Looking back. on yesterday’s foray into mixing the environment and youth leadership, with 3/4 innovation and creativity, and you realize how so many paths intesect.
As I returned to Woodland Road the day after I gathered a good sized bag of garbage along the road, with the repeat beer can offender on both, at 8:00 AM believe it or not, fresh whole bags of fast food to go orders on the sides and YES! – the repeat bear can offender returned overnight, with 10 cans spread out across a 2-3 mile radius along Woodland.
At this point it is a mission to identify the offender, but equally puzzling is finding plastic bottles alongside the road, with garbage stuffed inside them, but the bottles along the road. I mean,if you are going to take the time to put garbage inside the bottles, couldn’t you just find one single receptacle to place the single bottle? Maybe it’s just me…
Then also, both sides of the road in the last two days were the 8+ scratch off cards (large size) and more today, guess they weren’t winners…Did I mention the gross wipes ands tampon found at the corner of the Chapel Branch Nature Trail parking lot? Students I work with insist it is good to let the public know what and how often this is occurring to have everyone be aware however, it often doesn’t make it any less gross…
Which has brought on an idea suggested frequently from students. They are interested in finding a way to make a shredders like Precious Plastics, then an extruder, then another press to create a small center for turning the countless types of plastic we find, and make new products form them since we have un unlimited supply of plastic that often ultimately does NOT get recycled, and make useful products out of them. I love the idea, I wrote to the restaurants that we usually find the most refuse on the side of the road- Burger King, Starbucks, Wendy’s Dairy Queen, McDonalds, Popeyes, Hardees, and asked corporate offices there if we would be possible to share the cost of this endeavor, and then share a portion of the items or proceeds with them to share with the public. We have workstudy students that want to work in an entrepreneurial situation, and we have unlimited plastics from these companies in the community. We could easily have a small force that could earn money from the products we make from the refuse, represent the companies in our community better, and create a base for youth to work and create items that would generate funds to support the environmental areas we are maintaining.
I am not as technical – handed as needed to build the shredder, to start, but this is where if we could find a fabricator and sponsors to start, we could make this a Seaford youth generated venture that would have limitless supplies of “fuel” to keep producing, creating, and investing in- your ideas to help make this work would be AWESOME – currently looking for a fabricator who might be able to get us started.
After the disappointing cleaning after only 24 hours, I decided to take a quick jaunt around the Chapel Branch Nature Trail. I took out the Merlin app and ventured to see what I could find and identify. I realized by leaving the Merlin app on WHILE I walked around the trails, watching what was being identified and highlighted as the sounds across, I could use my hearing to see what the match as on my phone, and I began to better identify the sounds I was hearing to seeing the match. This helped me recognize the birds I was hearing MUCH better leaving the recording on and paying attention to matching the sounds to the highlighted birds on my app- this is what I heard:
Not too bad, I question the Northern Parula because I made a slight sound on my own and am unsure if that was me or was the Northern Parula 🙂
So despite things that can bring you down, it is interesting that if you set your mind to countering these disappointments with discoveries, how renewed and optimistic you can be instead in wallowing in the disappointments. It is vital to make time in any morning, afternoon, and day, to push things that inspire and motivate you on many levels.
Buy the way, where are you repeat beer can litterer? LOL. – 🙂
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May 4, 2024!
May the FOREST! (or FORCE!) be with you! Exciting developments of our NRWC Growth, thanks for your support.
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April 27, 2024
Melisa, our NRWC summer work study student continues to represent how the environment and education Intertwine.
On behalf of Delaware Interfaith Power & Light and the ReNEW judges, we send our CONGRATULATIONS!! Your essay has been selected as one of the top three in the state! It has been sent with the other two to Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael Nelson, co-editors of Moral Ground ~ Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril, to determine the final ranking. We should have those results in the next few days. We are hoping you can join us for the AWARDS CEREMONY:Saturday, April 27, 2:00-4:00 p.m.Route 9 Library and Innovation Center 3022 New Castle Ave.New Castle, DE. 19720 (next year we’ll try for lower slower) Please let us know, at your earliest convenience, of your availability, any family/friends you would like to accompany you for this celebration, and if there is a special teacher/mentor you would like to be there.
Please email nlptruitt@gmail.com with any questions!
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April 24, 2024
Thank you DogFish Head, Holly & Gary Focht, Marlene Mervine, and our summer workstudy star, Melisa for a great night out in Milton!
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April 22, 2024 – The Beech Tree, the Living Tree
Chapter 13 of Divining is perhaps one of the most painful, yet endearing chapters of the book. You will not forget this chapter and taking a piece with this mourning is a way to wake up to what we can do in the future.
First! Take a look at celebrating Earth Day today with our summer work study intern, Melisa’s 1st place in the state essay – way to go Melisa!
NEXT – see below ways to celebrate Earth Day TODAY and beyond!
Earth Day Rocks! We are providing MANY ways for you to be a part of celebrating Earth Day – here we gooooo….
Visit Woodland Road that runs in front of the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch- if you see any stray items along the road, you can help us be more active in monitoring this area and keeping it clear. It looks so different when you drive through this amazing area of road and see no garbage! For the last 5 days, we have had someone there every day, we noticed someone that has the same six cans of beer is throwing them out every 100 feet or so, usually about six of them in total. Or energy drinks we are finding every 200 feet or so, but the same energy drink. We are keeping up though with keeping this area clean, and with your help, we will slowly move towards it being clean from one week to another.
Join us in celebrating Earth Day Wednesday night, April 24th, at DogFish Head in Milton. We will be there for free bingo night, chat about who we are as the NRWC, and there are $2.00 tacos until CLOSE! Where else to best meet and chat up your concerns about community environment requests, concerns and talk about exciting upcoming events and ways to be involved!? We’d love to see you.
Join us and congratulating Summer Upward Bound Math & Science of DTCC Georgetown work study student for NRWC, Melisa, as she accepts the TOP award in the state for an environmental essay through Delaware Interfaith Power & Light that she wrote- we will be celebrating her at the Route 9 Public Library on Saturday, April 27th afternoon, but YOU can see her essay here: https://harrybrake.com/nanticoke-river-watershed-conservancy-project-page/
Have a picture of the day or past weekend exemplifies Earth Day? We’d love to premiere it on our social media – please send to either nanticokeriver2022@gmail.com,
or on our instagram at @nanticokeriverconservancy and we will share how YOU see Earth Day!
5) Paint Night! That’s right! On May 24th, we have a chance for you to participate on your OWN canvas and capture a part of the Nanticoke River for your own! We will be gathering and supporting environmental literacy at the Bridgeville Public Library with a guided paint night artist, AND silent auction items that serve as some pretty awesome gifts to boot! Stay tuned for details, but mark your calendars for limited seats to create your own piece of the Nanticoke artistically. More details coming soon- a great night again to meet and greet and do something to represent the environmental community.
6) Stay tuned tonight for another community read review from our current community read, Divining- shared tonight in honor of Earth Day.
There is so much more but we do not want to overwhelm you on this day to celebrate Earth Day, so we’ll stop there….for now 🙂
how you celebrate Earth Day – we want to hear from you!
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April 21, 2024
Wednesday evening at Dogfish Head, Milton, DE – Bingo, tacos and the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy. We’d love you to come out and see us, meet us, and get a NRWC button for Free for being present- it is going to be a fun night!
DogFish Head – Milton – Wednesday April 24th – : Free bingo starting at 5:30 p.m. & $2 tacos from 5:30 p.m.-close.
Congrats to our NRWC Summer work study student Melisa. WAY TO GO!
Congrats to Melisa our NRWC summer workstudy star -check out the essay she won based on alot of info she used from her experience with the NRWC. She will be one of our preconference presenters at the MLA/DLA conference!
Dear Melisa,
On behalf of Delaware Interfaith Power & Light and the ReNEW judges, we send our CONGRATULATIONS!! Your essay has been selected as one of the top three in the state! It has been sent with the other two to Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael Nelson, co-editors of Moral Ground ~ Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril, to determine the final ranking. We should have those results in the next few days.
We are hoping you can join us for the AWARDS CEREMONY:
Saturday, April 27, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Route 9 Library and Innovation Center
3022 New Castle Ave.
New Castle, DE. 19720 (next year we’ll try for lower slower)
Please let us know, at your earliest convenience, of your availability, any family/friends you would like to accompany you for this celebration, and if there is a special teacher/mentor you would like to be there.
A FEW MORE REQUESTS:
* Please make any minor, final edits, such as punctuation, include a title, and send to me by next Monday. We will be putting all the essays up on our website and may have other opportunities to publish.
* Please send me a photo of yourself, portrait view, outside/creative/reflective of your essay. We may use at the ceremony and are exploring opportunities to display quotes with photos from as many essayists as possible, in as many places as possible (such as coffee shops, libraries…).
* Please share with me your address and phone number. (These will NOT be made public) One of our judges will contact you to learn more about you and the inspiration behind your essay in order to introduce you. If you are unable to attend, we will still recognize you at the ceremony and will mail your scholarship award. We will also be informing your state and federal legislators of your accomplishment.
More details to come soon. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Again, our warm and grateful congratulations to you!
Sincerely,
Ms. Lisa
*******************************
Lisa Locke
Rehoboth Beach DE
Lilac Arts ~ Weaving Natural Connections
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March 30, 2024
Thank you so so much everyone for your support for the DoMore24 events and the 2024 Pre Easter Auction!
Today we will be at the Vince Morris trail at Chapel Branch from 8:45 AM – noon – come see us!
Your efforts to support the NRWC will be seen and felt for the next year and beyond.
Stay tuned for upcoming events we wil be having (Finishing our current Community book read and a new one coming up, the NRWC Paint Night, as well as a special event held at DogFish head in Milton).
More details coming to keep in tune with our pages and thank you again!
AND we will be bringing items to the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch tomorrow for a community cleanup
if pickup there works for you. and if not, we will get them to you BEFORE Easter!
Hope to see you tomorrow for what looks to be a GREAT day for discovering ways to improve our visited areas, meet each other, find out about future endeavors and more!
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March 23,2024
Leading up to the 26th, you can write to legislators and let them know your concerns about Open Space, why it is important, ahead of the legislative Day on March 26th if you cannot attend in person.
Very important in deciding how you want your Delaware to look in the future.
As we hit the kickoff time at 5:00 PM for the NRWC 3rd annual Pre Easter auction, we recognize and thank SoDel Concepts with Karen Johnson below, and to Nelia Dolan for continuously supporting community organizations like the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy, to help support OTHER community organizations.
Thank you for your commitment to all things community! We hope to see you during the NRWC auction, from March 22nd, 5:00 PM to March 29th, 5:00 PM.
“Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore it if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance and Other Essays
As we are less than 24 hours away from the NRWC 3rd Annual Pre Easter Auction, we want to thank Alli for representing DogFish Head’s awesome gift bucket.
Always supporting local nonprofits, how lucky are we to have DogFish Head in our own communities? (And have you tried the Fire Oven pizza in Rehoboth? OH MY….). Please check out the NRWC auction starting 5:00 PM tomorrow night for this and MANY more potential Easter day gifts that will surprise!
If you have never experiences the adventures of the Delmarva Birding experience, you do NOT know what tyou are missing until you see the corners of Delmarva through environmental eyes and experts you never knew existed.
One of MANY unique Pre- Easter items that are part of the March 22nd, 5:00 PM NRWC auction. Stay tuned for more preview items from the auction and the link to get involved.
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March 19, 2024
The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy’s 3rd Annual PreEaster auction kicks off at 5:00 M March 22nd and runs through March 29th, 2024 at 5:00 PM. We have some exciting packages for you that will make some amazing Easter bunny recipients VERY happy – stay tuned for the link.
Today we feature Thompsons Island Brewery Company and Wood Fire Grill with a unique and fabulous package they put together for this year’s auction.
all featuring the speciality auction basket created just for NRWC’s 3rd annual auction. Get ready in 2 days to see all the amazing items that will make GREAT Eastern Shore Easter gifts for someone special!
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March 9, 2024
Chapter 12 of our Community Read – Divining, says everything you’d want to discover about tying the education and fascination of trees to books, youth, and our community. it is a short but powerful chapter, and so interesting and inspirational for what our futures can be. it grabs onto something familiar we see in the ground, and makes connections to other topics – please check it out at this link and scroll down to see the latest chapter of our read, Chapter 12- Heartwood The Sweet Gum ( Liquidambar styraciflua).
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March 08, 2024
#DoMore24DE The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy cannot thank you enough for putting us to the finish line for #DoMore24DE. We exist because of each of you and your support in the last 24 hours, thank you and our youth, environment, and community thank you as we move forward with gifts for you in the next year. Thank you!
#DoMore24DE Out of 36 pages of nonprofits for funds raised, we are page 10 thanks to you as far as donations coming in! When we make $3000.00 we have an anonymous donor that will donate $3000.00 more – which will be a record for pushing the protection of our environmental communities – thanks to you and the memory of Coach Morris – thank you! https://www.domore24delaware.org/fundraisers/nanticoke-river-watershed-conservancy
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March 07, 2024!
