How to Get Involved With or Support Delaware Nature Society

You can get involved with Delaware Nature Society (DNS) in several ways: visit a preserve, attend a program or event, become a member, volunteer, donate, or sign up for email updates. The right option depends on how much time, money, or travel you want to commit. The organization's mission is "connecting people and nature to create a healthy environment for all through education, conservation, and advocacy," and its website organizes participation around those same themes.

Start by choosing your level of involvement

The site's "Get Involved" section links directly to programs and events, donations, membership, and volunteering, so you don't have to hunt for these options.

Visit a preserve or attend an event

This is the lowest-commitment way to participate. DNS runs programs across multiple locations, and the site's Upcoming Events section shows what's scheduled.

Examples from the site's event listings:

• Bird Banding at Bucktoe Creek Preserve — See birds up close as trained professionals band and measure them to track their movements and survival. This program is free but does not take place in windy or wet conditions.
• Hawk Watch at Ashland Nature Center — Visit Hawk Watch Hill to help identify and count birds of prey migrating overhead. Free, and listed for ages 8–99.
• Knee High Naturalists: It's Fall, You All at Abbott's Mill Nature Center — Hands-on outdoor nature discovery for young children with Teacher Naturalists. Listed at $15.00 for ages 2–5.

Note that some events are free and others charge a fee, so check each listing before you go.

Check for closures before traveling

DNS posts operational notices on its homepage. At the time of the source page, it noted that storm damage at Ashland Nature Center had closed the Nature Nook, pollinator garden, and butterfly habitat until further notice, while trails remained open during normal hours. It also noted the DuPont Environmental Education Center would be closed August 24–28 for maintenance. Because these notices change, check the site before a visit rather than assuming a facility is open.

Volunteer, donate, or become a member

If you want to contribute beyond attending:

• Volunteer — The site describes volunteering as a way to "protect and restore Delaware's natural spaces." Use the Volunteer link in the Get Involved section to see current opportunities.
• Donate — The Donate link supports DNS's education, conservation, and advocacy work.
• Become a member — Membership is listed alongside donating and volunteering as a way to support the organization. The site references a "Subscribe" page under Get Involved, but it does not publish membership pricing or benefits on the pages reviewed here, so confirm current terms directly with DNS.

Sign up for updates

If you're not ready to commit but want to know what's happening, DNS offers an email list. The signup form asks for your name, email, and phone number, and the stated purpose is to keep you informed about upcoming events, conservation efforts, and ways to make an impact.

What DNS actually does with your support

Understanding the three focus areas helps you decide where your time or money goes:

• Education — Programs for children, families, and schools that bring science and nature to life.
• Conservation — Preserving and restoring places that sustain biodiversity, water quality, and connection to the land.
• Advocacy — Promoting policies that protect wildlife, water, and open space across Delaware.

If one of these matters more to you than the others, you can direct your involvement accordingly — for example, volunteering with a preserve leans toward conservation, while donating supports the organization broadly.

A practical first step

Pick one action and do it this week: check the Upcoming Events page for a free program near you, or join the email list if you'd rather watch for a while. Both require no financial commitment and give you a sense of whether DNS's activities fit your interests before you volunteer, donate, or join as a member.