauty of nature and come see how much fun we have at camp every day! […]
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Netting in the Marsh ~ DuPont Environmental Education Center
DuPont Environmental Education Center 1400 Delmarva Lane, Wilmington, DE, United StatesImmerse yourself in the captivating world of marsh ecosystems! Use dip nets to get up close and personal with tadpoles, fish, snails, and more. This is 30 minutes of hands-on […]
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Meet Marsh Animals ~ DuPont Environmental Education Center
DuPont Environmental Education Center 1400 Delmarva Lane, Wilmington, DE, United StatesTake a naturalist guided boardwalk stroll to look for wildlife and see our live animal collection. Just drop in, or let us know you’re coming by registering now. | Free! […]
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Beginner Kayak, 10:15 AM ~ DuPont Environmental Education Center
DuPont Environmental Education Center 1400 Delmarva Lane, Wilmington, DE, United StatesIn this beginner-level program, we will show you the very basics of kayaking. No experience required, all equipment provided. | $25.00 (ages 8+)*
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Beginner Kayak, 12:00 PM ~ DuPont Environmental Education Center
DuPont Environmental Education Center 1400 Delmarva Lane, Wilmington, DE, United StatesIn this beginner-level program, we will show you the very basics of kayaking. No experience required, all equipment provided. | $25.00 (ages 8+)*
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Grade Completed K-9: Before Camp, Jun 15 ~ Ashland Nature Center
Ashland Nature Center 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE, United StatesAshland offers Before Camp care to campers from 7:30am to 8:30am. Single day option is not available. This is a 4-day camp week. | $50.00 (grades K-9)
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Ages 4-5: Down on the Farm, Jun 15, 8:30am ~ Coverdale Farm Preserve
Coverdale Farm Preserve 543 Way Rd, Greenville, DE, United StatesExperience life on the farm. Roosters crow, gardens flourish, trees tower, and streams flow. Explore with all your senses and experience fresh air, warm sun, and outdoor adventures. This is […]
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Grade Completed 4-6: Child Versus Wild ~ Ashland Nature Center
Ashland Nature Center 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE, United StatesBecome an outdoor survivalist and set yourself loose in the wild! Learn to survive in the wild and get yourself out of the boondocks in one piece. This is a […]
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Grade Completed 2-3: Ashland Adventures ~ Ashland Nature Center
Ashland Nature Center 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE, United StatesGo fishing, geocaching, and test your archery skills. Hike some of Ashland’s hidden trails and learn what it takes to survive in nature. Create nature crafts, play outdoor games, and […]
Party and Facility Rentals
Looking for a space to hold a small meeting, training, retreat or gathering? Ashland lodge, nature center and outdoor spaces are available year-round.
Butterfly Habitat
Visit the outdoor Ashland Butterfly Habitat, located beside the Visitor Center, to see native butterflies and their host plants throughout the summer. Delaware is home to over 120 butterfly species, many of which can be spotted here.
Experience Delaware’s Butterflies Up Close
From egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult, the habitat showcases every stage of the butterfly life cycle and is open to all ages.
Best viewing: July–September
Butterflies Commonly Found at Ashland
Black Swallowtail
Food: Carrot family | Status: Secure
Range: Canada to South America
Pipevine Swallowtail
Food: Carrot Pipevine | Defense: Toxic
Range: Canada to Mexico
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Food: Tulip poplar, sweetbay magnolia, wild cherry
Range: Canada to South America
Monarch
Food: Milkweed | Status: Endangered
Range: Canada to Mexico
Red Admiral
Food: Nettles
Range: Americas, Europe, Asia, Hawaii, Caribbean
Cabbage White
Food: Mustard family
Range: Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America
Hawk Watch at Ashland
Ashland Hawk Watch Hill, Ashland Nature Center’s highest hill, is in the center of the Red Clay Audubon Important Bird Area, designated by the National Audubon Society. Begun in 2007, this raptor migration count station operates September through November annually with migrant birds of prey counted daily. Our findings, along with those of over 200 other hawk watch sites across North America, are reported to the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). Ashland Hawk Watch Hill is ideally situated to see the daytime migration. Hawk Watch Hill is on the eastern edge of the Piedmont, a chain of rolling hills extending from New York to Alabama. This is a flyway for many of these birds heading south.
Each year September – November, daily, 9 am – 4 pm, join our Hawk Watch Coordinator and Hawk Watch Volunteers on Ashland Hawk Watch Hill to help us look for the 20,000 raptors that migrate by in the fall season. All ages welcome.
Trail Maps & Guides
Explore Ashland’s four miles of scenic trails across meadows, forests, and creekside paths.
Downloadable Guides & Resources:
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