20 MINUTES until #DOMore24DE!
DoMore24DE is coming up starting tonight at 6:00 PM and continuing through 6:00 PM tomorrow evening—a wonderful chance to support all non-profit organizations in Delaware, but especially for our own favorite non-profit, the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy! Open space all over Delaware is disappearing at an alarming rate and you can help make a difference for land conservation here by participating in DoMore24DE!
We can also possibly qualify for additional funding from the very many large corporate sponsoring organizations that will be donating substantial prizes for this event. We have been gifted a match opportunity as well—if NRWC raises $3,000 in gifts during this 24 hour period, a secret donor has pledged to donate another $3,000 for us!! Log on to: DoMore24DE and use this Hashtag- #DoMore24DE when referring to the NRWC on FB, Twitter or Instagram.
The Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition is now viewing!
Don’t forget to vote for the People’s Choice Award! You can vote in person at the Arts Center/Gallery. You can also vote by “liking” your favorites on Facebook at
A third option is to send your choice by email to Dana Wise. The People’s Choice winner will be announced at the closing of the exhibition. Voting closes on March 20.
There is one photograph of a portion of the Nanticoke River in this exhibition, can you find it?
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March 02, 2023
Starting March 7th 2024 at 6 PM to March 8th, 2024, for 24 hours, you can add to your environmental impact!
#RiverWatershed We have a new instagram account we are adding to! Our initial Instagram account – nanticokeconservancy will still remain, but we will be adding new information and insights to: @nanticokeriverconservancy. found at https://www.instagram.com/nanticokeriverconservancy/ Please follow!
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January 7, 2023
Chapter 11, of our Community Read of Divining, looks back to 2020, and what a powerful chapter.
Excerpt: “I am amazed at how long ago 2020 seems today. It also strikes me, as the author notes this in Chapter 11 here, how impersonal something like COVID was, is, and can be, just as we list above links that tie to content, but then nothing more. Nature was there through some of the most horrible scenarios of humans, and always will be.”
NRWC 2024 First Day Hike – Thanks for coming out to NRWC’s First Day Hike! Even though we are still on the community reading Divining, we gave out copies of the text, Troubled Water by Seth M. Siegel
that we will move into as a community read in a few months. 2023 Summer Work Study students worked on fleshing out some details worth examining in a document for preparation of this community reads text, and was one of the 40+ projects that tackled this past summer. (This was Project #20 out of 43 from the NRWC Upward Students summer 2023 experience).
We demonstrated using iNaturalist to figure out what type of mushroom and pine trees we saw, explored trails, trees, answered and questioned about how ducks fit into the small hole of the duck boxes, looked to see what plants were growing in the water, a day in inquisitiveness and the outdoors.
Thanks to Matt MacCoy and Family, Cindi and Dennis Smith, Glen Mellin and Lennie Truitt, Work study student Brianna. Tony and Sue Carino, and other new members that have just moved here. Perfect weather, snacks, dogs, hot chocolate, great company new neighbors meeting new neighbors – a new way to meet new people thank you!
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December 30, 2023
Thank you to all local community members that came out tonight and supported the amazing local charities tonight at Merry Lane – you have ONE MORE NIGHT, tomorrow, the 31st to support this amazing continuation of how to support organizations in our communities! Summer work study student Brianna, Executive Director Marlene Mervine, Board members Liz LaSorte /Nicole Truitt and Harry Brake not pictured) thank you for warming up the chilly evening with your time coming to this evening’s light display from the NRWC and all charities that benefit from your generosity. Happy New Year!
We hope you will walk with us on our first day walk at Chapel Branch @ 10:00 AM on January 1st!
December 30, 2023
The NRWC will be offering a 45 minute hike/walk at the Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch on January 01, 2024 for anyone interested (10:00 AM). Aside from seeing us at the event below, you have a chance to also visit and ask questions on January 01, 2024 to break in the year right and healthy!
Make your 2024 resolution to support your environment and local charities on December 30th! From 5:00 – 9:00 PM, the next to last day of this amazing way to give back to the community.
As Christmas Eve arrives faster than we expected this year, we continue to slowly work our way through the community read, Divining.
Chapter 10 is an exceptional reminder of how history is interwoven with the fabric of the environment and offers so many discoveries. From Women’s Right’s leaders, to Hiroshima survivors, to Mother’s Day, to World War II – trees we find can take you to many places of contemplation. This is why we love this book so much and love taking our time. Please feel free to add to our community read discussion on Divining – found at our shared google site- consider how you can help a student grab an interest and create a project for National History Day tied to an historical aspect represented with the many environment topics presented here (The Theme Turnings Points in History– a GREAT chance to tie history to turning points in environmentalism) – and continue to find relationships between the environment and history.
We hope to see your willingness to participate on talks on this community read in the future as well!
Thank you to the immediate community members, WBOC, also to Jay Repa, Jessica Redmond, and Gary and Holly Focht for making the night possible surrounded by Christmas spirit and candy canes! Look for us on December 30th for more books, candy canes and Christmas spirit that lasts beyond one day!
Tomorrow, rain or by moonlight is going to be AWESOME 🙂 Stop by and see the NRWC, WBOC, receive a free environmental children’s book (while supplies last), and enjoy an amazing display of lights – rain or by moonlight – donations will help support local non profits that serve your community. Make sure you say hi tomorrow night!
On Saturday, December 02, 2023 we have a chance for you to visit with the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy, make a donation to the NRWC and choose a children’s book on the environment! Stop by Merry Lane at 8558 Elks Road, Seaford, DE from 5- 9PM on December 02nd – and support one of many non profits that work in the community!
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November 27th, Evening –
One of 42 projects created during the NRWC summer 2023 internship with youth –
Please check out the information we have shown to you since we have posted needs a year ago, and where we have come since then – thank to you!
Please support the future goals of involving our Youth for Giving Tuesday, November 28th.
Your support can guide us on Tuesday, November 28th. Check out this video of where we were a year ago, and the gains we have made, thanks to you!
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November 22, 2023
Returning to our community read, Divining, by Maureen Dunphy, the cottonwood evokes memories. Feel free to grab a copy and see how soul-searching this novel is tied to the amazing trees that we grow up with!
“Few chapters in any book seem as nostalgic as starting on a summer day with poetry, as this chapter does. The relaxed and reminiscent tone of the book overall truly comes out with the focus on the cottonwood tree. It is ironic how trees can be connected to memories, to literature, to other texts that recall moments of our lives and growing up – and ultimately to where our own “roots” originate from. The exploration through back generations, historical aspects of literature, and ultimately, applying meaning to all of these simply identified through the memory of a cottonwood is part of the art and beauty of Maureen Dunphy’s text. It all might sound and seem a little extravagant and far-reaching and yet, when you are walking and noticing the environment around you, you start to realize how many far-reaching connections there are between you and the environment. Dunphy does an excellent job in bringing this connection home to the reader in a very calming and eloquent series of connections in Chapter 9 of Divining!”
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November 11, 2023
What are we thankful for leading up to Thanksgiving? We have a Mighty list! This post, two for one – FIRST, thank you for ALL who came out to the NRWC Fall Community Work Day – we planted trees, eliminated invasives, cleaned up litter, removed mimosas from the parking lot, removed lots of “extra” at our maintenance ground up the road – and thanks to the help of local community members, FFA at Seaford High, students from Laurel and Sussex Central, NRWC members, and new friends, it was a successful day. Images to comes!
SECOND – As we pick back up the highlights of over 42 projects from the summer Work Study through Upward Bound, we are thankful for the detailed newsletter that helped summarize the massive amount of work put into the NRWC at the Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch. Stay tuned later this evening for a return to our community read with the book – Divining.
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October 4, 2023
Week 5 of the NRWC summer work study was amazing – check out all the discoveries made from our workstudy troupe!
No, this is NOT currency, not a type of luggage, but what I found out was a society of individuals that have a long-established history of finding.
What I found out about geocaching (Thanks to P. Littleton):
Also, caches/events cannot be submitted from the geocaching app…you must use a computer/laptop to create an event on geocaching.com
I would highly recommend finding several caches BEFORE trying to hide any. This will give you more experience on places that caches are usually hidden, types of containers to use, quality of containers used, how caches are placed, etc.
5.1 includes “Before hiding your first cache, we encourage you to find at least 20 geocaches. Finding a variety of caches makes it easier to create an enjoyable experience for others.”
The first geocache in Delaware is in Trap Pond State Park. The first Multi-Cache in Delaware is in Chapel Branch Nature Area but is not at any post…..the 1st stage is relatively near post #13 and the final stage is relatively near post #31….hence the name “Lucky 13? Or Vice Versa?”.
Geocache must be 528 ft apart so there is room to place more.
Geocaching Events are a good way to meet local cachers.
Geocaching is usually done alone, with a friend/spouse or in small groups.
You will need to set-up a geocaching.com account to get started geocaching.
Similar to the post office, despite hail, sleet, and snow, Geocachers are diehard explorers – and this is what makes Geocaching so interesting and part of a dedicated group. In the future, many students that participated in the NRWC summer work study program wanted explore these possibilities further in creating more Geocache locations and and events, as well as spreading this a activity among younger participants!
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September 24, 2023
In celebrating the Nanticoke River we acknowledge the rivers and lands of the original inhabitants – and the process of land acknowledgements to the Nanticoke Indian tribe, the original inhabitants of our area. Since we have been unable to meet with the Nanticoke as of yet, we do not want to make any formal statements without consulting with them on any formal statements so they are properly represented. However, as in Maryland and in Delaware, we are indebted to the indigenous tribes that occupied and have taken care of the lands we now call home.
We urge you to submit your poems, photos, stories and other art tied to our own Nanticoke River, in the midst of National River Day, to Instagram – @nanticokeconservancy and we are going to try and sneak past the rain today from 1:00 – 2:00 at Chapel Branch.
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September 23, 2023
Several years ago we started a 9/11 Memorial project at NRWC, and to date, we have finished the final details of this extensive project.
A bittersweet tribute to 9/11 and ties to Delaware can be found here:
POSTPONED to September 30th due to Saturday (Geocache) and Sunday (World River Day) NRWC has your community in mind! Keep tabs here for updates per rain/weather conditions this weekend!
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September 17, 2023
Check out what students did on week 4 over the summer!
Please feel free to add your views as well as we go along!
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September 12, 2023
Congrats Brycen for getting 1st place in his Age Group for the NRWC RiverFest competition! He rocked the Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch coloring contest.
Thanks to R & T Nautical for the PVC Bird Sculpture! Believe it or not, we have many more winners to announce dating back to RiverFest and MANy more upcoming events happening at Chapel Branch:
October 11th- Come see the WHS XC 5k running competition at 3:30 at Chapel Branch- Seaford vs Delmar.
October 29th – Community/Volunteer Clean up Day at Chapel Branch, 8:00 AM to noon and a ton of info packed in between – keep checking here for new info all this week!
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September 06, 2023
Redefining Permanency
Conservation and environmentalism as a concept in itself carries its own images- Smokey the Bear, recycling bins, plastic or paper days, planting trees, and so on. What if land and open space, as well as advocacy, surrounded by indigenous first foods, replaced archaic ideas of environmentalism, that empowered more positive change in a beautiful ecosystem? Any takers? And the idea of beauty in communities as a result also changed? That was what I hoped for when I signed up for Field Trip #6- at Rally 2023 titled, “Agriculture and Land use in the Columbia River Gorge.”
Our first stop – Lloyd Center, a former mall and post Covid victim of retail loss was our first stop. In seeing the concrete around us I felt a challenge. A challenge to turn what most see as a single use purpose into a reconverted purpose for the community. The information we received from Sam Diaz, Director of 1000 Friends of Oregon,Nolan Leinhart, architect that support urban in-fill, (check this out!)
and Portland Metro President Lynn Peterson provided questions and answers we definitely needed to raise in our own community. When you see italicized excerpts below, these are questions I carried away in my heart and want to think about in my community in Seaford, DE.
With realizing the original plan was for being the largest mall in the world northwest, and at the time eof opening in 1960 was in contention for being the largest mall in the world, the movement to changing the role of this location has begun.
Finding out 80% of this now plan would be for housing and 20% would be for retail – I thought of our own Nylon Plaza in Seaford. Concrete everywhere for how many years? I kept thinking how much more productive and soothing this area would have, could have been with more environmental aspects built in. My hope and dream is this is being put into consideration as the developments occur. This also takes me to Mexico, where I remember the beauty of trees, vegetation, and wildlife were worked into the very aspects of the city – and dream this to be the case for our own former Nylon Plaza area. Certainly walkways and paths being recovered in an area that has been an eyesore so long, would help solidify the fact that development and protecting our environment can be neighbors.
Some astounding facts we received:
70% of Oregon is not owned by the government but owned by local individuals to allow open space and have more say about how this land is purposed.
The fact that the Portland Metro area in this city center was a service area, able to provide transportation to those that would not normally have it to parks, recreational and environmental opportunity areas within the city, was a huge asset. I do believe we need to consider more innovative and creative strategies to transportation for MANY of our countless rural and suburban residents to allow more access to just MORE for so many that often are not allowed to have a place at the table of our community due to lack of transportation, OTHER than to many fast food establishments.
