Scout and Group Programs at DelNature

Abbott’s Mill Historic Grist Mill Tour
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Step back in time with a guided visit through Abbott’s Mill. The mill encompasses more than 200 years of Southern Delaware history. See the giant millstones and roller mills. Visit the mill pond and stream and discover the ingenious mechanical systems that powered the mill through its unique history. Hear stories about life at the mill.

Animals In Winter
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Who hibernates? Who stays awake? Who goes south where it is warm? Find out the answers to these questions with live specimens, taxidermy, and a story. 

Around The Pond
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Discover what makes Abbott’s Pond interesting and important. Learn to identify plants and animals that belong to the pond habitat. Fish with a seine and dip in the muddy bottom of the pond to catch incredible aquatic creatures. 

Canoeing On Abbott’s Pond
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Learn to use the canoe and then take your new skills out on Abbott’s Pond. While paddling along, learn about the ecology of the pond. 

Insect Safari
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Use your senses to seek out and identify insect characteristics and compare their life cycles. Using nets, collect and observe insects found in meadows, forests, and streams, and examine the insects you find to see how they are adapted to their environment. This program focuses on insect parts, function, and types of metamorphosis.

Native Americans
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Explore the culture of the early inhabitants of Delmarva. Follow a day in the life of the coastal plain Native Americans and discover how they lived in harmony with the world around them. 

Native Wild Animals
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Inspect mounted and live wild animals that make their home in the Delmarva region, including the rarely seen gray fox and otter. Closely examine the habitats and characteristics of these mammals, noting similarities and differences. 

Owls Of Delaware
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
Learn about four species of owls common to Delaware. Examine their adaptations and calls using mounted specimens and tape recordings. Optional: dissect owl pell/person extra. 

Reptiles & Amphibians
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $7
Available: Year-round
With live specimens, examine the differences between reptiles and amphibians. Learn the significance of their unique adaptations and their differing life cycles.

Birds Of A Feather
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Using taxidermy, feathers, nests, and other resources, learn about the unique characteristics of birds. Then hike through meadows, marshes, and forests to observe birds in their habitats.

Butterfly Foray
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: June–September
Visit Ashland Nature Center’s summer Butterfly Habitat House and discover butterflies during all stages of their life cycle. Then, venture into nearby meadows and marshes with nets to learn techniques for capture, identification, and release. 

Deep In The Forest
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Life in a forest exists from just below the ground all the way to the crowns of trees. Discover the ecology of two forest types and learn to identify common native trees. 

Eco-Hike
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Explore three different ecosystems to determine what makes each unique and how the varied plant and animal life interacts. 

Geology
Program Length: 1.5 hours 
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Everything on earth has a cycle–even the rocks! Discover how this slow change affects what’s beneath your feet and above your head. Learn how to identify some basic rocks while using hammers and safety goggles to collect samples.

Lenape Lifeways
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Learn how the Lenni Lenape depended on the natural world for their sources of food, clothing, shelter, and tools. Hike to a replica longhouse and examine artifacts used by these true Delaware natives.

Marsh Magic
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: March–October
While visiting Ashland’s marshes, use your eyes and ears to find frogs, turtles, birds, and insects. Learn why wetlands are so full of life and are important to humans and wildlife.

Native Wild Animals
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Enjoy a close encounter with some of Delaware’s wild inhabitants. Learn about camouflage and other adaptations that protect them. Discover why many animals, once common to Delaware, are now threatened. 

New To Nature
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
This highly flexible program will introduce participants to the natural world. Float sticks down a stream, hear frogs in the marsh, splash through a mud puddle, come face-to-face with a butterfly…you never know what you might find during this hour of exploration and discovery! 

Pond Life
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Find out exactly what defines a pond and discover its unique ecology and diversity of life. Collect and identify plants and animals found at Ashland’s pond and experience its diversity of life. 

Scales & Skins
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Meet live reptiles and amphibians while learning about their unique traits and discover what they have in common. 

Stream Life
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Learn how to gauge the health of a stream by the kinds of creatures that live in it. As we collect samples from two different streams, we identify the organisms and compare findings. 

Unhuggables
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Spiders, bats, snakes, and lizards–all animals that make many people shudder. Learn about the remarkable role these less popular animals play in the balance of nature and explore their wondrous adaptations.

Exploring By Canoe
Program Length: 3 hours
Fee: $30
Available: March–November
Take your group or class on an adventure as you canoe the Christina River and the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, a freshwater tidal marsh on the edge of the city of Wilmington. They are home to a tremendous diversity of wildlife. Learn basic paddling skills, hike along the shore to survey plant and animal life, and discover the functions and importance of wetlands. Canoes, paddles, and life preservers are included in the cost; no canoeing experience required. Program meeting site to be determined with staff. 

