What Does Delaware Nature Society Do in Education, Conservation, and Advocacy?

Delaware Nature Society is a Delaware-based environmental organization whose stated mission is "connecting people and nature to create a healthy environment for all." According to its website, it pursues that mission through three areas of work — education, conservation, and advocacy — and describes itself as "Delaware's leader in environmental education, conservation, and advocacy." If you want to understand what the organization actually does, or decide whether to visit, join, or support it, the three program areas below are the place to start.

Education: programs for children, families, and schools

The website describes its education work as "engaging children, families, and schools through immersive programs that bring science and nature to life." In practice, that shows up as scheduled programs and events at its nature centers and preserves rather than as a single course or curriculum.

Examples listed on the site include:

• Bird Banding at Bucktoe Creek Preserve — participants see birds up close as trained professionals band and measure them to track movement and survival. The program is free but does not run in windy or wet conditions.
• Hawk Watch at Ashland Nature Center — visitors go to Hawk Watch Hill to help identify and count migrating birds of prey. Listed as free, with a suggested age range of 8–99.
• Knee High Naturalists: It's Fall, You All at Abbott's Mill Nature Center — a hands-on outdoor nature discovery program for young children (ages 2–5) with a Teacher Naturalist. Listed at $15.00.

Each of the three areas has a "Learn More" link on the website, so the education section is the entry point if you are looking for school, family, or child-focused programming.

Conservation: preserving and restoring places

The conservation work is described as "preserving and restoring places that sustain biodiversity, water quality, and our connection to the land." This is the part of the organization tied to physical sites — the preserves and nature centers where programs take place and where trails are open to visitors.

Because conservation work happens at specific locations, practical details matter if you plan to visit. The site's homepage notice illustrates this: storm damage at Ashland Nature Center closed the Nature Nook, pollinator garden, and butterfly habitat until further notice, while trails remained open during normal hours. The DuPont Environmental Education Center was also listed as closed August 24–28 for maintenance. Checking the current notice before a visit is worthwhile, since facility closures and trail access can differ.

Advocacy: policy for wildlife, water, and open space

The advocacy work is described as "promoting policies that protect wildlife, water, and open space across Delaware." This is the least visible of the three areas on the homepage — it is presented as a policy-focused activity rather than as events you attend — and the site points to a "Learn More" link for details on how that work is carried out.

How the three areas connect

The three are presented as one connected effort rather than separate departments: education brings people to the places that conservation maintains, and advocacy works on the policies that affect those places across the state.

If you want to take part

The website's "Get Involved" section lists several ways to participate: visiting preserves, joining local activities, becoming a member, volunteering, or donating. It also offers an email list sign-up for updates on upcoming events, conservation efforts, and ways to make an impact. Note that the site uses the word "Subscribe" in a link under Get Involved, but the page evidence does not state membership or program pricing beyond the individual program fees shown (for example, $15.00 for Knee High Naturalists), so check the relevant page directly for current costs and requirements.