As a result of more people having more of a say on how their community is being changed and developed, going to the federal government is MUCH more centralized and heard in a more effective way; 23 cities can bring one voice together.
Putting tribal interests first in the movement of over 18000 acres is a huge development, which is happening all over Oregon and Washington. Bringing back salmon as a measure of this, as well as moving to preserve first foods, shows change takes INTENTION.
Obtaining land to do this while also pacing, PACING the level of development to allow celebrating and protecting open spaces – is key for every state and should be for every community. The concept of building up instead of OUT as well, and using those spaces more environmentally smart, was not lost on me. There is potential to make that possible at the Nylon Center as well, thinking of the future and how to best address issues we have now in buildings that do not allow for innovative approaches to energy use; incorporating more of a synthesis of environment and development, and providing spaces for youth to express their entrepreneurship certainly will have more beneficial results for future generations.
It was interesting to hear from metro President Lynn Peterson say that as an engineer, she was taught to move as many cars as fast as possible, and safely, in a planning project. Is that the sole thing we desire from our community? Or wanting to create an obvious plan of healthy planning that provides healthy spaces for our community, in a variety of ways?
I felt the most powerful message came from Lloyd Center security guard that said very simply, “ I am all for change but if change looks like what I am not seeing here, as I am not seeing anyone of my type here (Black representation), then change is again just change for the politics and not for the voices that keep yelling for change.” Our town meetings, community open forums and more all have to be willing to find ways to go out and invite youth, elderly, minorities, and ALL voices to be represented, NOT waiting for them to come or attend to a meeting, but to GO TO THEM and find the concerns, ideas, and prescriptions they hold in their hearts and minds. I hope I can get that particular Security Guard officer’s name, as despite the scientific data presented, one of the most powerful messages came from him as he has grown up, become educated, and now working amid so many changes in Portland. He has an authority that often represents the many individuals that never get a chance to be included in zoning, planning, and future creativity. I walked away, and everyone did, realizing how powerful it was from his message alone.
Projects need to be created that help not just build buildings, but build a home in our community and recognize the voices that make up those homes in our community.
Questions like why are visitors like us, coming to Portland to gather info or later down the road fix and repair or decide elements of Portland, or any town like Seaford, while ignoring the residents that have lived here all their lives and involving them to help make decisions are vital and need to be asked. Involving means finding creative ways to get these individuals voices represented more than saying, oops, they did not show up so they had their chance.
How do we invest to NOT create displacement, gentrification, not a case of one neighborhood competes to be better than another, but work TOGETHER in synthesis? More Ma and Pa businesses, and encouraging them to use technology to thrive, keeps a sense of culture and distinction in our community, while still being able to find places that we need without having to drive to another town to obtain them.
If change is pushing people out as gentrification often does and I can see in neighborhoods all over Sussex County alone, is thatthe way to go?
Knowing the tribal members that initiated the land we are on now is a start, but then involving those very individuals and then move forward to celebrate and embrace indigenous, youth, minority, working, and elderly populations TOGETHER seems more closely aligned to the definition of community I would want, and seems to be the message Portland has been sending out as well.
I will be honest, I do not want to be some other neighborhoods that have completely had a facelift and ignore the aspects of who is in their very community, it seems fake to me, and a very false pretense. When we are able to celebrate the very members that make up our community who have places all over our community, we are making strides. Jane Goodall teaches in her Roots & Shoots programs, (what do we have for people, the environment and animals?) all over our community, I feel we are on the right path finally when we talk about considering our community growth and combining the values of those in the community.
We certainly need to find ways to not live in silos and be able to work and create, and develop together as we move forward. THEN, concrete is not just taking up space that could be used for growth, but is a small portion of the growth we see happening in a healthy way, while we are easily able to find environmental areas right beside development that is brick and mortar. When the teeth of our growth comes from more people having more of a say in how our lands are used, including NOT ignoring those that have always been here, and long-time residents, as well as newcomers, I am sure this can be considered growth in a healthy community.
I loved the concept of how local organizations in Portland have more control over their local services such as waste, recycling and more – it makes all the difference.
Believe it or not this was only the FIRST stop on our field trip and look at how we revision that concrete mall now? And its potential. If we look at it in a different light, than we dd arriving, we have made progress.
Having Gather Around catering serve some of the best organic and healthy choices right here in the middle of the plaza was a sort of rebirth of how we should look at our lands, community, spaces in towns, and how we can have events like this EVERY week, instead of just for a conference event.
Stay tuned for stop #2 of this trip of this amazing field trip and what the takeaways are for our own communities.
Although we have taken a small break/vacation, the NRWC and students of Upward Bound never did! Here is a tribute to some of the ongoing projects and return to projects where we left off:
Chapter 8 – From Royalty to Immigrant – The Englush Oak
The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy LOVE the intensity that Willow (left) and Abigail (right) showed and we do believe, this carried over into their coloring!
Thank you to Seaford Hungry Howie’s for reinforcing what creativity, environmental education combined with project-based learning, and a sense of community can look like- you help motivate future generation to think outside of the box (Pizza box?!).
We love the Upward Bound students who took an idea, made it happen, and showed that future generations should be listened to, considered, and made a part of all things in their community.
And, this, this is just a small portion of our winners, many more to come – way to go young ladies!
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August 17, 2023
Check out 2022- Last year week 3 for Upward Bound work study
2023 Work Study with the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy Week Three
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August 11, 2023
Congrats to our NRWC 2nd place winner in age group 8-10 years old, Ali! One of many winners you will see over the next few days.
A photograph of his entry, the location that Salma (our Upward Bound artist) depicted in illustration in a real photograph, honorary certificates, and the AWESOME gift certificate from our sponsor, Seaford Hungry Howies c/o Craig Dimes!, we are so proud of Ali! Another example of how art, education and creativity can move youth to make a difference.
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August 8th, 2023
Congrats to our NRWC 1st place winner in age group 8-10 years old, Esma! One of many winners you will see over the next few days.
A photograph of her entry, the location that Salma depicted in illustration in a real photograph, honorary certificates, and the 1st place heron created by artist Robert Morris at R and T Nautical, we are so proud of Esma. One example of how art, education and creativity can move youth to make a difference.
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August 7th 4:00 PM
As Upward Bound students are designing ideas for updating our NRWC educational board for review, check out the info on the schooner that was built in Bethel!
Upward Bound celebrates their 6 week summer experience today! What better way to do so than with an article written by one of our students – Congrats!
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July 30, 2023
An interview we have wanted to do for ages, Upward Bond students sit down with Mr. William Beiser and review some amazing Seaford history!
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July 30, 2023
#RiverWatershed We’re excited about one of the 42 projects our NRWC students has created. This is a rough draft, if you can believe it. Way to go Melisa, we look forward to starting this initiative!
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July 29, 2023
Check out the student podcast with the NRWC President, Marlene Mervine!
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July 23, 2023
As students complete the visual of their tasks from week 2 of 6 weeks in the current workstudy (we are in week 5 this week, (it takes a lot of detail to go back and summarize their tasks (over 36 projects!) for each week! So stay tuned! ) it is amazing to remember, wondering if we would have any takers this year, then, we jumped to 22 from 5 workstudy students, – amazing – wait until you see what they have tackled
Checkout the archived and connected lessons workstudy students are developing:
Winners announced from our Riverfest and the NRWC coloring contest coming soon! Thank you everyone!
RiverFest. Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy, and Upward Bound!
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July 9, 2023
RiverFest and the Upward Bound/Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy children’s coloring contest table – explosion of applications and the Upward Bound ladies – they ROCKED educating younger generations through images, designed by Salma, former Upward Bound student, that were representing actual locations in the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch. Over 30 entries on Saturday and interacting with so many future generations, a huge successful day!
Glen Mellin, DE Anthropologist and co author Lenny Truitt talk DE native trees to Upward Bound students.
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July 6, 2023
Check out Seaford Gallery 107’s art opportunity following RiverFest :
7/9 /2023 OPEN SKETCH SESSION W/LIVE MODEL
1 PM-4PM
Gallery 107 Classroom
Brush up on you figurative drawing and painting with fellow artists as you sketch our live (clothed) model. No instruction but learn from other artists as you share tips and techniques. $15 model fee. Contact Tammy Kearney at tammykearney333@gamail.com with “Open Sketch” in the subject line to register & reserve your seat.
Also, the Nanticoke River Arts Council will be making available a children’s coloring contest at RiverFest, as well as in RiverFest proving entries in the Children’s area, so don’t miss your chance to be recognized! Prizes sponsored by Hungry Howie’s and R&T Nautical. Check out all the RiverFest events happening this year with an 80’s theme!
Caught in the rain, but not defeated. Kudos to the seven Upward Bound students who showed up to provide tours today at Chapel Branch and turned around and added a few more tasks to their project list – despite being completely drenched, they rocked progress at the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch (no pictures as we were dodging the rain – no luck!) , but you can thank Edsony, Melissa, Brianna, Leah, Erika, Loudna, and Christian on one of the next few Fridays they are working at the trail from 8:00 – 2:30 the next few Fridays – stay tuned for the updates for this first week, you will love to see the things the conquered.
We did manage to capture this little guy on the way back from escaping the downpour (we didn’t escape, really!)
Western Toad?
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June 30, 2023
Two different groups in work study locations, working on 20+ projects…wait until you see the amazingness the 2023 Upward Bound workstudy will be doing, get ready to be astonished. Kudos to Gary and Holly Focht, Ms. Korbeogo, Ms. Hardy, and Ms. Dunn for helping start what will be some amazing representations of the NRWC through younger eyes this summer! Stay tuned for a recap of what the students learned in week 1, next week!
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June 16, 2023
Exciting news! The NRWC workstudy students from Upward Bound begin Saturday tours at Chapel Branch starting THIS Saturday- limited numbers per tour each Saturday for six weeks, starting June 1st, 2023! Tours start at 9:00 and last for 2 hours max to beat the heat. Weather permitting, we let all signed participants know by 8:00 AM if the tour would be cancelled due to weather, which occurs occasionally
If interested, the first 8 people to sign up by sending an email here : nanticokeriver2022@gmail.com will be confirmed and we will let you know when capacity is full at our blog site, found here:
for next weekend- sorry for the lapse- but we are on it! If you’d like to participate in person or virtual, here is where we have started and you can play a part in noting and reading too!
Jun 17th we will plan an in-person chat so keep tuned here for specific details on time and location.
Location for an in person meet and greet to come shortly!
will plan to announce a location June 17th and location to be disclosed soon, but it has a connection to WOOD 🙂
Not too late to get the book, we will be looking at Chapters 1 and 2, and here is the folder from the past and future to add comments to from your reading!
From April 29th Divining Preface and Introduction
In meeting at International House of Pancakes celebrating all things trees, syrup, and our 1st Community Book Read of 2023 – we dived into the Preface and Introduction.
Please check out all comments started here – and stay tuned where we will be meeting – in person if you want to join, on April 13th (the connection to trees continues!)
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May 27, 2023
Cleanup it was! The NRWC Cleanup crew headed to another side of the Foskey property and dragged, dragged, and dragged debris left from campsites in that area. Tents, suitcases, clothes, burning barrels, just to begin a varied list of debris was reclaimed by a dumpster (Thank you Invista!) Having a chance to utilize the new equipment, we made a good initiation of cleaning up removing, and restoring the natural look to another boundary size of the Foskey Farm/Chapel Branch tract. Great job everyone!
Picking up the pieces…Gator Power!We grabbed some invasive mustard seed as well!Trailer, gator, and dumpster filling.Celebrating a job well done at C & C’s Country Kitchen
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May 19, 2023
The NRWC is always on call with amazing volunteers to keep paths open for you!
Thanks Gary and Holly Focht for last week and May 19th’s tree clearing for our community to use the trails at the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch!
Let’s revisit Earth Day – because thinking ahead and making connections is the name of the game – How can you take Earth day, (April 2nd 2023), tie into a lesson on citing and paraphrasing, and yet retain the element of conservation- that’s what Upward Bound students did – given a choice of several environmental-based books, students were asked to present a paraphrase, as well as a citation and reproduce a Works Cited (versus a Bibliography) and create a poster board exhibiting the differences in what is a citation (quoted text), a paraphrase, using APA or MLA style, and listing in a Works Cited – all the while maintaining a theme of environmentalism.
Was it correct the first time? No. Several times we needed to go back to the assignment and correct what was APA or MLA format, edit parentheses, periods, formatting and yet, students were still learning after the assignment. Through a simple guide that students could also use later-
and tying connections from Earth Day, to referencing environmental topics, to representing and emphasizing why advocating for open spaces is important at Legislative Hall, it was a goal to show how seemingly unrelated exercises/activities can be tied together for a meaningful purpose.
