Celebrate your child's special day with a nature program that you can choose from the many listed below!
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Length: Programs run either one hour or one and one half hours long depending on the offering. This is followed by half-hour of your own activities and refreshments. Use of our indoor facilities in the Ashland Visitor Center, Coverdale Farm education building and "snapping turtle" room at the DuPont Environmental Education Center, or our outdoor spaces are available for your festivities.
Group Size: Maximum 15 children including siblings. Over 15 would be an additional $50 as a second instructor would be required to maintain our level of quality and safety for our programs. Adults are welcome at no additional costs. Note: the limit for a party at the Coverdale Farm is 12. Over 12 will require an additional instructor at a cost of $50.
Cost: Cost of party varies with the type of program you choose. General range is $150-$200 for Members, $200-$250 for Non-Members.
Reservations: Birthday Parties must be reserved at least 30 days in advance. Pre-payment is required in order to hold your time slot. A $50 deposit is due at time of reservation with the balance due within 2 weeks of your scheduled date.
Cancellations: Cancellations must be made with 2 weeks of the scheduled date in order to receive a refund.
Food/Decorations: We will provide tables and chairs in the three indoor facilities for your use. You may bring food and are responsible for all decorations, table linens, tableware and silverware. Please refrain from bringing balloons, pinatas and noisemakers, etc.
Additional Items: Each party participant will receive a coupon for $5 off a Delaware Nature Society program. The birthday child will receive a Delaware Nature Society T-Shirt.
YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Ashland Nature Center
Animals of Ashland - Meet live and taxidermy examples of native Delaware animals, then hike the trails to search for them in the wild. Cost: Members/Non-members: $150 / $200 Program Duration: 1 hour
Night Noises & Campfire (Evening Program) - Walk our trails and listen for the noises of nature. In the spring, hear the peeping of wood frogs and spring peepers. In the fall, listen for owls as they prepare for their breeding season. Finish up with a campfire and of course, s'mores! Program includes supplies for making s'mores. Cost: Members/Non-Members: $200 / $250 Program Duration: 1 hour
Nature Scavenger Hunt - Test your observation skills on fun scavenger hunt. Look for animal tracks in the mud, bird nests in trees, and mammal burrows. How many signs of local wildlife can you find? Cost: Members/Non-members: $150 / $200 Program Duration: 1 hour
Coverdale Farm Preserve
Coverdale Farm Exploration - Celebrate your special day down on the farm. Bring your friends to Coverdale Farm and learn how to milk a cow, feed sheep, hold a chick, and visit with the chickens and pigs. See what's up in the garden and take a hike through the barns to discover tractors, tools, and more. Party down with cake, candles and presents in the Great Room of the Education/CSA building or outdoor picnic tables. Note: Only one party per month can be scheduled at the Coverdale Farm. Cost: Members/Non-members: $200 / $250. Program Duration: 1 hour
NEW LOCATION OFFERINGS! DuPont Environmental Education Center
Marshy Adventures - Explore the biodiversity of a marsh habitat in this outdoor adventure! Look for marsh residents in the air, on land, in the soil, and in the water. Examine plants and animals closely using nets and magnifiers. Learn about marsh food chains, the water cycle, and why the Christina River is so important to Northern Delaware. $200/$250 Program Duration: 1 hour
What's in the Water? - Head out to the marsh and explore what's in the water! Use nets to catch animals in the pond and bring them into the lab to examine with magnifying lenses and microscopes. Discover how the animals and plants in the marsh depend on each other and construct your own marsh and pond food chain to take home. Excludes winter season. $200/$250 Program Duration: 1 hour
Fantastic Fish - Meet the many fish of the Christina River and the marsh. Watch as fish are caught in a spinning cast net, reel in fish traps, and use dip nets to try your luck. Examine the features of a variety of fish to learn what they eat and how they live. Excludes winter season. $200/$250 Program Duration: 1 hour
Marsh Mammals - Hunt for animal tracks and other evidence that the furry residents of the marsh leave behind. Learn how they survive in the marsh and touch real animal furs. Use clues to identify which animals are using the pond when no one is looking! Excludes winter season. $200/$250 Program Duration: 1 hour
WINTER PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Ashland
Maple Sugaring - Learn how Native Americans developed the technique of producing sugar from trees. Discover why settlers relied on this source for many years and how syrup farmers make this product today. See how trees are tapped at Ashland and then boil down some sap into syrup. Cost: Members/Non-members: $200 / $250 Program Duration: 1 hours
SPRING PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Ashland
Herp Hunting at Ashland - Become a Herp Hunter and learn what a herp is. Look for herps in the forest, marsh, pond and streams. Meet Ashland's live herps and learn about how they adapt to different habitats. Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200 Program Duration: 1 hour
NEW LOCATION OFFERING! DuPont Environmental Education Center
Marsh Amphibians at DEEC - Explore the marsh for amphibians; frogs, toads and salamanders! Listen to the frogs' chorus, use nets to catch live amphibians and view them up close, and find eggs and tadpoles in the pond. $200/$250 Program Duration: 1 hour
SUMMER PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Ashland
Butterflies - Visit Ashland's Butterfly House and explore the meadow to discover a variety of colorful butterflies. Try your hand at catching them and adding to our Butterfly House collection. Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200 Program Duration: 1 hour
Water Wonders & Pond Study - Discover animals that live in ponds, marshes and streams. Catch aquatic animals; find tadpoles, frogs, toads and fish in watery habitats. Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200 Program Duration: 1 hour
NEW LOCATION OFFERING! DuPont Environmental Education Center
Marsh Insects at DEEC - Hunt for insects found in the air, land and water at DEEC. Collect and observe insects up close, learn insect anatomy, assemble a marsh food web puzzle, and discover some of the important jobs insects have in nature. $200/$250 Program Duration: 1 hour
FALL PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Ashland
Pumpkin Carving / Decorating - Make a bedazzling mini pumpkin; carve a classic face on a field pumpkin and jazz it up with artistic flair. Bring your imaginations and we'll supply the pumpkins and all the materials. Carving for ages 8 and up. Cost: Members/Non-Members: $200 / $250 Program Duration: 1 hours
NEW LOCATION OFFERING! DuPont Environmental Education Center
Marsh Insects at DEEC - Hunt for insects found in the air, land and water at DEEC. Collect and observe insects up close, learn insect anatomy, assemble a marsh food web puzzle, and discover some of the important jobs insects have in nature. $200/$250 Program Duration: 1 hour
PARTY SET UP AND OTHER LOGISTICS:
Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the start of your party for setting up. Tables and chairs will be provided in the indoor facilities at our three locations. Weather permitting, the outdoor picnic tables and benches can be used at Ashland or Coverdale.
During the program, we ask for the assistance of two adults, who can help maintain safety and order.
Please make it understood by your guests that we will be outside for part of the program (weather permitting). We recommend that you make a note on your invitation that children should dress for the weather--old clothes, boots, old sneakers and raincoats are appropriate.
Please make sure another adult is on hand to supervise your child and guests until the start time. Your instructor will be busy preparing for the program. A game, song or outside walk will help keep the children occupied.
The staff person assigned to your group will be available to assist you with clean up afterward but the majority of clean up is your responsibility.
For information or to schedule a party at the Ashland Nature Center or Coverdale Farm Preserve call 302-239-2334, ext. 110 or E-Mail.
For information or to schedule a party the DuPont Environmental Education Center call 302-656-1490 x157 or E-Mail.
