Themes by location:
Ashland Nature Center | Abbott’s Mill Nature Center
Coverdale Farm Preserve | DuPont Environmental Education Center
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Ashland Party Themes
3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin | Driving directions »
Ashland offers a variety of hill, marsh, stream, forest, and field habitats. We have immersive Native American experiences including a hut. Kids love Ashland’s bird blind, butterfly house, hummingbird garden, and the Ashland Lodge. Masks must be worn during the event.
Party Themes Available Year-round
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
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
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
Themes for Winter
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: $150/$200
Themes for Spring
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
Themes for Summer
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
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Abbott’s Mill Party Themes
15411 Abbott’s Pond Mill Road, Milford | Driving directions »
History comes to life at Abbott’s Mill where kids can explore energy, simple machines, and land use changes. Abbott’s Mill encompasses acres of ponds, streams, marshes, forests, and fields for kids to explore and discover wildlife. Masks must be worn during the program.
Add-Ons for all Abbott’s Party Themes
Add On Campfire & S’mores
What makes birthdays even more awesome than presents? Topping things off with a campfire, and of course, s’mores! (adds 30 mins to program; firewood/s’mores included, weather dependant).
Cost: $50
Add On Extra Time
Need a minute to finish off that birthday cake? Kick back and relax another 30 minutes before heading out.
Cost: $50
Party Themes Available Year-round
Fantastic Fish
Meet the many fish of the Abbott’s Pond. Reel in fish and use dip and seine 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; fishing equipment provided but we encourage to bring your own.
Cost: Members/Non-members: $150/$200
Reptiles and Amphibians
Explore around Abbott’s for a variety of reptiles and amphibians! Listen to the frogs’ chorus, use nets to catch live amphibians and view them up close, and find eggs and tadpoles in the pond.
Cost: Members/Non-members: $150/$200
Native Wild Animals
Meet live and/or taxidermy examples of native Delaware animals, then hike the trails to search for them in the wild.
Cost: Members/Non-members: $150/$200
Animals in Winter
Learn about different animals native to Delaware and their strategies for winter survival. Investigate which animals hibernate, which stay awake, and which migrate south with live and taxidermy specimens.
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200
Owls of DelMarVa
Examine the structures and adaptations of our four resident owl species on Delmarva. Study mounted specimens, listen and learn owl calls, and dissect owl pellets (extra charge) to explore the eating habits of owls.
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200
Pond Study
Discover animals that live in our ponds, wetlands, and streams. Strap on waders to catch aquatic animals with dip and seine nets; find tadpoles, frogs, toads and fish in watery habitats.
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200
Unhuggables
Spiders, bats, snakes, and lizards are all animals that make many people shudder, Learn about the remarkable role these less popular animals play in the balance of nature and explore their wondrous adaptations with both live and taxidermy specimens.
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200
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Coverdale Farm Party Themes
543 Way Road, Greenville | Driving directions »
Party Themes Available Year-round
Coverdale Farm Exploration
Come celebrate your special day with our furry and feathered friends! Take a journey through our barns, pastures, and gardens to discover the amazing world of Coverdale. Bring your bubble of friends and family for a fun filled birthday down on the farm. Party down with your cake, candles and presents in one of our education rooms or enjoy the nice fresh air at the picnic tables. Masks must be worn during the event. Bring your favorite people and let the animals help you celebrate your birthday! Our birthdays fill up, plan well in advance.
Minimum participants: 12
Maximum participants: 15
Cost: Members / Non-members $200/$250
Program duration: 2 hours
Farm and Kitchen Adventure – ON HOLD
Cook up an awesome birthday party farm-style! Head into the Coverdale Kitchen and play the role of farm chef as you build your own party pizzas made with seasonal toppings. Compliment your culinary creations by making a healthy greens salad and dressing. Celebrate and enjoy your makings with friends and family in the Education Room or outside on picnic tables.
Age: 6 and up
Minimum participants: 8
Maximum participants: 15
Members: $300 for group of 8-12; $20/additional child (15 max)
Non-members: $350 for group of 8-12; $20/additional child (15 max)
Program duration: 2 hours
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DEEC Party Themes
1400 Delmarva Lane, Wilmington’s Riverfront | Driving directions »
Explore the land and water of Wilmington’s freshwater tidal marsh first hand. Kids discover aquatic life, insects, watersheds, history and more at this unique urban center on the edge of the 212-acre Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge. Masks must be worn during the event.
Marshy Adventures (available year-round)
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.
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200
Fantastic Fish (available Spring, Summer, Fall)
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.
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200
Marsh Mammals (available Spring, Summer, Fall)
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!
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200
Marsh Insects at DEEC (available Summer, Fall)
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.
Cost: Members / Non-members $150/$200