Students that were made up homeschooled students and Upward Bound that lived and breathed the 2022, six Week Work Study helped emphasize,
“Our landscapes are changing rapidly and we need to continue protecting lands that not only provide opportunities for recreation, but that also mitigate the effects of climate change and help to provide clean water and wildlife habitat” says Michelle Schmidt, director of conservation and watershed planning at the Delaware Center for Inland Bays.
With the experience last year through Upward Bound and The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy the results of so much discovery led to Legislative Hall. A few days ahead of this visit, preparing to research what committees, what bills had been passed by legislators provided the student ambassadors with knowledge ahead of time before merely showing up, to have a foundation to advocate for the values that had been expressed back on Earth day. Everyone played an important, diverse role.
Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Chief of Staff Keith A. Warren, and Upward Bound Student Enrichment Coordinator Twanya Dunn, discuss environmental approaches to open space preservation in Delaware.Senator Russell Huxtable takes in the environmental/education based initiatives of Upward Bound students (Kendra M. , Fatma D. and Sultan D. of the Georgetown program).
Click on the above to see the full image!
From reproducing the impacts of a 6-week program last year to Earth Day this year, to Legislative Hall, perspective over time relied on several youth projects to bring it all together.
On May 10th, students that participated in the 6 week Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy/Upward Bound outdoor work study will be traveling to Legislative Hall for Environmental Day to emphasize this point:
We need you to share what conservation means to you and why open space protection is important. Storytelling is extremely powerful, this is what gets their attention.
The following legislators will be visited:
Senator Huxtable
Senator Mantzavinos
Representative Phillips
Representative Gray
Nikko Brady- Director of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs
Lt.. Governor Bethany Hall-Long
Senator Poore
Senator Wilson
Any emails you would be willing to send ahead of these students, if the lands in Delaware are important to you, will help support their representation on May 10th!
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April 29th – May 5th, 2023Divining Preface and Introduction
In meeting at International House of Pancakes celebrating all things trees, syrup, and our 1st Community Book Read of 2023 – we dived into the Preface and Introduction.
Please check out all comments started here – and stay tuned where we will be meeting – in person if you want to join, on April 13th (the connection to trees continues!)
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April 29th, 2023
We might have dodged the rain storm yesterday and you THOUGHT we missed Arbor Day- nope!
We will be hanging out at Ihop in Seaford at 10:00 if anyone wants to participate in an in-person chat on our first 2023 Community Talk – please IM me if interested in attending and do not worry -we will be providing a virtual forum for your reflections as well
*There is a connection, we chose a book due to recycled paper being used, and get it – SAP/Syrup in a restaurant and connected to TREES?
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April 23, 2023
The NRWC was waiting for it’s FIRST Community Read to come in the mail Saturday, and the rainstorm lulled us to sleep – sorry! Divining A Memoir in Trees
is our top and first Community Read for 2023- and appropriate that Arbor Day is coming up on April 28th, 2023 – we will post our first discussion on the first essay on this day to start us off – which will start virtual but have an in person option to discuss this on April 29th – stay tuned for details. Through Amazon the purchase and delivery takes about one day, maybe two, but we know from the amazing review and introduction, this might be one of our best conversational community reads to date- and we think our voters hit the jackpot on these 16 essays devoted to life, trees, and memory.
Due to the incoming thunderstorm coming to Sussex County, we will postpone today’s 4:00 PM hike – but we have a ton of other ways you can celebrate Earth Day, as listed below and ore coming this evening – stay tuned and stay safe!
Want to win one of three books for FREE? This will be our SECOND community read of 2023 – so this is not the top choice – and our first community read, which will be revealed later today!
All you need to do to be eligible is send a photo that represents Earth Day in Delaware, the three best as judged by NRWC members will receive their own free copies of Troubled Water by Seth M. Siegel and credited with their photo on our media sites!
Submit to :
Our Instagram: @nanticokeconservancy
Our Twitter @RiverWatershed
or email: nanticokeriver2022@gmail.com
Good luck on Earth day and Do Delaware proud!
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April 21, 2023
We can’t promise you it will not rain for Saturday’s 4:00 PM hike at Chapel Branch, BUT – we CAN still present some exciting opportunities to celebrate Earth Day ahead of Saturday.
We will announce the winner of our March Madness Community Read Saturday and if the weather holds – we will hike at 4:00 PM and if not, no worries, tons of Earth Day reflections and opportunities coming. Stay tuned here for details!
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April 13, 2023
Thanks to the crew that never quits, yesterday major work at the Millstone tract in Bridgeville!
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April 10, 2023
Round 2 yesterday of the dedicated stairs at Three Ponds for honoring William Beiser – At the Vince Morris Trail @ Chapel Branch!
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April 9, 2023
Results of our narrow-down to two texts, did NOT exactly result in 2 texts, lol, so this is our Final tier to decide what will be our starting Community Read for the NRWC 2023 Community Read, start voting and may the odds be ever in your favor! https://forms.gle/Ysg3NHDmY2cdv24o8
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April 7, 2023
7:27 PM
Thank you everyone for making the 2nd Annual NRWC Pre-Easter auction a success! We will be serving as Easter bunnies the next few days and appreciate the support that keeps the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy busy, as caretakers of environmental areas in our county and state!
to help you prepare for 302 day, which is held usually the first Saturday in March every year (Heck Delawareans celebrate this every day) – but they have a GREAT collection of Delaware specific items, two within our auction!
and we have many more amazing items tucked away in our auction that would make a GREAT east basket (speaking of, some of the Longaberger baskets we have would be AMAZING heirlooms to pass down as an Easter basket in families).
You have until 5:00 PM just over 3 hours to make someone’s Easter memorable with the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy auction, and yes, you have 5 minutes beyond 5:00 PM for hotly contested items that can be ben on back and forth
Thank you to all our amazing sponsors of this event!
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Today is the day! 5:00PM It all ends and SO many items to choose from to add to someone’s Easter basket!
Down to FOUR! Our Final Four of book choices in now own to 4 finalists! Vote by April 7th to decide which two books will go head to head for our NRWC community read!
At 10:00 AM today, I will post a preview of items for our auction to the public – that preview link is here and will be provided on the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy blog site:
(You may have to use your arrows to scroll up and down pon the page)- when the auction goes live, there will be obvious numbers at the top of each page to advance to the next item, and a slide bar on the side to see items up and down on the page – sometimes also you have to resize your screen to see all the items 🙂
There is a way to change the view of the screen to fit phones too, you just have to look at the icon for a phone, it usually appears in the top right of the screen.
I wanted to explain a few things:
1) There is a RESERVE Price set for each item – meaning – there is a price I set that is the lowest price I will accept – and if that price is not met, the item will not be sold or be able to be bid on until that price is met.
Some people like or do not like this, I do this out of respect for the people/company giving us the items. If you have an idea of what the lowest price we should expect from items would be – let me know. I kind of guess on this a bit but do not give anything away for nothing – if that makes sense. Any insight you can give me on what the lowest price we should expect for items you see or have given, will be helpful.
2) Popcorn bidding – I set this to on, meaning, if there are items that are being bid on more than others, have a high number of bids, those items will have a chance to go 5 minutes after the auction ends on the 7th, to go back and forth – just as a way for the more popular items to have a chance to have an opportunity for those interested in that item.
We have more items coming in, but at least you get a quick peek of what we have!
Talk to you soon!
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March 30, 2023
2 Days and 2 Hours until auction launch!
Another sneek peek into NRWC’s Pre-Easter virtual auction – starting April 1st. A 5 hour open preview will be offered HERE tomorrow to see items and get an idea of what you might be interested in – link will be provided at our website: tomorrow starting at 10 AM!
From Hockessin Booshelf, to Livingin302, th Eastern Shore Garden Center, to Hungry Howie’s, to SODEL to MUCH MUCH more being offered, you will not want to miss this 2nd annual auction!
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March 25, 2023
The Final Four of our Next Community Read is approaching – Choose your favorite FOUR reading choices in our March Madness Community Read Selection Process, now whittled down from from 9 choices – and looking to see which 4 will remain to decide our upcoming Community Read – thanks for your particiption – both possilbities of WHERE to read and WHAT to read are up for voting this second round until March 31st:
~Thank you community members for helping the NRWC shoot past their DO MORE24 goal in 2023 of $500.00 and receiving over $2,727.17 in 24 hours– which could not have been achieved without the interest and support of community members like yourself. The NRWC runs on the support of all of YOU!
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Thank you to the amazing work from Community Cleanup Day March 18th, to the Bill Beister stairs erected (Thank you Ray Fisher, John McNeil, John Martin, Gary & Holly Focht!) March 19-21st, to trees being removed from the Vince Morris Nature Trails (Thank you Brenda Johnson, John McNeil, Gary & Holly) at Chapel Branch March 20th, to the….
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…Upcoming PreEaster Auction starting April 1st to the 7th that include amazing items from
SODEL,
traditional Delaware History items,
giveaways from the National Aquarium in Baltimore,
a customized gift basket from Hungry Howie’s,
Trap Pond cabin stays,
Shorebirds tickets,
and this is only a FEW of the auction items up for grabs-
you will NOT want to miss this! The auction link will be available April 1st right here, and also on our blog, on Twitter and Instagram and those paying attention will be quite happy to see what is up for grabs – Our 2nd annual auction will make anyone’s Easter a GREAT time for celebration and family!
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March 21, 2023
We applaud the awesome Chapel Branch Community Day support (stay tuned for a post on more details on this!)
and
the addition of our Bill Beiser Stairs at Three Ponds Trail a few days later!
Thank you Ray Fisher, John McNeil, John Martin, Gary & Holly Focht!
Next week we will ask NRWC and the public to vote on the top 8 they like, the following week, the top 4, the following week, the top choice- starting Monday, get ready for votes and results at the end of the week!- A link will be provided here Sunday night (March 19th) to vote!
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March 17th, 2022
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Tomorrow is the day!
March 18th is the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy’s Community Day Cleanup (9:00 AM – Noon) BUT, you will also be able to :
Have a helping at children’s and adult environmental books (and heck yes, FREE!)
Get a sneak peek at items that will be featured in our Pre Easter Auction starting April 1st
Find out insights into upcoming programs from other Environmental groups
Meet opportunities to be involved in the community on a further basis!
Questions on what to bring or anything else? Just let me know! We will be located at the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch, across from Invista!
Details: Let’s talk weather – We should be in the clear:
First, Thanks to Rob Line, we will be leading groups of people to help clear vines and invasives, this is first order , so if everyone has extra gloves, loppers, tree and shrub cutters, branch trimmers, we could definitely benefit from them!
Second – I will have extra books on hand to distribute to children on environmental issues, so spread the word, we have easily enough for 1 for every child – and some extra books on hand for adults of Last Child in the Woods.
Thiird – I will make sure we have water available to you for tomorrow- bring a thermos to refill – 🙂
Fourth – This will be 9AM to noon 🙂
Fifth – Clothing – Bring repellent, Long sleeved shirts, pants, loves, thick socks, not running shoes – try to bring boots or appropriate foot-wear, try to avoid footwear with mesh- believe it or not, ticks are present early – I will also bring some repellent.
Sixth – Any questions email me!
WE WILL HAVE A port o potty and hand disinfectant available too! Thank you!
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March 12, 2023
What an amazing way to end a long voyage through so many adventures with the Community Book Read of The Wilderness Idiot. Chapter 24 is truly all about the wonder that exists below the surface and the beauty of discovery! Stay tuned for options for our next community read and hope you will want to be involved!
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March 11, 2023
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March 04, 2023
Our next to last chapter of the The Wilderness Idiot- and more than you ever thought about with the backpack! From creators, to design, to what is the best – check out “Leader of the Pack!”
We are so thankful for how you have chosen us to meet our goal and then some, thanks to YOU we are at $2,492.00 with a goal of $500.00 this year – so what does that say? It says we will be bringing ALOT more activities to your doorstep to keep you in step with a beautiful, environmental community we have. Thank you!
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March 02, 2023!
Pick an hour, ANY hour, and from $5.00 to whatever you think you can do, the NRWC appreciates your vote of confidence, and you have until 6:00 PM March 3rd- here is the link to play a part:
#RiverWatershed#DoMore24DE Let’s make it happen but thanks to Senator Pettyjohn and State Representative Danny Short stopping by the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch today and for the boost to improve the lands we manage for YOU! Our community!
We are in the home stretch! Our community read chapters are coming to a close (stay tuned for the last few this week) –
DO More 24 Tweet contests start today,
#DoMore24DE Tweet Prize. Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 27, the #MILLSUMMIT will contribute $1 per retweet to the participating nonprofits using #DoMore24DE to promote themselves on Twitter. The @millsummit Twitter account will post the Do More 24 Delaware livestream promo video at or near 9 AM on February 27. Every retweet of this post that includes a comment that tags and/or mentions one of the participating nonprofits and both the #DoMore24DE and #MILLSUMMIT hashtag will count. Only retweets between 9 a.m. on Monday, 2/27 and 9 a.m. on Thursday, 3/2 will count.
In addition, the #MILLSUMMIT will also contribute $1 for any retweets of participating nonprofit posts that use the #DoMore24DE hashtag. The original tweet must have been sent after 8:59 a.m. on 2/27 and must contain the hashtag #DoMore24DE. Only retweets between 9 a.m. on Monday, 2/27 and 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 2 will count.