Fantastic Fish
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: March–November
Meet the many fish of the Christina River and the marsh. Watch as fish are caught in a spinning cast net, reel in fish traps, and use dip nets to try your luck. Examine the features of a variety of fish to learn what they eat and how they live. 

Geocaching
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Experience a modern-day treasure hunt along the Christina River! Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking a cache of riches using a global positioning system. After a GPS tutorial, awaken your inner treasure hunter and find a series of geocaches hidden along Wilmington’s Riverwalk. 

Marshy Adventures
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fee: $9
Available: March–November
Explore the biodiversity of a marsh habitat in this outdoor adventure! Look for marsh residents in the air, on land, in the soil, and in the water. Examine plants and animals closely using nets and magnifiers. Learn about marsh food chains, the water cycle, and why the Christina River is so important to Northern Delaware. 

Nature Photography
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $9
Available: Year-round
Capture the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge through the lens of a digital camera. Learn photography skills and how to compose outstanding photos where the city, river, and marsh meet. Print and decorate a frame for your favorite photo.

Animals In Winter Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Winter
Who Hibernates? Who stays awake? Who goes south where it is warm? Find out the answers to these questions with live specimens, taxidermy, and a story.

Insect Safari Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Spring – Fall
Use your senses to seek out and identify forest characteristics and compare their life cycles. Using nets, we collect and observe insects found in meadows, forests, and streams, and examine the insects you find to see how they are adapted to their environment. This program focuses on insect parts, function, and types of metamorphosis. 

Native Americans Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Explore the culture of the early inhabitants of Delmarva. Follow a day in the life of the coastal plain Native Americans and discover how they lived in harmony with the world around them. 

Native Wild Animals Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Inspect mounted and live wild animals that make their home in the Delmarva region. Closely examine the habitats and characteristics of these animals, noting similarities and differences. 

Owls Of Delaware Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Learn about four species of owls common to Delaware. Examine their adaptations and calls using mounted specimens and tape recordings. Optional: dissect owl pellet, $1/person extra. 

Reptiles & Amphibians Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
With live specimens, examine the differences between reptiles and amphibians. Learn the significance of their unique adaptations and their differing life cycles. 

Skull Study Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
Handle and classify a variety of real skulls from native mammals, birds, and reptiles. Examine teeth and other structures for clues to how animals survive. Use keys as a method of identification. 

Unhuggables Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $7/$3.50 plus $35 travel fee
Spiders, bats, snakes, and lizards – all animals that make many people shudder. Learn about the remarkable role these less popular animals play in the balance of nature and explore their wondrous adaptations. 

Birds Of A Feather Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $9 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Using taxidermy, feathers, nests, and other resources, learn about the unique characteristics of birds. 

Lenape Lifeways Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $9 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Learn how the Lenni Lenape depended on the natural world for their sources of food, clothing, shelter, and tools.

Native Wild Animals Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $9 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Enjoy a close encounter with some of Delaware’s wild inhabitants. Learn about camouflage and other adaptations that protect them. Discover why many animals, once common to Delaware, are not threatened.

New To Nature On Your Site Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $9 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
This highly flexible program will introduce participants to the natural world. Floats stick down a stream, hear frogs in the marsh, splash through a mud puddle, come face-to-face with a butterfly…you never know what you might find during this hour of exploration and discovery!

Scales & Skins Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $9 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Meet live reptiles and amphibians while learning about their unique traits and discover what they have in common.

Unhuggables Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $9 plus $35 travel fee
Available: Year-round
Spiders, bats, snakes, and lizards – all animals that make many people shudder. Learn about the remarkable role these less popular animals play in the balance of nature and explore their wondrous adaptations.

Animals Of The Marsh Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $9/$4.50 per student plus $35 travel fee (Travel fee is waived for any program in the city of Wilmington).
Available: Year-round
Learn about the native animals inhabiting Wilmington’s own tidal marsh. See live animals and taxidermy, touch real animal furs. 

Nature In Your Neighborhood Group Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $9/$4.50 per student plus $35 travel fee (Travel fee is waived for any program in the city of Wilmington).
Available: Year-round
Investigate your neighborhood in a whole new way. Explore the animals and plants that also call Wilmington home. Examine a robin’s nest, feel feathers, and touch a raccoon’s fur. Learn how animals survive city living. 

Nature By The Numbers: Analyzing Water Quality Data Outreach
Program Length: 1 hour/1/2 hour
Fee: $9/$4.50 per student plus $35 travel fee (Travel fee is waived for any program in the city of Wilmington).
Available: Year-round
Put your math skills to work as you translate and interpret raw water quality data to determine the health of the Christina River over time. Work with real data collected by students in the field at DEEC, including biotic and abiotic water quality indicators such as Dissolved Oxygen, acidity (pH), and macroinvertebrates. Discover how different water quality parameters are important to aquatic life and how human and seasonal conditions affect them. This classroom program is a perfect extension of Wilmington’s Wetlands and Watershed and Eco-Explorers field programs held at DEEC.