Only the first 500 retweets will count for this prize. Contributions will be made to the nonprofits’ fundraising pages after #DoMore24DE begins.
and we have #DoMore23DE starting March 2nd to March 3rd at 6 PM!ALSO, March 18th gives the community a chance to see what we do with investments in our community, so please come out from 9:00 – noon to support efforts to add to the Vince Morris Nature Trails!
Our latest NRWC newsletter is out and being distributed, so let us know if you do not receive one – we are excited of all the packed accomplishments in the last year, thanks to your support. Stay tuned!
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February 16, 2023
As we near the completion of the community book read with Chapters 20 and 21- (don’t worry, still a few more chapters!) – It is surprisingly pleasing to see how much content is contained in these two chapters. From experiencing camping newbies and influencing them to the love of the outdoors, who become addicted, to information of the presence of Cougars in North America as well as their behaviors and relationship with the outdoors, camping, and hiking, little can be said that wasn’t relayed in these chapters. It was informative, fascinating, and intriguing to wallow over these topics and d some investigating on the points – enjoy!
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February 01, 2023
The Wilderness IdiotChapter 19 focuses on that iconic animal, the Grizzly. But this chapter is one of the deepest dives into seeing how so much is interconnected- bears, ecosystems, minerals, the landscape, human and animal populations, and SO MUCH MORE. This chapter is easily worth a month of discussion and investigation, to see how tied together so much is. Explanation here does not do this chapter justice and the best advice- dive in and follow the resources and experts of where they have taken you in this chapter.
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January 16, 2023
Denali in Alaska is the focus of Chapter 18 – and this gives readers a cold, calculating look at the realities, as well as the beauty amid the rawness of the true outdoors No sugarcoating this chapter, and to be honest, the reality of how difficult mentally it is to persevere at times, with such challenges is brought front and center. The interesting aspect is this chapter with images is also able to be seen online, so check out the above link for some chilling, harsh, and realistic experiences of Denali.
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January 8, 2023
Chapter 17 of the Wilderness Idiot brings us to the end of the world in the Americas, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego – join us in this exploration of one of the most isolated yet beautiful parts of the world and the discoveries we make as a result .
As we gear up for DoMore24, March 3, 2023 and our exciting Spring 2023 environmental auction right before Easter, we will continue to bring community opportunities for you to support your local ecosystems, help educate and train young volunteers, and give back to our own individual ecosystems that surround us.
Thank you to all that have made our leaps and bounds in preserving environments possible!
We’d love you to check out where we have been and where we will be going with our NRWC community book – and hope you can add to our discoveries – The Wilderness Idiot.
We also have been looking down the road for candidates for our next community read, after out analysis of The Wilderness Idiot. One we have been looking at is Nature’s Fortune- check it out here:
As we close out 2022, we are working on unfinished business! Check out the memorial tags we are updating, affixing, videoing and documenting to finish our 911 Memorial dedications started this summer – more to come as we close out this project. Also, stay tuned for chapter 16 of the below environmental read, and feel free to contribute as you discover worlds beyond our own backyard – and stay tuned for many more new opportunities to be involved!
It has been awhile, and being sick provides this advantage, getting caught up with overdue to do’s at home and rediscovering yourself, and your interests, without outside interruptions, something more and more difficult the past few years 🙂 Despite my copy of The Wilderness Idiot being one of the items taken at the metro station in L.A. during the week of November 10th, I JUST received my new copy – and revisiting Chapter 14th and the links to the fabulous locations of Canada, I realized how amazing this book is. If you haven’t obtained this book, do yourself a favor, purchase this book, contribute to our online discussions of the chapters, and enjoy the experiences and places you get to add to a To Visit list!
Despite being a completely online discussion, which I have to say, has been amazing as I feel I have met MANY new people through the points made from the beginning of this book study, I love studying and hearing other’s reflections of this book, be it one or two writing in the chapter google links, or receiving posts, but this is a fabulous experience and book to discover.
Moving on from Chapter 14, to Chapter 15, we travel from British Columbia to the topic of bears.
The aura around bears is hard to miss. Similar to sharks. I also see this as a line between what people see as crossing between what is truly wild, and what is tried to be encroached upon by development. We are lucky to have wildlife such as bears,
We always are looking for individuals to walk our trails – (The most famous is the VInce Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch) on Woodland Road across from the Invista golf course – and we have more – check out our website page for info!
Thanks to State Representative Danny Short, State Senator Brian Pettyjohn, Senator Bryant Richardson to help several projects in process to improve these resources for our community (Paving, renovated office and meeting building, long overdue equipment to support the grounds and trails, and more coming to benefit our community!)
Alot happening – cleanups, restoration, removal of invasives, paving, and more!
We are in the middle of a book talk (some updates coming next week on our current read) – planning youth discovery workshops, planning trail walks, and more. Stop out and see our newly paved parking lot, and ask questions, as we make improvements and add extras in the new few months. We would love to have you play a part as a volunteer, book club reader, walker, runner, and more as we add more and more aspects for our community!
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October 22, 2022
Aside from the major facelift being done at our parking lot, we would love to see you today at the Vince Morris Nature Trail @ Chapel Branch-
we will have tons of great environmental give aways to children, adults, as well as a outside classroomon trimming back invasives to the trail itself with local experts. See how we have brought birds in numbers back to Chapel, how we have dedicated birdhouses to individuals that are forever remembered from 9/11, jump in to help make the trail accommodating to our community, and learn how you can be a part of future events, Giving Tuesday coming up in December, book clubs, and so much more – We hope we see you anywhere from 8-noon – and thanks for your support!
Ryan Craft – former XC runner – “Seaford, ever since DuPont has left, has been a Community that has been on a slow decline. There’s very little left of what once used to make up the booming city. Which Is why it’s important to help conserve what once was and still is. Having the funding to be able to maintain, add, expand, and clean up is crucial to protecting the the things of the past. This course and nature trail mean so much to so many. Without it, the high school Cross Country team is lost. The older and younger community is lost on where locally they can go for a scenic stroll or run. In all, funding chapel branch doesn’t just save it. It saves one of the many identities this City has.”
Jordan Sigai – As part a part of the team for my entire career, Chapel Branch was my secret escape. Before the season started, we would take days cleaning the trail and painting the roots for safety measures for other competitors. Chapel Branch is the quietest and most relaxing taill around Seaford. Chapel Branch needs some love because trees have fallen down in the way of the trail making travel through the course difficult. I try to still get out a walk the trail because there is just a sense of peace and comfort throughout the woods. I will forever cherish my memories with my team at Chapel Branch forever.” Jacqueline Morris – “It’s important not just to the immediate community it’s also important to the surrounding communities. If chapel branch is not looked after and supported it will be taken or lost like so many other beautiful lands. Chapel Branch was an escape for Vince and myself we loved to go there early in the morning when it was quiet and still and the air smelled so fresh. We loved to watch our dogs run and have a dog time. It’s a great place to go to clear your head and to connect with nature.. I wish every town could have their own chapel branch. Since I move that is one place miss. When we lived on Seaford I think we visited chapel branch at least once a day. Chapel branch was a very important and special place for Vince and myself. We treated it like our own backyard.”
Cristina Garmendia “Our son Jaime is not on Facebook but since he started running with the HS team, Chapel Branch became very special to us. Exciting place for races to be…..but a wonderful area for just walking quietly in. Our youngest, Cristina, had many milestones here and made lifelong friends doing so. I hope this area continues to thrive. Coach Morris always made the trails a priority and always made sure the trails were clear of trees and debris.”
Deanna Sigai – “Chapel Branch is a heartwarming trail among Seaford, DE. Many people use this trail for exercise, photos, and relaxing. This trail is also used by the Seaford High School Cross Country team. Being a part of that team through most my high school years, this trail became a major part of my life. This trail help grew friendships I never thought I would have. Among the friends, we would come to together to clean the trail and remark the course. However, with recent storms, more trees have fallen and with a small team it has become an issue to get them out of the way. Many of the bridges used for the course are not in the best shape and would require some work as well. Chapel Branch is loved through the town of Seaford and will forever be cherished by many runners.”
Breanna Johnson– “Chapel Branch was more then just a park or cross country field to me because it helped defined who I became. I developed strength and confidence that has shaped the person I am. Chapel Branch is important to our community because Seaford is a small town, Chapel Branch allows the community to have a little piece of woods and secluded area to get away for thinking, exercise, self discovery. It allows people to come together to support the school cross country team and to honor former coaches that shaped who the team has become. Chapel Branch is important because it embraces a family element to allow for togetherness no matter race, religion or gender, we were a family. I believe this is an important element to the community.”
Robb Anthony, Former XC runner and Seaford alumni – Chapel Branch/NRWC “When asked why Chapel Branch is important to our community, I often ask myself “how is this a question?” Chapel Branch is is more then just nature trail. For me Chapel Branch is sacred ground. Having spent uncountable days at Chapel Branch, whether for a cross country or track practice, or meet, to hang out with friends or to just get away and think. Chapel Branch was and always be my favorite place in Seaford. So why is it important? Chapel Branch is important because everyone needs a happy place, and there a tons more athletes that need to grow up having this place to call home.”
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October 15, 2022
Thought we dropped off the face off the earth? NO! We were just reenergizing! Let’s get back to environmental concerns!
We would love to have you as a part of our upcoming Community Cleanup Day – October 22ms 8:00 – Noon at Chapel Branch! (Check out the terstimonies at this link of this amazing place:
Join us in our three of a four part series as student Brianna jumps right into the inquiries of environmentalism surrounding our setting for Upward Bound’s Workstudy at the Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch.
We will have free books for children, information about the NRWC and signups for our October 22nd Community Cleanup. lots of exciting things happening!
And be ready to see our Nine 9/11 dedicated birdhouses, learn more about NRWC’s Giving Tuesday in December, our current community book read (some cool chapter notes coming up tomorrow on social media!) and much much more. Reserve your walking spot at the above link and stay in touch with your environment community!
Speaking of which, we are observing our fifth memorial to fallen Delawareans from 9/11:
Remembering John Joseph Murray
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September 18, 2022
The fourth Memorial Plaque for Jon R Graboswski, found Here.
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September 14, 2022
Here are the 2nd and third Memorial Plaques for Delawarean individuals that we remember from 911 at this link:
from our NRWC community read, The Wilderness Idiot. I need some assistance with so many locations defined in this section so hope you will join our read (we have many more chapters and areas to discover) and please grab a copy and jump into our weekly discussion!
“First of all the views he describes in the beginning of this chapter – amazing. It is eerie knowing he is solo in such a vast area, and yet being able to take in all this beauty seems fitting he is solo to really respect and admire it. The harshness of the wild and nature also play a major role in every story given here, and that respect will be given whether asked for or expected when it comes to the wild. (Think of the short story, To Build a Fireagain!)
It is also amazing to see how related the chapters, religion, nature, and society are all intertwined in the chapter, keep that in mind as you read.
We always see Japan the way media wants us to see, and it is important to see Japan for all it’s aspects, and this chapter does indeed help behind the scenes with that.
I loved the comment on page 100 “Just act Japanese.” There are so many misconceptions about other countries, as well as misconceptions of how we as Americans should ACT in other countries, and this statement is powerful to me.
I find it fascinating when history and non fiction intertwine as well, (Remember Michener’s novels?) but I am learning to respect the harshness of the environment, as well as the beauty described, and realizing that there is harshness as well as beauty, from the vivid descriptions of the author, helps bring this into perspective.
Alot of terms to explore in this chapter that I have not finished yet, and hope others can help with this as well :)”
Upward Bound Student Brianna revisits her interviews on climate, the environment, and ecosystems in Delaware with Mr. Rob Line. if you missed the first segment, you can find that here:
3) The newest update from our community Book Read, The Wilderness Idiot, will go live tonight, why are you not reading with us? There is still time!
4) Two chances to be a part of a youth art contest and celebrate World River Day September 25th. More details HERE this evening!
5) Check out our numbers – Chapel Branch Nature Trail traffic is growing:
Check out or traffic thus far! Your support all year long keeps us moving forward with new developments, thank you!
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September 4, 2022
From challenges of what it takes to be a wildlife explorer and backpacker, to tell or not to tell the best spots of environmental discoveries, to the irony of great environmental finds in dangerous, known crime areas, to the challenges of how to be empowered to nature, to exploring the Hai Country in Japan, the community read of The Wilderness Idiot takes you from Delaware to across the world. We invite you to jump in our next weekend discussion on Chapter 10, of the Hai country Chapter of Ted Alvarez’s The Wilderness Idiot.
August 28, 2022
Listen to the first of four episodes conducted by Upward Bound’s Brianna, as she sat down with former Environmental Stewardship Program Manager of Delaware, Robert Line.
Additionally, from discussing what it takes to truly be a wilderness survivor, to discussions about whether to keep magical environmental areas secret to protect them, discovering countless areas of interest in between, and tying in Glen Mellin and Lenny Mellin-Truitt’s book Ritual Landscapes, we have been discovering chapter after chapter of contemplations about humankind, the environment, and our place in between. Join us as each week we meet virtually (and don’t worry, we will meet individually too!) and leave thoughts and reflections about our NRWC book read next Week, we look at the Baltimore area!
We’ve fought through British Columbia mosquitos in Chapter 4, contemplated the comparisons of the grandeur of Mt. Rainier in Chapter 5, and moved into the feat of challenging parents to rekindle their love of nature in Utah’s National Parks in Chapter 6.
Upward Bound’s Work Study overview of their experiences at The Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch!
We will be devoting a section specific to the bird houses and the September 11th dedication plaques upcoming – with the upcoming month of September, so stay tuned!
August 2, 2022–
So you might be wondering, sure, this is what you did week 1
with the Upward Bound Students work study with the NRWC, what about week 2?
Today we reveal the video created from the first week, of a 6 week Upward Bound work study program students created, and celebrate a Excel spreadsheet a student created to house and begin to house and inventory our educational items!
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Our Google Discussion document started by Ganesvio, Upward Bound student, as part of the work study 6 week project: (please add your thoughts to these as you read!)
July 24, 2022 First day/week of The Wilderness Idiot
Please feel to join in as we meet in person and virtually next week, feel free to join us!
“Are we still meeting at the trail at 7? Me and ________ are coming?” -This text message, following one of the hottest and most productive days at The Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch came and went as I was in a deep, deep, sleep following the previous sweat shop day of productivity with the 5th week of our Upward Bound Work Study and students with The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy rolling forward. The call I received 15 minutes later woke me to the realization that students were waiting at the nature trail this morning.
I was disoriented, not hearing from students the night before, and thinking Saturday, a no go to gain more hours on Saturday, so imagine my surprise realizing some were waiting for me the next morning! A little dread filled my push to fall out of bed and quickly get ready and throw the necessary items needed to survive an early morning, VERY hot morning, in a 10 minute rush to get to the meeting spot. I also thought, “Most people would be annoyed, I think, at not hearing from someone the night before, but I would be annoyed not knowing and I am not at all!” Not annoyed or bothered at all, I followed that thought with, “In what world do you have students, up early, on a weekend, calling you to say where are you, we are ready to work despite a scorching hot morning, let’s do it!” – I was quite proud of the initiative these students had already showed on a heat advisory day, this early in the morning.
I was counting on an in-and-out-day of what we needed to do, grabbed the dogs, with a little foreboding of how they would handle the heat, grabbed a few coolers and icepacks, water, etc. from the adventure of the day before. took out items of the car I set aside I had not taken out yet from the day before, packed last minute survival items quickly, dogs in, and hit the trail.
The heat was already blasting in on pulling in, objectives of the day shared quickly with students, dogs already panting, and we dived into the nature trail. For 1.5 miles, we videotaped every single course direction for what would be a 3.1 mile XC (Cross Country) trail, so athletes would know BEFORE hitting the course, the direction to follow- took notes of all intersections/turns that needed directional color matching poles, AND wrote the directions out by hand.
Within the first five minutes of walking the trail, everyone was soaked to the skin. Being asked, “Is that steam rising from your shirt?” was quite funny, as everyone realized the wonders of the heat we were seeing, even being in the canopy of the nature trail. In three hours, the XC trail had been videotaped, narrated, and written down. Dogs were on the ground after having stopped several times along the way due to heat, having lapped up water, trying to find hiding shady spots under the benches, and looked as if their time was done for the outside. Recovering at the end by inhaling freezer pops and bottles of water, objectives were made to accomplish tasks for work study this weekend, and everyone realized how hard and difficult, yet rewarding, what had been accomplished in three hours in the AM on Saturday. Another amazing accomplishment tacked on to yesterday’s achievements.
The realization of images seen that morning, from more works of art found in spiderwebs, mushrooms, and light rays in various parts of the woods – to the chorus of birds surrounding us in the canopy, the awe of such a treasure in a community’s own back yard still remained.
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July 22, 2022 – Lofty and HUGE objectives for the 5th week of the Upward Bound Work study initiative for the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy :
Learn how to create mixed media books that combined painted, watercolors, nature, themes, and more so we can in turn pass on these skills to others to do as an educational activity.
How we turn the environment into art, and how art becomes environmental.
Take 11 individuals that we as a state, lost from the 911 tragedy in New York, again that were from Delaware, and memorialize them at various birdhouses surrounding the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch with individual plaques.
One of 11 memorials dedicated to Delawarean 911 victims.
Learn about how we can confront violence in different way that most people don’t conceptualize, then work with actions in Wilmington and here in Seaford, with Pace e Bene, and establish this idea to our own community through the Non Violent Cities Project.
Find environmental ways to establish an activity book that parents and students can work with on their trail that educates them on countless ties to their community.
YES – from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, in the hottest conditions imagined, Dillon, Sultan, Brianna, Ganesvio, and Ervin made EVERY SINGLE aspect of the above happen. In one day. Who were the partners in crime that paved the way for them to be successful?
Memorializing 911 through birding with Ron RussellEnvironmental Mixed Meida with Nicole TruittPace e Bene and Beth KopickiEnvironmental landscapes on the trail
Beth Kopicki – Introducing methods of nonviolence many never realize and how to apply to our community.
Brenda Johnson – Chairs for all attendees
Crown Trophy -Supplying Memorial Plaques
Ken Covey – Transporting our BBQ grill for a great lunch
Liz LaPorte – Chairs from Bridgeville for all attendees
Ron Russell – Introduction to birding and plaque placing on birding locations.
The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy for servicing this workstudy experience.
The University of Delaware for facilitating 911 individual for our memorial dedications.
All of the above provided a means for the tasks that should have taken a week, to happen on one single day. Definitely check out the impact of what someone trained in Information Science can do, to connect people, groups, tasks, and information together to achieve amazing results here:
AMAZING amount of progress in week 5 of Upward Bound experiences at Tbe Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch., Details coming soon!
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July 9th, 2022
Kudos to Upward Bound students Kendra and Sultan, who reached over 100 youth involving them in the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy and Nanticoke Watershed Alliance Drawing contest – working in collaboration with Pace e Bene – you can learn more about this organization here: https://paceebene.org/paceebene Students worked hard to involve youth today, in and out the rain, to inform them of how that can play a role in their immediate community and environment.
Shout out to State Representative Danny Short’s announcements as well:
The General Assembly appropriated $90 million in the fiscal year that began July 1 to provide aid to non-profit groups benefiting the community. Posted below is a list of local (39th Representative District) projects and services receiving distributions through the Community Reinvestment Fund. State Rep. Danny Short worked collaboratively with other area legislators to field funding requests and make recommendations:
Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy Acquisition of maintenance equipment for use on NRWC’s 500 acres of permanently protected southern Delaware lands $42,900
Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy Paving of the Chapel Branch Nature Area parking site $43,000
Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy Construction of Office Space for the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy $124,100
and this is not even the most of it. Much more to come – we love being an active part of educating, involving, and preserving our immediate “back yard” community.
Entries available at the table – so do not miss this opportunity to be a part of 2022’s 2nd annual Drawing.Coloring contest, based on the theme, “I Love the Nanticoke River because…”
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July 7th 2022 Updates
Five youth groups have contacted me in the last few days interested in being apart of youth initiatives we have started with the Del Tech Upward Bound at the Georgetown location. Already, we have had two sessions on the last two Fridays where 9 youth have created some amazing discoveries, done MUCH behind the scenes prep work for some exciting projects you will see in the next 2 weeks and have even bigger plans for the next month, so stay tuned and check here often:
Also, we will be starting a book discussion FINALLY, see below:
We will be planning to do a book discussion group on the book The Wilderness Idiot, we will send a poll out in a few days to see what days work best for you for that.and would love to have you on board.
Barnes and Noble price 18.95 (BUT with a B & N discount even less!)
Weekly door prizes will be available each week for participating members!
This will start virtually, for the first session on July 24th – so this gives you time to use Amazon Smiles to grab your copy, (while supporting the NRWC)
and we will send a link out to all who want to participate a few days before and yes, we will have a few in person opportunities set up as well to discuss.
Any questions about the above, or anything else while you are at our trails feel free to use our link/survey link:
and a HUGE shout out to the following legislators who helped us bring some exciting news to you about the NRWC coming soon 🙂
Senator Brian PettyJohn
Senator Bryant Richardson
Delaware House Representative Danny Short
Again, more exciting involvement with our community than we can list, so don’t be shy and reach out if you want to play a part of what is all right in our “own back yard!”
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July 01, 2022
Nine projects tackled by local Delaware students for the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy? YES! More details and WHAT they are doing to be coming soon!
June 29th, 2022
As a former National Aquarium Volunteer, and friends with a then and now volunteer, colleague, and friend and still a current aquarium volunteer, we witnessed a turtle Release on June 29th at Assateague Island. As a board member of the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy, volunteer for MERR, and an educator, this means alot more than just a cool experience! Enjoy!
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June 28, 2022
Amazing ties to the Caldecott Medal, our waters, and more. Check this link out:
What? Students on the Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch and finding Treasure? Why yes! Stay tuned in a few days and more will be seen and elaborated on! Coming soon!
May 25, 2022
John McNeil, Holly Focht, Gary Focht, John Martin, Brenda Johnson, David Fees (not pictured) and Marlene Mervine (not pictured) took on the whole Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch, and installed new signs at every Trail and intersection, the whole, WHOLE Trail in one afternoon!
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May 20, 2022
June is AMAZING for Book Clubs!
We will be planning to do a book discussion group on the book The Wilderness Idiot, we will send a poll out in a few days to see what days work best for you for that.and would love to have you on board.
Barnes and Noble price 18.95 (BUT with a B & N discount even less!)
Weekly door prizes will be available each week for participating members!
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April 18, 2022
Thank you everyone for their support and help with the NRWC 2022 Pre-Easter auction! With over $1000.00 earned, you helped represent the land preservation efforts, educational initiatives, and youth activities we put forth every day and we APPRECIATE you!
We hope to see you April 27th for a night out to thank you at DogFish Head, and plan on having some chances to win prizes as a thanks to you as well!
ALSO, a bird update thanks to Ron Russell:
I just completed a check of all nesting boxes. We ended last year with 16 total boxes. I have added six more. Two were added to the Foskey field, two to the trail near Marlene and two at the garage. The two at the garage are hanging wren boxes to entice house wrens that dominated the nesting in that area last year. The summary follows (total nesting with projected number of eggs):
Bluebirds – three nests (12-15 eggs)
Chickadees – three nests (12-15 eggs)
Titmice – one nest (3-5 eggs)
Carolina wrens – one nest (3-5 eggs)
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April 13, 2022
Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy’s Pre-Easter auction benefit, as advertised in the Seaford Star, is in its third day- with Friday evening as THE last day!
A GREAT way to benefit local land preservation non-profit, some amazing Easter gifts available. Local handmade wood items from a variety of wood:
Check out item #40 on our auction list! Hungry Howie’s is always a welcome and generous supporter of our community, and this is no exception! Wait until you see our second set of auction items being uploaded this weekend – so much more to come!
All starting April 10th! See one of our next coming featured items as well here:
Any questions, let me know! Thanks!
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March 30, 2022
Here it is! We want to laugh, meet and greet, and share stories with you at DogFish Head! Please come so we can enjoy each other’s “Nature” al company on April 27th!
April 27th NRWC would love to see you!
March 26, 2022
Usually community meet and clean days are pretty straightforward, sometimes a tug and pull to push forward and get all done, however today, full of discovery, blessings, and fortune.
at Chapel Branch and wow, they really had amazing contributions.
From cleaning areas of litter that found their ways into the water, to learning the difference between Loblolly and other pines, discovering iNaturalist, to discovering duck Eggs, and getting some ideas for a great and creative project tied to the nature trail, the mere presence of so many students that had creativity, ideas, every community member, student, teacher, parent, NRWC members, blended in to one great possibility.
Let’s thank:
Marlene Mervine, Gary and Holly Focht, Dr. Korbeogo, Brenda Johnson, Twanya Dunn, Jeff Laird, John and Sharon McNeil, Benjamin, Brandy Yates, Ron Russell, Nicole Truitt, Jennifer Bartsch, Matt Cohee, Doc Semper, Seaford NHS and FFA, Nephtalie, Marlisha, Lynne Betts, Bobbie, Steve Cooper, Colton Philips, Steve Cooper, Vontrell, Austin, William, Ayana (SHE DROVE FROM LEWES TO HELP US TODAY!), Maria, Genny, Nataleigh, Robyn, Blane, Cody, Laura Makray, Tom Murphy, Jennifer Parks, Robbie, Sherlyn, Caleb, Velinda, Myria, Ketsia, Yaritza, Juan, Jair, Stefania, Jaylynn, Berniece, and we are sure there were a few others but LOOK AT THAT LIST!
From the amazing staff of the Classic Upward Bound that constantly were fixing things from lost travelers to lost bus direction, to going BACK and grabbing students stuck at the college, they were AMAZING.
From the amazing bus drivers who were patient through it all – the amazingness of Pizza King- Seaford who accommodated the students afterwards, to Clean Delaware supplying the bathroom, to INVISTA for supplying the dumpsters, to the AMAZING NRWC volunteers who took students under their wing, to the GREAT Seaford High clubs and organizations that put in SO MUCH exciting info to the area and help, and the GREAT GREAT GREAT community members who made this day – a day that outshined the rain – isn’t it ABSOLUTELY amazing to see what happens when community improves their community? Youth and experienced community members together – more powerful than any obstacle possible, today proved it!
Stay tuned for more great things from these amazing community members!
Seaford FFA find 12 duck eggsBirdman Ron Russell and CUB studentsNarnia Tree And CUB and DANE!Yearning to climb the “Narnia Tree”Closer look at CUB students and Dane
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March 25, 2022
We’re set for a 9:00 AM – noon – Community event tomorrow at The Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch on Woodland Road- Students, volunteers, NRWC Staff will all be on hand to do some amazing things – we will have books to donate to younger children, and books for adults from out No Child Left Behind book study. We will be discovering trails, removing evasives, cleaning trash out from the trails, checking birdhouses for cleaning, classifying species of plants and much more! We’d love to meet and greet you tomorrow!
Questions, just drop me an email – here is a link to some of the tasks we will be working on with students from the Classic Upward Bound program as well as volunteers from all over:
This will be able to be previewed leading up until the start date, April 10th, ending April 15th.
If you know any other artisans or businesses that would like to be a part, just let me know!
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March 19, 2022
The Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch in Seaford Community Cleanup Day March 26th!
March 26th’s Community Cleanup at The Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch will be welcoming The Classic Upward Bound students; we would love to meet more community members!
Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy is massively planning for some FUN! Our online auction is becoming an amazing collection of great Eastern Shore businesses – previews to come! Here is the FYI – The auction is April 10th AM (8:00 AM) and lasts until the 15th at 8:00 PM. I WILL be able to show the auction and items online to everyone, a week before it starts so all can see items, the cost, when it starts, etc so they can get an idea of what they would like to bid on 🙂
The auction will appear in the first week of April via a link I will send out, on Facebook, on Twitter, On Instagram, on the Next Door computer application, and a link on our Blog site, and we will put on our page – nanticokeconservancy.org – for the auction and link on the site so people have a way to get to the auction from there too.
ALSO – We are planning a great opportunity to fellowship, inform, laugh, promote and plot for what you’d like to see NRWC in the future- with DogFish Head: https://www.dogfish.com/events/beer-benevolence-night-benefit-nanticoke-river-watershed-conservancy-0 Wednesday, April 27 4:00 pm 320 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Eats and drinks from 4-8 p.m. … and 10% of the proceeds will go to the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy to support all of the awesome work that they do! But remember, this is a chance to also thank YOU and share some happy moments with you, we would love to see all of you there as well and get to know you as you have become familiar with us.
Thank you again for being a stockholder in protecting what has become all together, our amazingly beautiful back yard!
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March 6, 2022
Our 1:00 PM walk today was amazing – What a Summer day! It was great to see at east 15 cars in the parking lot, seeing Denise Oliver with her little pomeranian! We walked the Three Ponds Trail, many people and gave alot of books out today! We talked with someone who remember DuPont putting in the swimming and pool playsets on the property, picnic areas. and more. It was a nice day just to take a long walk and meeting alof of new faces and talking to so many that had historical notes to swear on Chapel
March 04, 2022
WE ARE ECSTATIC! Because of some AMAZING sponsors and believers of what the NRWC is capable of doing – we MET and EXCEEDED OUR GOAL! Look at this!
Now it is time to roll up our sleeves and show and share the power, beauty, and energy that the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy has in your communities – hold onto your hats, we are going to pack a year full of events until next year’s Do More 24 – and thanks to every single one of you – we will make a bigger impact in preserving our community than ever before.
BIG things are on the horizon!
THANK YOU for being a stockholder in the beauty all around us, and in our own back yard!
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March 02, 2022
Do More 24 is HERE for the NRWC!
6PM March 3rd – March 4th 6 PM!
As we come across this massive Delaware event – Do More 24 in Delaware, one person continues to stick out in my mind. https://www.domore24delaware.org/
The amazing Coach Vince Morris. This year, I hope I can count on so many of you to provide some posts of what you remembered about Vince. What he meant to this community. He inspired me, and taught me everything I would go on to know about Chapel Branch Nature Trail. I want the Do More 24 event to raise support for the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy to honor what Vince knew a long ago about this area. Please share your stories, a few denominations, if you feel so inclined, during the Do More 24 period starting at midnight March 3rd for 24 hours into March 4th – and honor a man that passed down what it meant to never give up, support your community, and honor the beauty that has been given to us and we find at Chapel Branch.
and we hope to see you from 8:00 – 8:10 PM tomorrow night!
February 05, 2022
Yes, we are still headed to the Vince Norris Trail at Chapel Branch Saturday for an 8:45 hike through the trails with Wriggley, Amaya, and Dane – dress warm and prepare for some damp conditions! We will have some free books on hand as well!
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February 03, 2022
Thanks for revisiting The Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch after January 31st’s big snow Jef Laird. This images taken on the Ridgeloop and upper side of the RiverWalk Trails. There still are some trees down by the bottom side of the RiverWalk Trail, as volunteers work on that. Thanks so much Jeff!
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January 30, 2022
Please mark your calendars for Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy night at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth celebrating Earth Day (2022’s theme is Invest In Our Planet), we would love to see you! April 27, 2022, more details to come, lots of information and fun info regarding NRWC!
…We have a new gate at Newton Woods thanks to the FFA at Woodbridge High!
Newton Woods AdditionGate Clip added!Thank you WHS FFA!
With snow on the ground, in a few days we will have some amazing pictures to see and take at our Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch! In the next few days we will be checking trails for clearance after this past storm, and this upcoming Saturday – February 5th, we will plan on a nature trail walk at 8:45 AM we will meet in the parking lot!
A trivia /contest question has been sent out to those on the newsletter list, so stay tuned for the results and good luck!
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January 27, 2022
From Lynne Betts:
About 3:30 this afternoon, in addition to woodpeckers (Downey & Pileated), a Bald Eagle, and Canadian Geese, I encountered 3 River Otters! One was just as curious about me as I was it.
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January 20, 2022
IF you would be interested in the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy’s (NRWC) newsletter – which we will be having monthly drawings based on environmental trivia for those on the mailing list – email me at harry.brake@gmail.com to be placed on the periodic info – this upcoming trivia will be about beech trees !
Thanks for Day 4 revisit of tree clearing at the Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch- Glenn, Brenda, Gary and Holly Focht! and cleaning up Newton Woods today as well! How much does a tree cutter cut trees? (Say 5 times fast) – around 40 trees in 4 days ? Priceless work, time, and effort that benefits the community – thank you so so so so so so much!
Images by Holly Focht.
Trail clearing day 4: Tuesday, January 18th at 10am. Volunteers to gather at parking lot. Will be clearing the rest of the Beech Tree, Beaver Pond, the Point and River Walk trails.
COLD. Yes, it is VERY cold, a cool 20 degrees Fahrenheit today sooo- we will be represented at The Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch at this morning, imitating a warmer version of Friluftsliv but we want your visit to NRWC property to be comfortable and enjoyable. DO NOT worry if today is too cold to leisurely take in the trail, we understand it is probably too cold today but we will have another next week again!
In the meantime, leading up to Martin Luther King Jr’s Day of Service January 17, 2022, we’d like to pull some of the listed activities that you can contribute to your community, with, inside and outside!
Media Literacy is huge, and piggy backing on #1, we desperately need a push with increasing uses of social media, for future generations to receive the correct instruction on how to discern messaging on all sorts of media. Go ahead whole your are advocating today and support the Senate Bill 195 (SB 195) and let your legislators know you do feel the education and awareness of media literacy, by certified school librarians, is a vital part of education – that is what brings you to us and we hope brings future generations to us! (Beware of the tree octopus !)
What do you know personally about Poison Ivy, Sassafras, Black Oak, and Mountain Laurel? We’d like to hear your “Did you know’s” as we are moving forward with a Chapel Branch field guide for students! Send any and all cool trivia and facts you know to us and we will credit you and put your knowledge to use informing younger generations! (All info can be sent ot harry.brake@gmail.com).
We will plan to have a nature walk on January 15th, 2022 at 8:45 AM at the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch- any changes on this check HERE by 8:00 AM on January 15th! Free books for children and adults, trail maps to the public, as well as investigating highlights of the trail!
January 13, 2022
Day 2 of Trail /tree clearing! Thank you Cindi, Matt, Gary, Holly, Brenda, and Glenn for again – clearing the way for our community and the NRWC at the Vince Morris trail at Chapel Branch!
Photos by Holly Focht.
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January 10, 2022
Photos by Holly Focht.
Trail Clearing
Thanks to the volunteers at Chapel Branch today clearing the paths from trees that would be threatening the trail.
Members will be back at Chapel Branch on Thursday at 10 PM to clear the Three Ponds Trail.
Thanks to the hard and cold work everyone did today!
cc:
January 9, 2022!
Crews will be clearing trails Monday January 10th at 11:30AM – so please be patient – we will be hoping to plan a Saturday walk on Saturday, January 15th at Chapel Branch – Keep looking to our blog post to confirm later this week based on the weather over the next week –
Nanticoke Conservancy Storm Damage Warning Southern Delaware’s January 3, 2022 snowy introduction to winter has left us, not only with fantastic scenes of beauty, but with some very dangerous conditions for walking the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy’s wonderful woodland trails! Wet and heavy snows clinging to downed trees and tall branches has caused many trees and high branches to come down and these conditions can be deadly until thorough melting is complete. The NRWC advises the public to avoid using any of our 7 miles of trails at the Chapel Branch Nature Area in Seaford, the Newton Woods Trail near Bridgeville and the Millstone Trail between Bridgeville and Georgetown for at least one week or until this (and the latest forecast snow for Friday, Jan 7th) has completely melted. Please be safe and we will welcome you again after next week!! Marlene Mervine, Exec. Director NRWC
January 6, 2022
NRWC Friends, During Gary, Holly and my clean-up of several tons of storm damage on our Millstone Trail today, Holly noticed this amazing 4″ Loblolly trunk section. None of us had ever seen anything like this. Yup, our tracts can produce some very unusual and beautiful wonders!! Marlene Mervine
Loblolly art!
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Due to the following conditions we will plan on our next Saturday Walk on January 15, 2022- Keep in touch with this site as we navigate clearing the trails at Chapel Branch!
Nanticoke Conservancy Storm Damage Warning
Southern Delaware’s January 3, 2022 snowy introduction to winter has left us, not only with fantastic scenes of beauty, but with some very dangerous conditions for walking the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy’s wonderful woodland trails! Wet and heavy snows clinging to downed trees and tall branches has caused many trees and high branches to come down and these conditions can be deadly until thorough melting is complete. The NRWC advises the public to avoid using any of our 7 miles of trails at the Chapel Branch Nature Area in Seaford, the Newton Woods Trail near Bridgeville and the Millstone Trail between Bridgeville and Georgetown for at least one week or until this (and the latest forecast snow for Friday, Jan 7th) has completely melted. Please be safe and we will welcome you again after next week!! Marlene Mervine, Exec. Director NRWC
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Documents worth Documenting in your Memory 🙂
Phase I
We will begin to collect and gather documents worth investigating and taking in as part of the Eastern Shore /Chesapeake Bay Environmental History!
Our first, to the right, is the 2010 report and the introduction, as seen on page 7 is below the image. Enjoy! This is Phase I, and below you will see Phase II.
Delaware has participated in the Chesapeake Bay Program since signing a multi-jurisdictional Memorandum of Understanding in 2000, committing to achieving water quality goals to protect and improve the bay and tributary waters. Since past Chesapeake Bay Program restoration goals have yet to be met, on May 12, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13508, placing increased focus and heightened emphasis on Bay restoration.
In addition, draft legislation has reauthorized the Chesapeake Bay Program, calling for increased measures from federal, state, and local governments. Before both of these initiatives began, however, EPA had already begun developing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment for the entire six-state and DC Chesapeake Bay watershed because water quality impairments had been documented for decades. This TMDL will require significant reductions in point and nonpoint pollutant loadings from all jurisdictions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed so that water quality standards can be achieved. As part of the EPA TMDL, each jurisdiction is required to develop a Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) that details how load allocations will be achieved and maintained now and in the future. Additionally, jurisdictions will have to exhibit accountability by achieving 2-year milestone goals.
Phase II plan, dated, March 30, 2012.
Delaware has participated in the Chesapeake Bay Program since signing a multi-jurisdictional Memorandum of Understanding in 2000, committing to achieving water quality goals to protect and improve the Bay and tributary waters. Since past Chesapeake Bay Program restoration goals have yet to be met, on May 12, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13508, placing increased focus and heightened emphasis on Bay restoration. In addition, draft legislation to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program, calls for increased measures from federal, state, and local governments. Before both of these initiatives began, however, EPA had already begun developing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment for the entire six-state and DC Chesapeake Bay watershed because water quality impairments had been documented for decades. This TMDL will require significant reductions in point and nonpoint pollutant loadings from all jurisdictions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed so that water quality standards can be achieved. As part of the EPA TMDL, each jurisdiction is required to develop a Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) that details how load allocations will be achieved and maintained now and in the future. Additionally, jurisdictions will have to exhibit accountability by achieving 2-year milestone goals.
New Report: Agricultural Lands Key to a Healthy Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is a large ecosystem that encompasses approximately 64,000 square miles in six states: Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and the District of Columbia.
Although Pennsylvania doesn’t border the Chesapeake Bay, more than half of the state lies within the watershed. Pennsylvania contains two major rivers that are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: the Susquehanna, with 21,000 square miles, and the Potomac, with 1,600 square miles. Together, they total 40 percent of the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Susquehanna River basin is the largest tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. From its start near Cooperstown, New York, the river flows over 400 miles and empties into the northern portion of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
Impacts of Conservation Adoption on Cultivated Acres of Cropland in the Chesapeake Bay Region, 2003-06 to 2011
On December 5, 2013, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the release of the CEAP-Cropland report on the effects of recently installed conservation practices on cropland in the Chesapeake Bay region. This new report, using data collected in 2003-06 and 2011, demonstrates that during the time between the two surveys, agricultural producers have significantly increased their use of an array of conservation measures to improve and protect water and soil quality in the Chesapeake Bay region. These conservation practices are generating substantial natural resource benefits for producers and the communities of the Chesapeake Bay region.
Southern Delaware’s January 3, 2022 snowy introduction to winter has left us, not only with fantastic scenes of beauty, but with some very dangerous conditions for walking the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy’s wonderful woodland trails! Wet and heavy snows clinging to downed trees and tall branches has caused many trees and high branches to come down and these conditions can be deadly until thorough melting is complete. The NRWC advises the public to avoid using any of our 7 miles of trails at the Chapel Branch Nature Area in Seaford, the Newton Woods Trail near Bridgeville and the Millstone Trail between Bridgeville and Georgetown for at least one week or until this (and the latest forecast snow for Friday, Jan 7th) has completely melted. Please be safe and we will welcome you again after next week!! Marlene Mervine, Exec. Director NRWC
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Thank you for using AmazonSmiles to support the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy- NRWC!
We appreciate your support and hope you will use AmazonSmiles to support us in the future! Much appreciated!You can support NRWC each time by using this link when you shop Amazon!
Mission: The Organization Is A Citizen-Based Land And Water Conservation Advocate Dedicated To Preservation Of Open Space, Plants, And Animals, Unique, Scenic, Natural, Historical, And Recreational Sites And Objects. These Efforts Are Concentrated On The Watershed Of The Nanticoke River And Its Tributaries In Delaware And Maryland.
Programs: Purchase Or Accept Gifts Of Land And/Or Easements On Land To Protect The Natural Resources On The Land And To Limit Development.
Advise Landowners Regarding Tax Benefits Of Preserving Open Space. Monitor Land Easements.
Educate People Regarding Natural Resources, Including Aesthetic Appreciation And Wise Use Of These Resources.
How does AmazonSmile work?
When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization.
What is the AmazonSmile Foundation?
The AmazonSmile Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created by Amazon to administer the AmazonSmile program. All donation amounts generated by the AmazonSmile program are remitted to the AmazonSmile Foundation. In turn, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates those amounts to the charitable organizations selected by our customers. Amazon pays all expenses of the AmazonSmile Foundation; they are not deducted from the donation amounts generated by purchases on AmazonSmile.
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Holiday Walk January 01, 2022
11:30 AM Yes of course it started increasing rain as the 9:00AM hour approached! However, we will rain date the walk for January 8th, all same details apply!
From today’s experience, we were lucky to meet some new visitors to the nature trail, as well as learn a few things:
Also, we were able to clean up the roadside from the entrance of Chapel Branch to the railroad tracks leading to the Invista entrance, AS WELL AS take care of loose debris at the entrance of the nature trail, AND retrieve a post that had been pulled out and laying on the side of the trail. So all was not lost. We look forward to a better day – hopefully dryer, as I am sure, and you can see, the hounds were not impressed with trail walking today 🙂 Hope to see you next Saturday!
Can we come in from the rain yet?Who’s idea was this, on this rainy day?
7:00 AM January 01, 2022
Happy New Year! As of 6:50- 7:15 AM- after a morning test walk with the hounds, our holiday Walk is still on at 9:00 AM, at Chapel Branch! For precaution, bring an umbrella and foot attire / dress attire prepared for a little dampness, but the weather is amazingly warm! We have sanitizer, and we have books ready for children and adults- we hope to share the beauty of the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch with you this morning! Dogs are welcome, we just ask them to be on leash Plenty of books available to youth and adult visitors today!
Books available to visitors during today’s Nature Walk!
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Envirocate!
Whether you knew it or not, certified school librarians and students are vital to educating future generations about our immediate environment! Thanks to a handful of students at Woodbridge High School, Independent Study students to be exact, from the Woodbridge High Library Media Center, students have been organizing the educational vaults of The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy and now will begin to organize and advertise ways our community can educate environmental aspects of our immediate area in Delaware! (Envirocate, get it?! )
Today we focus one one of the coolest, portable educational tools. The fundana, part bandana, totally educational, these portable lessons can be taken to several ecosystems, and take a look at our example today, titled BeachQuest:
Fundana’s BeachQuest
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2021 NRWC Annual Giving
At this wonderful season of the year we all take time to pause and reflect on the many blessings we enjoy! Among the blessings that all of us in southwestern Sussex County and beyond can celebrate is the protection of well over 500 acres of conservation lands, saved forever for YOU through the work of the Nanticoke Conservancy! And we anticipate the addition of another 170+ acres by March 2022.
These lands are protected into the future for us and our families—local forests, agricultural lands, wetlands, pollinator meadows, stream and river parcels, valuable wildlife and rare plant habitats and over five miles of beautiful trails for the health and enjoyment of everyone.
All of this could not have been possible without your support! As we work with our communities and schools to further environmental and health education, volunteer to keep these forever landscapes available to everyone and to protect conservation habitats for clean water and healthy air, we need everyone’s help!
Won’t you DONATE to the Nanticoke Conservancy this 2021 holiday season??
We are your local non-profit, tax exempt land trust folks who are working very hard for YOU, and we have many plans for the future to benefit all in the Nanticoke watershed. To help us, you may send donations to:
January 1, 2022 Holiday Walk – (Due to Rain Anticipated, plan on Rain Date of January 8th)
Chapel Branch Nature Trail, 470-514 Woodland Rd, Seaford, DE 19973
January 01, at the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel at Chapel Branch, we will have a holiday walk to allow individuals to check out trails, those marked and not marked, as well as exploring the in’s and outs of The Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch!
2022 Holiday Walk
While supplies last – we will have extra copies of Last Child in the Woods – as well as books on hand for elementary students that they can choose from – tied to the environment! We want to get literacy into the hands of youth as much as possible while connecting the values of the environment! I will arrive at 9:00 AM with my canines, and you are welcome to bring yours, we just ask all dogs to be on leash.
We would love for you to spread the word and let individuals revisit the additions to Chapel Branch, as well as see it for the first time. If weather is raining or not fitting for exploring, I will send an email out before by 8:00 AM January 01 to let you know of a change and a potential rain date, but due to weather reports currently January 8th is looking pretty good at this point!
The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy is brought to the spotlight thanks to the efforts or NRWC volunteers Ron Russell, Gary Focht and Harry Brake. In an effort to bring the efforts the NRWC gives back to the community, being recognized through the state of the Delaware is not only about being an individual honor – but bringing to light the purpose and investment of the NRWC to the community we find ourselves in. While the three NRWC volunteers are deeply humbled about this honor, the chance to bring the needs and successes of the NRWC to light is the real winner!
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Newton Woods? What is Happening There?
Thanks to the Woodbridge FFA and NRWC volunteers, NRWC’s Newton Woods tract is becoming a great place to explore and appreciate the different ecosystems you will see! Newly renovated drive in, as well as clearing paths are all a part of how Newton Woods is becoming a nature trail you will want to become familiar with!
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Legislating NRWC Value
Thanks to Marlene Mervine and Gary Focht for meeting with Alexandra Gilliland, legislative Assistant to U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester on December 17th. Support, goals, and needs of the NRWC were discussed and strategies to move forward with the future of the NRWC all were put on the table and strategized. Much hard work and planning goes into protecting the future of our environmental community. Thank you Ms Gilliland, Marlene Mervine and Gary Focht for investing in the time towards these efforts!
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Community Book Discussion
SOME of you may have wondered – or heard – that the NRWC is leading a Community Book Talk! You’re RIGHT! 🙂 Here is a look into the third week notes we send out that tie into what we have done so far on The Last Child in the Woods ! project started from the Math and Science Upward Bound students this past summer:
Glen provided some exciting insights into Week 3 and Lennie too! Okay so first take a look at the image attached – this was a GREAT look into a pretty aggressive way nature reacts to seed dispersal – and this is called:
How cool is that?! My takeaway from this is illustrating what can;t be learned in a textbook and how this lookalike from the Alien series, (Sigourney Weaver) is in the environment in reality (and how ALIEN is the environment to so many youth today?)
Could be a cool bell ringer to challenge students to find something in the environment that resembles something they have seen on tv or on a movie, connecting them to the tech and environmental relationship.
Also – we discussed the definition of artifact, through Glenn’s eyes as a registered anthropologist – and how the sky, and the air – is now an artifact as it has changed due to the nature of how humans have changed the air, the sky due to pollution, releasing carbon etc and it is not what it used to be – it is a new recreation of these elements – I am curious to see what you think of that!
Also Glen shed some light on chapters 20 and 21 (yep he cruised and finished this text) BUT I am going to get to that when we arrive there if okay, but it is pretty worthy conversation 🙂 )
Did you see the amazingly cool poster Lennie provided?
Whew, alot to ponder the first day of the third week – so if you plan on joining Zoom or in person at Every Fiber at 1:00 – please let me know it says on the website closes as 1:00 – but I think it is 2:00 – so – I plan on being there at 1:00 PM JUST in case there is a flaw, zoom will start at 1:00 but if a problem, will start at 1:15- but please RSVP if you will be in person or on Zoom, and if not – it is OKAY – it is just so I can plan the day as well 🙂 but please consider adding to the Google doc then? – your thoughts, connections, etc? That link is HERE
and I hope you will use the template to encourage senators/representatives/ members of the Sussex County Council to help support the NRWC in creating and establishing an office, as well as a established parking lot, gazebo learning area, etc at Chapel Branch to start. If we can affirm how often this is used and how many people – and the need, and get into a regular budget – the lands we acquire can meet with the education on those lands we can provide to our community! Your voice will carry a ton of weight. The template you can edit is HERE (The links in the letter are built into the letter on Google already!)
Any questions let me know. Next week – Chapter 16-20!
The one thing I am realizing from this book talk is how to use books to work interactively, taking ideas and making them be active, out of the book reality aspects of how we improve our community. That truly takes a village of individuals to bring these elements together, and then create a movement towards aspects more positive.
Also, a SUPER SUPER surprise about something you might not have known about Chapel Branch – coming soon!
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Summer of 2021 Integrating Math & Science Upward Bound with the Environment
We do ALOT for just relying on volunteers as you can tell- Here you can see students at work at the Millstone Tract:
Links to show what was learned from the students over summer:
ANY questions, do not hesitate, your interest and support makes the NRWC move forward – Thank you!
Newest map created of the River Hike –
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PREVIOUS Community Clean Up Day
Thank you to everyone who helped with The Chapel Branch Nature Trail Community Clean Up Day with the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy. Over 20 projects in one day – and as you know stewardship of this and so many other properties is more than one day- if you want to be in the loop of other activities – please email us at harry.brake.gmail.com – and bulletin!
and some pictures later today too. Special, thanks to Beth Kopicki for our video/photo coverage, and so our sponsors- Nanticoke Hospital, Volunteer Delaware, Hungry Howie’s and Rita’s Ice – It was great to meet and greet new individuals from other states, as well as neighbors nearby unaware of the Chapel Branch Nature Trail.
Girl Scout Troop 1321 and Seaford FFA to name just a few – it was a great day thanks to all of you helping maintain some of the best resources in our own back yard!
Congrats on the two coloring contest winners!
The NRWC congratulates Ms Kyrie Matos and Ms Lilyan Farris on being the NRWC Community Day Coloring Contest winners! Kudos! They receive a generous package from the Baltimore Aquarium, Hungry Howies, and feedback from our judges. They both ironically chose our “Narnia Tree” – the great Beech tree at Chapel Branch to choose as their coloring entries. We applaud their motivation and talent, and love putting 2021 on their awards – items being sent to them via mail this week! Congratulations and HUGE kudos to our sponsors, judges and artists as listed on the certificate!
PAVEing a Blog 